PONOKA DRUG WAR

A New Drug Officer Is Already Showing Positive Results On Ponoka Streets.

Const. Doug Enns, who has been working at the Ponoka RCMP detachment
for about five years, started in the new full-time drug position in February.

Since then, the undercover officer has helped with the seizure of
$10,000 worth of illegal drugs and proceeds of crime such as cash and goods.

Detachment commander Staff Sgt. Paul Sowers said having Enns
investigating drug crimes has been a real asset.

"I really believe that over time, this position is going to be
beneficial in the area of detecting and fighting drug abuse in the
community," Sowers said on Monday.

Enns develops profiles of suspected drug dealers, writes up search
warrants and gathers other criminal intelligence.

Sowers said the position was created following community
consultations last year. The position is paid for by the town.

"It was discovered that drug offences and drug-related behaviour were
a major concern to those stakeholders," Sowers said.

Sowers said monitoring illegal drugs in rural communities like Ponoka
is important.

"Drug dealers and organized crime tend to prefer these smaller
communities because of the lower profile," he said. "It's certainly
been a concern here." Ponoka has 13 officers, including Sowers.

The detachment is now advertising for a sergeant, hopefully to be on
staff by fall.

The new position was created as part of management restructuring
among the Wetaskiwin, Hobbema, Ponoka, Camrose and Bashaw detachments.

The five detachments now have a management team consisting of an
inspector in Wetaskiwin and a superintendent stationed somewhere in the region.

Wetaskiwin, Hobbema and Ponoka will each have staff sergeants.

"I will be staying here in Ponoka as (the staff sergeant)," Sowers
said. "So even though the head of the management team is based in
Wetaskiwin, you have a component of that team on site."

The administrative changes are expected to result in better sharing
of information, Sowers said.

The detachment's recently released fourth quarter report for October
through December 2006 showed overall crime was down nine per cent
from the same period in 2005. Total Criminal Code offences slipped to
201 cases from 220.

Property offences decreased 13 per cent -- to 80 cases from 92.

Offences against people rose 34 per cent -- 39 cases compared with 29.

Sowers said it's important for the public to report crimes, no matter
how trivial they seem.

"We do want to hear about all of these crimes that are happening,
whether they feel they are minor or not," Sowers said.

Traffic collisions jumped 85 per cent over the same period in 2005 --
52 cases as opposed to 28.

"That's quite a bit of an increase," Sowers said.

Of the 52 cases, there were only three collisions with injuries.

Criminal Code traffic offences (ie. impaired driving) were up 28 per
cent -- 27 cases from 21. Provincial traffic offences (ie. speeding)
went to 206 cases from 107 -- or a 92 per cent increase. Sowers
figures the increase is due to more enforcement and more complaints
of traffic offences.

"When we have a traffic blitz on, we may have 10 or 12 extra
policemen in here and that may affect the numbers," Sowers said.

The quarterly statistics were to be presented in a mayor's report to
town council tonight.