SUNBURY — High-profile arrests of low-level drug dealers are an effective way to get at the root of a community problem, Valley drug counselors and law enforcement officials agree.
In the past year, Pennsylvania has spent about $2 million funding drug task forces that operate in 64 of the commonwealth’s 67 counties.
“It’s as effective as can be, given the resources that are available,” Northumberland County Adult Probation Chief John Wondoloski said of the large drug arrest roundups that occur several times a year in the county.
The joint Northumberland-Montour Task Force received $77,800 this fiscal year and made 53 arrests between January and June.
The most recent drug sweep occurred Oct. 5 in the Shamokin and Coal Township areas, with the arrest of 31 people following an eight-month investigation into sales of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs.
Several of those arrested have prior records for drug, alcohol and theft-related offenses.
Drug task forces controlled by county district attorneys and the state attorney general are “the best bargain in law enforcement,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office spokesman Kevin J. Harley.
“They expand the troops on the ground and street-level drug dealing is their main focus.”
Wondoloski, a former state police lieutenant, said the aim of the state-funded drug task forces is to get at the street-level drug dealers and divert some offenders into court-ordered treatment.
The hope is that substance abusers will be rehabilitated and the local crime rate will decrease.
In some cases, information developed from investigations that can last many months leads to mid- to upper level drug dealers being nabbed.
“These are about quality of life issues,” Harley said. “You need to pull that string (low-level dealers)” to get at the major pushers of contraband.
“Statistics vary on this, but most people agree as much as 75 percent of crimes are drug-related. Drugs are the impetus for a lot of other crimes.”
And it’s small communities, like Sunbury, Shamokin and Selinsgrove, that are coping with thefts, burglaries and other crimes by offenders who need to support drug habits, Wondoloski said.
Employing task forces to investigate and ferret out low-level drug dealers is “the only way law enforcement can attack the problem,” Wondoloski said. “There is no other way to do it.”
George Florey, Northumberland County Drug and Alcohol administrator, concedes that law enforcement has few tools to deal with the problem of substance abuse.
Dramatic, high-profile arrests give an offender an opportunity to get clean through participation in treatment court.
“The treatment courts have turned people’s lives around,” Florey said, adding, “You can’t force an addict into rehab, but there has to be accountability.”
June Steiner, clinical supervisor at White Deer Run in Lewisburg, has worked with several county drug courts and agrees they are helpful in providing resources to addicts.
“We do see these drug sweeps as the beginning for folks,” she said, adding that some clients at the drug treatment center have even expressed relief about being arrested because it gave them a chance to kick their habit.
Florey’s agency operates drug educational and prevention programs in the elementary schools of Sunbury, Coal Township and Shamokin with the aim of turning youngsters away from drugs and potential crime.
Once the addiction has overtaken an adult, it’s much more difficult, but not impossible, to overcome if there addict is willing, Florey said.
He’d like all drug offenders to undergo a mandatory analysis to assist them in recovery.
“Addiction is very difficult,” Florey said. “We’ve got a big problem and it’s a total community problem.”
News
Hope rides on busting street-level drug dealers
- News
-
-
Buyer: Pine Meadow must be vacated
With only five days to go before a federal public housing contract runs out, Ramon Margary occupies one of two of 100 apartments yet to be vacated at Pine Meadow.
-
Care home's $68G fine in limbo
A hearing was canceled Friday to determine if the president of a corporation, that was convicted of stealing money from a resident of a Selinsgrove personal care home, is liable to pay its $68,000 fine.
-
Group offers weapons against cyber crime
With increased budget pressures forcing more police departments to consider placing every available officer on patrol as much as possible, a nonprofit organization is providing funding to make the case that it makes sense to continue efforts to try to identify sexual predators online.
-
Ex-chief clerk fights to keep lawsuit alive
Kymberley Best, the fired Northumberland County chief clerk, is willing to dismiss one count of her federal lawsuit but opposes a defense motion to dismiss the entire case.
-
Judge sets May trial date for Sandusky abuse case
BELLEFONTE — A judge said today he would decide soon whether to grant former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky greater freedom — and visits from his young grandchildren — while he awaits trial on child sex-abuse charges, but prosecutors countered that Sandusky's home is not a safe place for children.
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
LEWISBURG -- Superintendent Mark DiRocco told the Lewisburg school board Thursday night that a proposed block grant system of school budget funding will run the district short of cash that will have to be made up through personnel and program cuts. Lewisburg's proposed 2012-13 budget stands at $28.6 million, with no less but also no more money coming from Harrisburg. "Even a neutral budget is problematic," DiRocco said.
-
Mom: Keller's response left her cold
LEWISBURG -- Like many people, Elise Nicol is concerned about Marcellus Shale and the industry's effects on Pennsylvania's environment. The Lewisburg mother of two cares about it enough that she sent an email to state Rep. Fred Keller, R-85 of Kreamer, asking him to oppose House Bill 1950, which passed the General Assembly on Wednesday.
-
Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations
NORTHUMBERLAND -- Point Township Sewer Authority members Thursday night expressed concerns about a Feb. 3 letter sent to the Northumberland Sewer Authority by the state's Department of Environmental Protection saying that the borough authority has violated the Clean Streams Act.
-
Persing truck fee idea stalls
SUNBURY -- While Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing communities to collect impact fees in 35 counties, Northumberland County is not one of them, and business leaders and lawmakers do not think Sunbury Mayor David Persing's plan to try to do his own version of an impact fee will pass muster.
-
Barber draws a crowd
DANVILLE -- The talk can be spirited at times, ranging from hunting to sports to home repairs. "You hear all kinds of stories," Gene Koehler, of Riverside, said Thursday as he waited for a haircut at The Masters barbershop, 209 Mill St. No appointment is necessary. Customers can just walk in.
-
State board approves table games at Valley Forge casino
VALLEY FORGE — A casino resort scheduled to open this spring in the Philadelphia suburb of Valley Forge has been approved for table games.
-
Doctors telling more adults: Get out and exercise
ATLANTA — A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. A government survey found nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000.
- More News Headlines
-
