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12 THE LIBERAL, Kic on 111, Spokesmen Want Man On Beat Returned U51 Both deputations appeared to complain about conditions in their respective areas, but after some two hours of hit- and-miss debate, produced little in the way of tangible complaints for the commis- sion to deal with. PERSONAL GRUDGE? In fact. at one point, Com- missioner Ray 'I‘winney hint- ed that Mr. Sweezie, who was the first to appear. might be satisfying a personal grudge against the police, having been involved in an alterca- tion with a youth on Main Street last month. A cry to return to th the streets of a town and little better because of his presence was ma meeting: one from Watson the other from Councillor Ab H accompanied by John Foote, a resi two liquor outlets, which it didn’t have before. This, along with the lowered drink- inlg age, produced problems. He said he didn’t think there was a "drastic prob- lem" on the street, and much as he'd like to see more police there. the town couldn't afford them. On the other hand, he didn't want the police harassing the kids. v “What price public peace?" asked Mr. Sweezie, who ad- mitted he had never signed the petition, but was only presenting it for those who All! "(I (said if “an nrnhlnm e old days when the cop on the beat patrolled everybody knew he was de by two Sweezie, a private citizen from Newmarket; ollingshead of Vaughan, dent of Woodbridge. around and felt a deputations to the who was Vaughan Councillor Holling head appeared to back up a earlier petition â€" 141 sign. tures â€" sent to the commi sion from Woodbridge. con plaining about the lack 1 police control on its Mal Street. Accompanying the petitic was a resolution fro Vaughan Council aCcusit the police of failing to brir the street under control d spite “repeated requests." Councillor Hollingshe: said the “root of the pro lem" was not solved. The had been “harassments nnttv prank dnums nn neon A charge was laid by the youth and then subsequently withdrawn. A loo-signature petition charging rowdyism on the street was handed into police three days later. “I don’t mean to imply anything. but you had a run- in September 26 on Main Street." Mr. Twinney said to Mr. Sweezie. “It seems aw- fully funny . . . it seems the kid was the one having trouble." Mr. Sweezie told the meet- ing that youthful loiterers on Newmarket‘s Main Street made life difficult for older people trying to use the street. The youth not only use-d bad language. but forced people off the street. he said. There was one person. for example. who wouldn't drive up Main Street at night, be- cause of the intimidation. he said. If there were an “old-fash- ioned man" on foot and less police in cruisers. there would be more contact with the general public. he said. A plain clothesman would also be a help when prob- lems became more acute. "The worse elements dis- perse when police are in cars," Mr. Sweezie said. They could sense them, he said. It was obvious there was something missing. which the old force had. despite the efficiency of the radar sys- tem and other modern police methods. PEEPING TOMS Mr. Sweezie said residents of a senior citizens' home in Newmarket had also com- plained about people staring into their windows. "Did the people complain to the police about this?" The police were unable to do anything about it if they didn't complain. the her “If there was a man on foot, this situation might not happen." Mr. Sweezie saiAd. Mr. Twinney said there had always been a problem on Main Street, and when police made a big crackdown several weeks ago, they re- ceived complaints that they were over-enforcing the law. WE MAKE IT EASY AT He said the streth now had Blade V‘ Guaranteed ‘ 1 year BAR TRUNK SNOW SHIWEI. Let’s put the foot patrol back in the police force, seemed to be theme at a meeting of the York Regional Police Commission Octo- 23. . - . 1 LL, --_ .â€" l-Inn Roof nnfrnunfl THE LIBERAL, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Thursday STORES NOW MORE THAN EVER YOU NEED He said he didn't think there was a "drastic prob- lem" on the street. and much as he'd like to see more police there. the town couldn't afford them. On the other hand, he didn't want “What price public peace?" asked Mr. Sweezie. who ad- mitted he had never signed the. petition. but was only presenting it for those who did. He said if the problem persisted. he would move from the town. Chief Bruce Crawford said he had been unaware there was a problem but 'that didn't say there wasn't. However, there was loitering on any street and. despite word to the contrary, the peeping Tom and not prostitution was the oldest crime known to man. He said the town's loiter- ing bylaw was rigidly, but not unreasonably. enforced. The chief said if there really was a serious problem on the street, the people could "rest assured we'll step in and clean it up.” WANTS NAME He said he would like the name of the woman who said she was afraid to drive up Main Street. and was later supplied with a name by Mr. Sweezie. When further pressed for a regular man on the beat, Chief Crawford said he would supply one if he could be assured the people would pay the $70,000 a year neces- sary to pay for one police- man. Commissioner G o r d o n Cook, in elaborating on the matter. said it took five policemen to have one man on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CHIEF TO REPORT Judge William Lyon, chair- man of the commission. said there seemed to be a differ- ence of opinion as to whether there was trouble on Main Street. As a result. he sug- gested the chief look into the situation and report back in a month or six weeks. and then decide if any particular \measures should be taken. After the meeting approved a motion by Commissioner Stewart Rumble that the chief report back in four weeks. Mr. Sweezie said he would continue to publicize the matter; television would be the next step. RICHMOND HEIGHTS CENTRE 250 Yonge Street North RICHMOND HILL 0 884-4401 :onage 0 WI" OPEN THURS. & FRI. EVENINGS UNTIL 9 RM. ROWDYISM IN WOODBRIDGE scratch or crack TO MAKE IT SO EASY! ten the cop on the beat patrolled new he was around and felt a made by two deputations to the rivate citizen from Newmarket; la WINDSIIIELII ; WASHER ONLY ( ANTI-FREEZE Vaughan Councillor Hollings- head appeared to back up an earlier petition â€" 141 signa- tures â€" sent to the commis- sion from Woodbridge. com- plaining about the lack of police control on its Main Street. Accompanying the petition was a resolution from Vaughan Council aCcusin-g the police of failing to bring the street under control de- spite “repeated requests." Councillor Hollingshead said the “root of the prob- lem" was not solved. There had been “harassments or petty crack downs on people we don't want to chase." The councillor. who has a store in Woodbridge. said the area had a problem being so close to Metro. and had obtained a “bad image" since the regional police took over. He said the village had a drug and a vandalism prob- lem. and while many of the complaints were based on hearsay. “I believe the police are chasing the wrong people." "What do you mean?" asked Commissioner Rumble. POLICE BEING PETTY? Mr. Hollingshead said that, while vandalism and dope went one way, the police dealt with other things of a minor nature. such as stop- ping in front of a fire hy- drant. “I thought you meant that when two people were run- ning down the street, the police chased the wrong one," said Mr. Rumble. The councillor said the police were concentrating on the wrong segment of society. the people who Were nor- mally law abiding. “Why do you say that?" asked Judge Lyon. Mr. Hollingshead replied that Woodbridge had enough commerce to attract outside people; it was generally known that it was a drug- drop centre. Bad language on the street and motorists racing their cars and squealing their tires were problems. There were other problems. although he couldn’t give specific cases, as he was mostly on hand as a representative of council, he said. Woodbridge was formerly patrolled by two full-time policemen and one part-time man before the region took over. The policemen were off from 1 am to 8 am and on the weekends when civilian help was hired. When asked by Mr. Twin- ney how the former police had managed to control the area. Mr. Hollingshead .said they knew the town and the characters there. Mr. Twinney said the reg- Nov. 1, 1973 ion was probably usinug seven men to patrol the 2,400- people area. with one man available 24 hours a day. CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS Chief Crawford said his department had interviewed 40 of the petitioners, which he felt represented 63 of the signatures they could identi- fy. and had asked the follow- ing questions: “11.41336 you phoned police in the past 12 mgpths? .; What is your complaint in relation to Woodbridge Ave- nue? Cars. motorcycles. shouting and swearing were listed by 38 people as the main com- plaint. A much smaller por- tion listed loitering. vandal- ism. lntimidation. drinking and traffic in that order. "n. r...” ,, , A total of 55 percent said no; 45 percent. yes. What is, your complaint about policing in your area? Same low p Dalsun and uvvu~ r- ...... u A total of 85 percent found it satisfactory. and 15 per- cent said they preferred resi- dent policemen, as before. uHWhBiWould you like us to do to better police the area? Continue frequent appear- ances. 38 people: two-man cars, 3; man on beat, 8; mo- torcycle unit. 1; local station. 1; more mature police, 1; resident policing. 4. How-lnwlei'e yJu treated by police? Well. 30: no contact. 6: un- satisfactorily. 4. The latter described a lack of sincerity and concern and abruptness of police when issuing park- ing tickets N0 DRUG COMPLAINTS “Not one person made any complaint about a drug prob- lem, and only four about vandalism," Chief Crawford said. The problem in the main seemed to be cars. as it was in most communities, he said. The chief also cited other statistics which showed that during a 184-day period from March to August. the police were called on 515 times to Woodbridge. and of these. 110. or 20 percent â€"- less than one complaint per dayâ€" were regarding disorderly conduct. There were 97 criminal occurrences during that time â€" less than one every two days â€" and 51 were cleared by arrest or investigation, the chief said. “That doesn‘t indicate a GALLEYZ.... .. serious crime problem in that area," he said. The chief said. also, he found it hard to justify Vaughan’s res- olution that the police had failed to bring the situation under control. The police seemed to be taking the line of least re- sistance and not moving in on the “hard-core problems". such as tire squealing, loit- ering. profanity and “just generally bad conduct." Mr. Hoilingshead said he felt “greater sensitivity an more maturity" were needed on the part of the police “‘to sort out what was fact and what was fiction". ONE GALLON USE OUR ‘Flrestonc CREDIT PLAN. AMERICAN EXPRESS or CHARGEX H a rd core? wondered Judge Lyon. If those were hard-core problems. they could be cleaned up in no time. said Chief Crawford. Council could assist by passing a by- law against loitering. “Will do." said Mr. Hol- lingshead. Chief Crawford said the police had already started a move to clean up the disord- erliness, and Judge Lyon said the police would con- tinue .to provide the same sort of coverage as in the past. "I’m not here to complain, but I think we have to sort it out for the benefit of all,’ said Mr. Hollingshead. NOW IS THE TIME TO BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON PARTIES. LARGE DINING AREA. DANCE FLOOR AND FIREPLACE BUTTONVILLE COUNTRY CLUB OPEN ALL YEAR WE CATER T0: 0 Business Conferences > 0 Luncheons 1A 0 Weddings O Banquets & Parties LOCATED: At Button- ville, Woodbine Ave., 1 mile north of Hwy. 7 - CALL - 297-1711 BATHUBST l. SHEPPARD PLAZA 622 Sheppard Ave. W. (n Bllhum) 530-26” @rné"°ffifiiityg CHAGALL, FINI VASARELY, PICASSO. SPENCER, LUONGO. POWELL. 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