IN AN effort to puta did on North Vancouver crime in the 1990s, the RCMP have... opened at store’? By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter That's right, a store, as in, the Community Policing Centre (CPC), also known as the police storefront, which was opened late last year. The low-profile office is located at 232 Lonsdale Ave., directly across the street from the Salvation Amny thrift shop. The CPC is funded by North Vancouver City and run by 44 vol- unteers under Const. Dale Wagner. “The purpose is'to bring the police and the community more closely together,” said Wagner. The CPC is surrounded by the usual mix of Lower Lonsdale busi- nesses: Chinese-food restaurants, a video store, a computer slore and funky shops that offer services such as larot-card reading. ‘The News recently caught up with CPC volunteer Gail Jackson at the office. Jackson is a 17-year North Vancouver resident who decided to become a trained volunteer (which involves a security check) in January. Jackson was recently laid-off _ from an office administration job. ‘She wanted to contribute to her community and manages to do so" while optimistically pursuing a new’ job. ; _Her “victim of crime” back- ground includes one burglary while she lived in central Canada. “It’s a horrible feeling. It was such an invasion of privacy,” said Jackson. : Some of the crime prevention programs being promoted at the “CPC include Block Watch, Block Parents and the newly instituted Business Watch. Business Watch, as its name- implies, is a Block Watch tailored to reduce crimes against participat- ing businesses. . The first Business Watch meet- ing was held on March 16. ‘The program involves one vol- unteer who contacts the same 10 businesses regularly about criminal activities such as scams, the passing of counterfeit money and with bur- _ glary trends. . Wagner said future CPC projects are tentatively set to include a child identification program, in which pictures and thumbprints of children will be provided to parents to assist police in the event that a child goes NEWS photo Terry Paters COMMUNITY POLICING CENTRE volunteer Gaii Jackson is a 17-year North Shore resident who is involved in crime preven- tion programs set up by the North Vancouver RCMP. missing. CPC volunteers are being trained “to run” the speedwatch van, which flashes a vehicle’s speed as it goes by. It is slated to be placed at vari- ous spots in North Vancouver. ~ Wagner said the van will also be used in known problem areas to make people aware of how fast they are going. Jackson said the centre aims to help people report crimes and reduce their fear of crime. The range of incidents CPC staff have so far dealt with include: B8 a man wanting to know where to pay a traffic ticket; a distraught lady needing help through a mental-health referral; @ another resident wanting infor- mation aboul what she could do about her strata-counci] manager who apparently took communal equipment when he left the com- plex; . 8 a lady in a different strata com- plex near First Street and Chesterfield Avenue, who came to talk to a police officer about drug problems she sees in her neighbor- hood. The storefront is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and is ‘occasionally open until 9 p.m. on some days. For more information about the Community Policing Centre call 985-8111. CRUISE THE BEST OF THE MEDITERRANEAN - on Royal Cruise A fully escorted tour of the most breathtaking cities & ageless islands in the Mediterranean Lines Royal Odyssey SAVE ~ 16 1509 _per person \ Sept. 22, 1994 Don't miss our most popular Mediterranean cruise ever! Atiend our free film presentation Sunday, April 17, 1994 Time: Location: RSVP: 2:00 pm Saki’s Mediterranean Restaurant 2222 Marine Dr, W. Vancouver Lisa or Claudia 985-SAIL (7245) DR. FLO wishes to announce the opening of her new general practise of Dentistry. (languages spoken: French, Spanish, Romanian, Italian) Plaza 15 Dental Clinic Suite 202, 145 W., 15th St., N. Van. Baa fk aaa ie oe dp ud Satya NORTH VANCOUVER CITY UBRARY is still open SUNDAY AFTERNOON Tem - 50m TO JUNE 26 121 West 14th Street, NVon. aha’u’llah (1817 - 1892) “Consort with all men in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship. If ye be aware of a certain truth, if ye possess a jewel, of which others are deprived, share it with them in a lanquage of utmost kindliness and good will.” . ee em ewe eee eee wee we Course on Baha'i Faith - West Van Memorial Library 4 Mondays, April 11 - May 2, 7:30-9:30 pm Call 921-3334 or register at door $10.00 ye North Van 980-7898 ‘Baha’i | West Van 921-3334" Faith | Bookstore 731-8199 “Free copy of “Statement of Baha'u'llah”