38 ~ Wednesday. Septernber 29, 1999 ~ North Shore News Summer booze and From page 36 summer patrols to have been a MICEESS. Statistics available for pune and July show Craik and Findlay were responsible tor a dozen illegal drug seizures, almost 50 liquor seizures, two charges of tobacco being sold to minors laid, and 12 charges of minors in possession of alcohol. Almas said he is planning to continue the plain-clothes patrols sporadically through- out the year to make sure the police department's message is clear, “We want to keep the pres- sure on and show young peo- ple and businesses that contra- vene the liquor and tobacco acts that we won’t stand for them going against what we teach kids in the schools and that what we're doing doesn’t just stop in the classroom,” he said. A few minutes atter leaving Ambleside, Findlay and Craib pull up to the liquor store at the Park Royal shopping cen- tre just in time to watch three underage-looking individuals — avo males and one female — entering the store. Craib hops out of the van and follows them in, following them out a few minutes later and motioning to Findlay to stop them. As they reach their vehicle, Findlay approaches, flashes his badge and asks to sce their age identification. The West Vancouver woman is 22 years old but her companions turn out to be her We want you to knows mote; Come visit us at your tocal dealer, on our Wabsite at ‘ ger brother and his Tend, both ot whons are 17, “Ht was as casy as: picking cherries.” says Craib retuming to the van with two boules of confiscated fiquor. “E watched them standing there in front of the bottles aid she even asked them which ones they wanted,” he said. Findlay issues the woman an order to appear in court on charges of supplying minors with alcohol, while the nwo sare given SUIS fines tor sessing alcohol. “It’s just amazing,” he says after hopping back in the dri- vers” seat, “She says she’s teaching her brother how to drive as well.” Findlay drives up to the top of the British Properties, where they do a quick patrol of the construction sites next to the treeliae where Findlay says teens often gather to drink beer, before heading back to the police station. Findlay heads inside to do up paperwork before heading back into the field, but he stops for a moment to discuss why he believes what he’s doing is important. “The bottom line with what we're doing is we're say- ing that it’s not going to be tolerated if you drink in a pub- lic place, especially in a park where there’s kids around. “It’s not going to be toler- ated if you’re doing drugs where there’s people walking their dogs and feeding te ducks. It’s not going to be to, erated if there’s people with criminal records, who are trols considered a success ~ NEWS photo jerry Peters ‘WEST Vancouver Police Const. Scott Findlay is with the police department's community policing section. This summer officers paid particular attention to enforcing federal and provincial liquor, tobacco and drug laws. known to police as drug sell- ers, frequenting family arcas,” he says. “Pm really passionate about this. I’ve never done any illegal drugs in my fife and [ just don’t see why anyone should get into doing drugs EES THINK OF IT AS VITAMINC FOR YOUR CAR. S www.gmcanada.com or call us at 1-800-GM-Drive. “Applicable to most GM vehicles. LOF - S includes up to 5 litres of oil, Exctudes syrthetic oif and diese! engines, Applicable taxes extra. 2 Otter avaitable at pariicipating dealers only to November 30, 1999. Dealer may seil for less. when there are so many other more productive things they could be doing.” Craib on the other hand is at the end of his final shift with the department before moving to Vancouver Island where he will begin working with the CARTER CHEVROLET-OLDSMOBILE 987-5231 REGENCY PONTIAC-BUICK-CADILLAC-GMC 985-6333 police department in Oak Bay. As a father of four school- aged children and a police offi- cer, he says he hopes his efforts with West Vancouver’s DARE program have had some effect on the young people in West Vancouver. “Pd like to think the two months we have spent doing this has helped keep even a few kids away from getting into doing drugs or drinking,” said Craib “That would make it seem worthwhile.” The West Yancouver Police DARE program is featured Oct. 6 at 9:30 p.m. as part ofa Rogers Cable television series calicd Partnership in Policing. The Oceanside Co FURRY#gG 45 min. from Vancouver on the Seato Sky Hwy.. "4 (888)922-9462. www. com ::