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Z.- The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, August 7, 2001-a Polic e Lyet ffinds for'more officers ]3raud suspects By HOWARD MOZEL ,Spei.iai tb The <Champion Halton Regional Police continue to reap the benefits of the Community Policing Partnership program. Last 'Iùesday, Burlington MPP Cam Jackson presented Chief Ean Algar with a cheque for $541,013 on behaif of the solicitor general to help pay the cost of' additional officers. '«Me govemment of Ontario continues to be very supportive of our efforts to help maintain Halton's reputation as the safest community in Canada," said Chief Algar. "We appreciate this ongoing sup- port and what it means in terms of pro- vîding foundational, front-lime programns to keep our community safe." The Community Policing Partnership program - originally a five-year, $131 million initiative - was announced in 1998 as part of that year's provincial budget. It invests in front-lime policing by offering matching funds of up wo 50 per cent of the salaries for recently-hioed officers for each year of the program. The balance is paid by municipalities. PiUvîCt.widc. (tc porttgi Ils nilt its objective to hire 1,000 police officers. Halton's allotment was 43 officers and as of this week - with the graduation from Police College of eight new offi- cers headed for Halton - the region has hired aIl 43. 'Trhese ariditional resources allow us to be more innovative and responsive to crime," said Chief Algar, who wants the public to know that the force is aggres- sively recruiting new officers. Halton Regional Police Services Board Chair Jack Brewer said the fund- ing will help ensure Halton remains the safest community in Canada with a pop- ulation of more than 100,000 - despite the drastic growth the area is undergo- ing. -We're really pleased by the back-up and financial support," said Mr. Brewer. "*We're going wo maintain our standards even though we're growing." Halton had already received more than $.1.6 milion as part of the program and this week's cheque marked the final installint t oi aie 2W-01t)i stcal ytxi. The money will be well-spent, said Mr. Jackson, who added it will go toward an increased policé presence and visibility and the ability to target high-crime areas. In the past, Hakton has funneled these funds into the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program and High School Liaison Officers. Money was also earmarked for the Select Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). Funds were also used for everythin'g from community patrols and the opera- tion of storefront locations wo increased enforcement and the provision of 24- hour policing. Other initiatives included robbery pre- vention programns. strategies for dealing with firearms, hate/bias-motivated crimes, domestic violence, sexual assault, drug abuse and more. Mr. Jackson said Halton's reputation for innovation makes the money the Province bas spent here a wise invest- ment. -CD- The AIL NEW 2002 Chevrolet Traiblazer & Oldsmobile Bravadla CDEVRGIIETWGLDSMGBI6E j appear in court Two Milton women - charged with fraud over $5,000 in July in connection with dealings at the Village Pine Shoppe in Campbellville - will retumn to Ontario Court (provincial division) in. Milton August 23. Oriena Cumre and Sheri Duf made a brief appearance in court Thursday with the intent of setting a trial date. But because the lawyer representing Ms Cumre had just received new information pertaining to the case, setting a trial date was postponed for two weeks. Counsel representing Ms Duif wasn't present in court. Drug charges laid A 40-year-old Milton- man was arrested Wednesday after police stopped a car on Hwy. 401 near James Snow Pkwy. as part of a continuing investigation. A small amount of heroin, a number of hypodermic needles and drug debt lists were found during a search of the driver. Officers also discovered 100 blank prescriptions pads from a doctor's office in Toronto. The man is charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of stoen property and will appaar in Ontario Court (provincial division) in Milton October 4.