Final OPP quarterly report for outgoing council
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

Drug offences, park vandalism and speed limits were among the topics Caledon OPP's detachment commander addressed in his final quarterly report to the outgoing Caledon council recently.

Inspector Andy Karski started out explaining the police's role in the mid-air crash of two planes in August near Willoughby Road in Caledon village. He said they worked closely with the coroner's officer and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada which handled the investigation. There were 45 OPP officers at the scene. The police's role was evidence preservation and how the debris landed, Karski explained. He added they won't know the cause of the crash for about a year.

Karski then talked about the number of drug offences that have occurred in Caledon from January to June. The total number has increased to 158 compared to 115 last year. Three-quarters of their suspects were age 17 to 30. There were 17 incidences of cocaine possession from January to June compared to four last year. The number of incidences of cocaine trafficking also increased to eight from one last year.

In a recent bust, police seized $1.5 million in marijuana at a residence on Old Church Road, Karski said. The inspector also noted

the police foot patrol made two arrests in a park near Humberview school in Bolton. Mayor Marolyn Morrison said they wanted the students to take control of this park but that wasn't happening. It was still being vandalized.

"They're destroying this park," Morrison said of the vandals.

Karski agreed they have to take this to the next level.

He added the Caledon Citizens on Patrol program had some impressive statistics in thwarting crime.

Speaking to traffic issues, he explained there have been six fatalities from collisions so far this year with four of those occurring in areas the police have identified as hot spots for traffic enforcement. Last year there were 16 fatalities from traffic collisions and more than half were in the hot spots.

Karski told council they have to look at realistic speed limits on their roads.

"It's a problem we have to keep addressing," he said.

Councillor Nick deBoer commented the speed creeps up on other roads when two or three main roads are backed up. He was pleased to hear of the success the police are having in the hot spot areas.

Councillor Jim Wallace thanked Karski for his support of the Policing Advisory Council of Caledon and for allowing its chair to speak about vandalism at a meeting in Inglewood. Wallace encouraged the new council to provide funding to PACC.

Karski replied the donation of money from council's charity golf tournament for PACC is generous. He added PACC deserves all the credit.

"Those folks make me look good and that's not very easy," he said.

Councillor Annette Groves praised the Caledon Citizens on Patrol program.

"I'm grateful to have them in the community," she told Karski.

She's also 100 per cent in favour of the police foot patrols.

Morrison said councillors took their issues to Karski and he tried to do something about it and was forthright.

Councillor David Lyons added the professionalism of his staff shone through.