AfterGlow
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Cornwall Community Police posted one of their new lawn signs in front of a house that they raided this week, finding ecstasy and cocaine. Cornwall Community Police posted one of their new lawn signs in front of a house that they raided this week, finding ecstasy and cocaine. (Courtesy of the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder)
Last Updated: Friday, January 16, 2009 | 10:45 AM ET
CBC News
An eastern Ontario police force is letting community residents know — loud and clear — which of their neighbours' homes have been searched for drugs.
The Cornwall Community Police Service started posting blue-and-white lawn signs that read "Drug Warrant Executed" at the sites where their drug squad has conducted raids for illegal substances such as cocaine and ecstasy.
Police Chief Dan Parkinson said the signs are intended to inform neighbours that drug activity is happening in their neighbourhood.
"They may want to keep an eye on the house for us once we leave," he added. "This is not intended to be public shaming. This has everything to do with visibility and presence and having the work of our frontline police officers known to the citizens of Cornwall."
Privacy commissioner launches probe
Ontario's privacy commissioner, Ann Cavoukian, has launched an investigation into the practice.
"It strikes me on the face of it as being a rather extraordinary measure because it publicly brands, if you will, that residence with being associated with drug activity," she said Thursday.
On Friday, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association also criticized the plan, saying that those suspected of illegal activity should be dealt with by the criminal justice system, not by signs on their lawns.
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