Police trade up to new clubs

THE DAYS of cops twirling billy clubs are
over.

The clumsy sticks have been replaced by-a
smaller, collapsible baton. And ‘earlier: this
month Terrace RCMP alficers got a lesson on
haw to use il.

Corporal Colin Farquhar from Prince Rupert
was in town to take the police through a class-
room session on use-of-force and.a Scries of
exercises with the baton.

“It's a very. useful tool,’’ says Farquhar,
“We've gone away. from carrying the larger
plastic sticks because they were just too
awkward,

CONSTABLES Mullett and Cam Joseph go
through a training exercise with the RCMP's new
"ASP" batons. The small batons replace tradi-
tional police billy clubs.

Farquhar says the newer ‘‘ASP"’ batons are
lighter (20 ounces) and collapse to a mere
cight inches in length, bul expand to 26 inches
with the Flick of the wrist,

“It’s another tool for peace alficers ta help
control someone who is resisling arrest,’’ says
Farquhar. “Pepper spray isn’t the answer. to
everyihing.’”

During. the classroom: session, Farquhar

* teaches officers: when: to use the baton, and

how to use it effectively against someone who
is wielding a weapon, or is trained in martial
arts,

Then, in the hands-on exercises, they prac-

tice using the baton in both open aad closed
modes.

Officers don’l strike at an armed suspect's
face, Instead they aim blows to muscle groups
that will cause the person to drop the weapon.

The baton can also be used against dogs and
for breaking: windows to help victims of an
automobile accident. -

“The goal of the training is to show officers
how to gain control of a situation,’? Farquhar
says. “‘We don't want to hurt anyone, just use
the minimum amount of force required to gel
a suspect under contral.’’

The Terrace Standard, Monday, December 30, 1996 - A3
near deed 20) [bee no) ae met omen =e a 2 oe _ :

News In Brief

Not a gas at all

THE HIGH COST of natural gas in the north is the first ‘
target for a new society aimed at investigating different '
facets of life up here,

Members of the Focus North Socicty found that some -
community gas rates increase by 35 per cent during the |
winter months. It was a decision approved by. a provincial ©
regulating body in the expectation thal an increase in cost
would make northemers use less,

“The society members find. this reasoning un- “
acceptable,’ said Focus North president Murray Sadler, '
“This is the kind of southern B.C, thinking which we must
tum around.’’ Communities affected include 100 Mile
House, Williams Lake and Quesnel.

Focus North bas 90 members from around the north and ~
its goal is to promote understanding about the region to"
southern-based decision makers.

“We expect duc representation and consultation with |
northerners before decisions are made which affect our‘
conmmunitics,’’ said Sadler,

Copper River closed

THE COPPER (Zymoetz) River will be closed to anglers «:
starting January 1, 1997.

The closure wilt remain in effect until June 15, 1997 to.
protect fish stocks.

“This run is heavily fished and some of the fish get:
caught time and time again,”’ says conservation officer |
James Hilgemann., :

There will be a closure sign posted at the transmission ‘
lines, four kilometres upstream from where the copper en-
ters the Skeena River. No fishing whatsoever will be al-
lowed, including for trout or steelhead, ;

Hilgemann says the closure will hopefully take some |
stress off the stocks. ‘

Drunk and disorderly .-

ELEVEN PEOPLE were arrested on several different
charges outside Hanky Panky’s Nightclub in the Coast ;
Hotel, December 20th.

Police say they responded to several separate dis-
turbances caused by intoxicated patrons, ;

In one incident, three people were arrested for causing a ~

ae eae

Scott retreats on treaty vote idea

THE REFORM party is backing away
from taking a direct role in forcing a
referendum on the Nisga’a agreement-
in-principle.

Skeena MP Mike Scott said the idea
of a petition campaign to force -a
referendum is still being considered,
but more recent thinking is that it
should be non-partisan.

“Some people are saying thal
maybe a political party is not the right
vehicle to quarterback a referendum
campaign,’’ le said. ‘And, maybe

* they’re right,”

‘There's some concerp that. people:

war political party and that’s fine with
us,”’ Scott said.

Scott in August vowed he would
organize a petition to force the pro-
vince. to bold a referendum on the
Nisga’a agreement.

Under a new: law, citizens can force
a referendum on’ an issue if they
gather signatures of 10 per cent of the

“voters in cach o£ B.C,’s 75 ridings.

A’ campaign ‘this fall: to force a
referendum that would ban bear hunt-
ing in B.C, fell far short of the. re-
quired 220,000 — signatures and
gathered the requisite number in only

may want to be part-of a referendum six electoral districts. ot

campaign without supporting a partic-

Critics of the recall: and initiative

ested in forming a coalition.

‘the B.C. Fisheries Survival Coalition

legislation say it’s
possible to succeed.
Scott said a well-honed organization
throughout the province would be re-
quired to have any chance.
Now Scait says he’s been talking ta
various groups to sec iL they're inter-

virtually = im-

Scott said the organiza lions he’s had
discussions with include B.C, FIRE,

and the B.C, Wildlife Federation.
“Maybe it’s time for us to step back
and see if there isn’t a coalition of
concerned citizens and organizations
thal can fone together and take this
thing on.” ,

“Mike Scott

“TERRACE..

TANDARD

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January 24, 1997

R.E.M. Lee Theatre

Tickets: $20.00 available at Unigiobe Travel
4718 A Lazelle Ave, Terrace

ist Prize: 2 Tickets, CD’s, Back Stage Pass
Secondary Prizes: 3 Sets of Tickets for 2

‘mis CONTEST CLOSES JANUARY 29 @5: 00 PM:

Name

Address

I Phone (H)

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Bring or mail you entry to:

3210 Clinton Street.
Terrace, B.C. V8G 5R2

~ Winners will be drawn at random from alll entries received. Prizes
must be acceptable as awarded and havé no cash equivalent.

6- or7- passenger models,,, Because
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disturbance, assaulting a potice officer and resisting arrest,

Hit and run

A WOMAN driving through the intersection at the -
corner of Eby and Lazelic strects last week was struck by -
another vehicle, which then fled the scene.

Police say the woman's car was hil by a gray-coloured
vehicle. The suspect car lost part of its bumper from the --
impact, but the driver fled the scene anyway.

Anyone with any information on this accident is asked to -
call Terrace RCMP. :

Look both ways :

AN ACCIDENT occurred at the comer of Highway 16 and -
Kenney Street two weeks ago when a driver failed to yield '
to oncoming traffic. .
Terrace RCMP say at about 5:15 p.m. on December 4, a~
soulh-bound pickup truck driven by a 70-year-old man was
struck by a west-bound mini van, driven by a 29-year-old r
Terrace man. The truck bad left the stop sign without
yielding to the oncoming van. -

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