The City of Grand Forks will have a say when a convicted drug trafficker is sentenced later this year.
Peter Kazakoff was found guilty on May 12 in a Rossland court on two counts of drug trafficking, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of breach of a firearms prohibition.
The RCMP asked the city to consider making a community impact statement. It’s a document submitted to the court that details the harm or loss an offence has had on the community. The judge uses it as part of determining a fit sentence.
“This is kind of a first move. I can’t remember a council doing this in the past before,” Mayor Brian Taylor said. He also indicated he would be willing to deliver the statement orally in court.
Coun. Christine Thompson says the city is paying for a transient liaison officer to deal with people who are “directly impacted from the products that people like Mr. Kazakoff sell. If we can get one dealer off the street and incarcerated hopefully we will be able to get many more.”
Coun. Cathy Korolek added mental health and addiction is a “huge concern” and is a cost to society. “We see it so much in the small communities because we are aware of various individuals. The cause and the consequences of not dealing with something like this and letting is happen is severe so I truly think we need to go forward with this.”
The motion by Coun. Everett Baker to submit the statement, at the request of the RCMP, was supported unanimously.
There’s no date set for the sentencing of Kazakoff but Grand Forks RCMP Sgt. Darryl Peppler told Vista Radio it’s “expected later this summer.”