Duane Hicks
The Fort Frances Community Drug Action Team continues to be busy in Fort Frances.
With OxyContin banned in Ontario as of March 1, CDAT has contacted all district pharmacies to provide them with information warning them of potential break-ins or thefts of opiate-based medication, A/Insp. Steve Shouldice reported at this morning’s Police Services Board meeting here.
Pharmacists are taking measures to secure their businesses as well as safeguard their delivery persons and vehicles, he added.
CDAT has been involved in investigations related to exploiting persons by offering drugs, an incident at Canada Customs, two incidents related to Fort Frances High School, drugs being transported from Thunder Bay to Fort Frances, drugs sent via Canada Post, and an incident of possession in a restaurant parking lot.
During the month of February, police seized marijuana, OxyContin, and Oxycocet, and laid seven charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking and three for possession of a controlled substance.
In other news, the Fort Frances OPP responded to a total of 31 9-1-1 calls in February, but many of them were accidental.
“The main thing that we see are phone malfunctions,” said /Insp. Shouldice. “The latest thing is pocket dialing with people’s cellphones.
“Their phones will dial 9-1-1 when they’re sitting on it,” he noted.
Another problem is people have programmed 9-1-1 into their phones and children will press the speed-dial button.
Yet another issue is people who don’t look up the regular number to call police (1-888-310-1122) and call 9-1-1 instead.
A/Insp. Shouldice said the calls aren’t necessarily coming from the same people over and over again; it’s more a matter of different people making the same mistakes.
Meanwhile, Rainy River District saw an increase in the number of break-and-enters reported in February.
A total of 11 were reported, up from four in January, with nine of these occurrences happening in Fort Frances.
Ten mischiefs also were reported, down from 11 the month before, of which eight were in Fort Frances.
No sexual assaults reported, down from one in January, while there were 13 assaults reported, down from 16 the month before.
Six of these assaults occurred in Fort Frances.
There were six impaired driving incidents in February, up from three in January, with two being in Fort Frances.
There also were 10 reports of theft under $10,000, up from seven in January. Eight of these were reported in Fort Frances.
A total of 25 traffic accidents causing damage were reported in February, down from 41 in January.
Thirteen of these took place in Fort Frances, with five of them involving single-vehicle accidents.
Two traffic accidents causing injury were reported in February, the same as in January. One of these was in Fort Frances.
Youth camp
Meanwhile, fundraising is going well for the OPP North West Region Youth Summer Camp to be held at Sunny Cove.
Rainy River District Victim Services Program donated $4,100 from a fundraising surplus.
Those who sponsor a child ($700) will receive a letter from the camper they sponsor, a lapel pin, and a certificate of appreciation from the North West Regional Commander.
Those interested in being a sponsor can contact the OPP Youth Foundation at 1-705-330-2383 or via e-mail at office@oppyouthfoundation.ca
In other business, Raj Sud from the OPP’s Crime Prevention Sector recently held a restorative justice session at J.W. Walker School.
The Rainy River District School Board will be funding him to return here to conduct another presentation for the parent council.
Meanwhile, the process to hire a new administrative clerk at the Fort Frances OPP detachment to replace Bonnie Hoskins has begun.
As well, it has been confirmed the OPP Awards ceremony will be a lunchtime event held here May 10, but the venue still is being determined.
