New Crime Reduction Unit sees results

The Blood Tribe Police Service has added a new Crime Reduction Unit to their troop. As a result of recent deaths linked with street versions of oxycodone, the BTPS has taken steps to prevent further harm.

“The impact it’s had on the community’s been great. Some parents are overdosing on it, and leaving young children. The community’s upset,” said Sgt. Joseph Many Fingers, who currently oversees the new unit.

“It’s not a prescribed drug, so you can’t get it at the pharmacy. It’s something being made… probably by organized crime groups in an illegal lab,” he said.

Many Fingers says there have been 10 deaths over the last four months linked with a drug called Oxy-80. The drug, despite the name, has little oxycodone in it, and is mostly made with fentanyl—another pain-killer narcotic, stronger than morphine.

Pamela Littlebear, a Blood Tribe community member, and a recovered prescription drug addict, has been attending local rallies to create awareness of Oxy-80’s effects.

“We’re burying our loved ones because of it. You know, you can just take this drug once, and you can die from it,” she said.

The impact of drug use is an epidemic, says Many Fingers. The need to use, whether it is cocaine, crack or prescription drugs, leads to an increase in property crimes and break and enters. And it isn’t isolated to the Blood Reserve.

“It’s all over Alberta and even Saskatchewan. And I’ve heard it’s all over Canada. I know there was a big drug bust last week. And we know our guys are getting it in Medicine Hat and Calgary,” he said.

While the new CRU officers will focus on all illegal drugs, the outcry over Oxy-80 will make that their main target, says Many Fingers. The two CRU officers were chosen based on their experience and their eagerness to make an impact in that area.

“These two have already obtained confidential informants. They’ve gained the trust of the people that are tired of this problem,” he said.  While the names and photographs of the CRU officers are not being released, Many Fingers admits that “anybody involved in the drug trade will know who they are.”

The BTPS has also started an Oxy-80 tip line for citizens wanting to give them a lead. The response has been positive, with tips coming in at all hours of the day, including several tips received within the first week, says Many Fingers. 

In Dec. 22, 2014, a tip led to the police seizing cash, drug paraphernalia and suspected illicit drugs from a vehicle and Christine Marie Varns, 30, of Lacombe, being arrested and charged with a variety of controlled substance offences. On Jan. 25, 2015, another anonymous tip resulted in the search of a residence in Standoff where a sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and a sword were located. Willis Quincy House, 32, of Hobbema, was charged in that incident.

Successes like this give the BTPS and new unit hope, but Many Fingers knows that drug use is a difficult problem to solve altogether.

“They should be able to (help), but you can’t ever get rid of a drug problem. You can just disrupt it. Once you take down a few drug dealers, there’s always more to step up in their place. So we can try, and hopefully make an impact,” he said.

Littlebear says she knows people are getting the message.

“We know people are listening. I’ve been sharing the fact that there’s three individuals who have texted me that are going to treatment. So we know we got to them,” she said.