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NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM COULD REDUCE DRUG USERS' PRESENCE

Law enforcement and neighborhood residents in Wisconsin are looking for nontraditional ways to rid their communities of drug users. 

Pinning property owners with the responsibility of curbing drug use on their property is becoming a recent trend in drug abuse abatement in the state. 

A neighborhood program implemented in November 2003 in Sheboygan supplies landlords with suggestions on how to rid drug users from their property.  Ultimately, the program strives to empower neighborhoods to file civil suits against property owners that take no action against drug-using tenants. 

Civil suits would be attempted through Wisconsin Statute 823.113 that declares a drug house to be a nuisance. 

The creator of the award-winning program, Neighbors Against Drugs, plans to attend a Mayor's Neighborhood Leadership Committee meeting in Green Bay on April 7 to speak about the program. 

Todd Priebe, developer of Neighbors Against Drugs, has earned a Wisconsin Association of Community Oriented Police award for his program in Sheboygan.  Priebe said the organization had closed 41 drug houses in 14 neighborhoods and the achievements have actually taken place without being heard in court. 

Neighbors help law enforcement build a case against tenants by keeping a diary of suspicious activities observed around a property.  The neighbors' observations can lead to an eviction of the tenant or the closure of a property. 

Priebe said he thinks the model could be successful in Green Bay. 

"They have strong neighborhood associations," he said, adding the NAD concept would fit well into an area with already active neighborhood volunteers. 

Drug problems are present in the community, according to one neighborhood association leader. 

"Probably it's underestimated," said Trini Bielski, president of the Astor Neighborhood Association.  She said a year ago a resident complained that his child was offered drugs by someone driving through the area. 

Bielski had not heard of NAD, but said she is supportive of getting property owners to join a fight against drugs. 

She said some residents want to picket certain property owners as a means of holding them accountable for tenants.  She suggested striking an agreement with property owners that after so many notices they take actions to evict ongoing drug users. 

Ultimately she suggested a city task force to study how property owners can best be held responsible for their tenants' actions. 

Priebe said NAD's structure discourages drug offenders from retaliating against NAD members.  NAD members are not interacting with drug offenders, they are interacting with property owners, he said. 

Holding property owners accountable for drug activities in their properties is considered a good thing among property owners. 

Gary Heilmann, president of the Apartment Association of Northeastern Wisconsin, said just recently communication between law enforcement and property owners has improved. 

"The police have started notifying landlords of arrests, drug violations," Heilmann said. 

Property owners need police documents as proof of drug-related activities before they can evict a tenant, he said. 

"We feel that we're being blamed and maybe trying to be fined for things out of our control," Heilmann said. 

Police believe a minority of property owners are not taking enough action against drug users even when it is clear to law enforcement that repeat drug offenders live there. 

Lt.  Jude Trimberger, community policing supervisor in Green Bay, said his division executed more than one search warrant for narcotics at four residences in 2004 and the early part of this year and it appears the property owners are doing nothing. 

"We're doing our part.  We're busting the dopers," Trimberger said. 

He said he would like to see tenants evicted upon arrest, saying an arrest is plenty of proof.  Since December the community police have carried out about 48 search warrants in dwellings where drug users were expected to live. 

Heilmann said he knows of no laws requiring landlords to evict drug users, but leases promise other tenants certain living standards.  If a tenant argues a drug user is negatively impacting living conditions the property owner could have grounds for evicting a tenant, Heilmann said. 

Heilmann said he is challenged to uncover criminal records about a tenant before they sign the lease.  He has not always found up-to-date information on the Wisconsin Consolidated Court Automation Programs Web site, he said. 

There is debate about whether encouraging the eviction of drug users has an impact or just moves offenders around.  Priebe said offenders lose momentum every time they move. 

"When somebody is relocated the magnitude of the activity isn't necessarily the same," he said.  Heilmann said each property owner decides under what circumstances a person with a criminal record would be offered a lease. 

Trimberger said he hopes a program like NAD deters people from using drugs, and tenants with a past record should be expected to be drug-free. 

"If they can live there and live clean, that's fine.  That's what we're looking for," he said.  If not, they should not live there, he added. 

Although drug dealers are separated from previous clients, he said NAD alone is not a solution to drug abuse. 

For more information, visit http://www.neighborsagainstdrugs.com.