How to fix crime problems - Part 5, Drug Enforcement

Lets face it, the drug enforcement in this area is woefully understaffed and undersold to the public. Unfortunately, the major portion of crime is generated by drug abuse. Drug users, who are constant addicts, commit burglaries and robberies in order to support their habit. No big news there. Hmmm so why don't we make drugs legal?

Stupid idea. Making drugs legal won't solve the problem because people are still hooked on drugs. That's why even though oxicodone and oxicotin is legal, people still steal it from others or brake into pharmacies that carry the stuff.

However, why do we have such a big drug problem? Easy, this place is a craphole, as we all know. But, unfortunately highway drug interdiction is not an adequate solution because, as the name sounds it enforces drug seizures on the highways. Route 13 passes through Salisbury so basically manpower is wasted on enforcing drug interdiction on drugs that are going through, not necessarily, into Salisbury or the county. The idea behind highway drug interdiction is seizing money and funds, which directly benefit the agency. A lot of cash runs through the bypass also. So, although making large drug seizures looks good for press releases, it really does nothing to fund further advances for the respective agencies.

In order to curb the high drug use and sale epidemic there has to be a large scale effort on arresting drug dealers, not drug users. Major and routine sweeps and buy/bust operations would dramatically decrease open air drug sales. This would cause the drug dealers to push their sales inside of their residences and who wants a crackhead in their house to buy drugs?

The WINTIF team needs about five times their current staffing level. There should be a street level "TNT" group added with enough officers, from multiple jurisdictions, to investigate and make large scale and routine arrests. Say about 25 members strong, give or take.

If you are going to pursue, lets be frank, monitary seizure on the bypass, then dedicate a team of six or more to the effort, not two. Or, not one with no dog.