Pubdate: Fri, 22 Nov 2002 Source: West Hawaii Today (HI) Copyright: 2002 West Hawaii Today Contact: http://westhawaiitoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/644 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Note: For more on ice eradication in Hawaii go to http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Hawaii FIGHT 'ICE' - AND THEFT Property crime is the biggest single type of crime facing West Hawaii police, and our state overall suffers the distinction of leading the nation in some per capita rates of theft and larceny. The problem on this island, say police and prosecutors, stems from a single underlying cause: Drugs. "The reason we have so much property crime is an increase in crime related to 'ice' (crystal methamphetamine) use," Kona Police Patrol Capt. John Dawrs said. When officers arrest "ice" users, they usually find stolen property; when officers search for stolen property, they usually find "ice" users, Dawrs said. In a three-day series of reports on property crime that concludes in today's paper, it has been made clear by authorities: property crime and "ice" use are increasing and the cost to our community - direct and indirect - is staggering. Aside from those directly affected by "ice" use, which offers up a staggering toll of social implications, the community is being preyed upon by addicts who steal and burglarize homes to support that addiction, authorities reported. There is a shocking lack of clear, meaningful statistics to support the oft-repeated generalizations of "ice" use or its direct connection to property crime, however, we believe the connection is valid. The propensity of property crimes cuts deep into our community. Residents fear burglary and invasion of the privacy of their homes, theft of their vehicles and belongings. Yet police are responding without compunction that they alone cannot combat the problem. It just won't happen. There are not enough police and not enough time. They are relying upon us - community members and more importantly neighbors - to police our communities and be de facto eyes and ears for law enforcement. Not to be vigilantes, but to be vigilant never the less, to complement the efforts of law enforcement. Looking out for and indeed caring about neighbors is a very a foundation of neighborhoods and community. Police, though rarely viewed as such, are community members empowered to enforce laws that were enacted by other community members on behalf of themselves. We are looking after ourselves, after all. Neighborhood Watch programs, touted by police, community members and prosecutors as an effective mechanism for improving self-protection and vigilance, should be welcomed and instituted, not as a means of establishing any "police state," but rather to do the right thing: Protect homes, families and ultimately the values we cherish. Ask anyone victimized by a burglary, their response is similar - a feeling of violation. We cannot and should not tread lightly on these transgressions of our personal rights. They target our homes, possessions, visitors and businesses. Police, supported by our county government with appropriate and adequate resources, should be encouraged to wage what Mayor Harry Kim more than a year ago termed a "war on 'ice.'" Those efforts should be reflected by drops in the property crime rate associated with "ice" use. It should also be buttressed by a hard line taken by prosecutors and the courts on offenders, on those who invade our homes and privacy, who disregard the laws enacted by society to ensure our safety, liberty and privacy. Yet those results remain elusive, despite the mayor's war cry, despite their clear importance and necessity. We fear that "war on 'ice'" is being lost to bureaucrats and excuses, and our community is the casualty. No one on this island should accept that defeat. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk