Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jan 2006
Source: Portland Press Herald (ME)
Copyright: 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/744
Author: David Hench, Portland Press Herald Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

POLICE: EXPAND NO-DRUG ZONES

Portland may designate more than 100 playgrounds, parks  and 
recreation areas as "drug-free safe zones,"  enabling tougher 
penalties for drug activity there.

The safe zones are patterned after legislation that  leads to more 
serious charges for drug dealing that  occurs within 1,000 feet of a 
school. A misdemeanor  drug offense that occurs within a safe zone 
could be  treated as a felony with much more serious penalties.

"We always take drug trafficking seriously. This is an  area where we 
would put special attention to ensure  there would not be any drug 
activity," said Lt. Anthony  Ward, head of the city's community policing unit.

"Protecting children is the ultimate goal of doing  this. There are 
other environments outside of school  where kids meet on a regular 
basis," Ward said.

The law giving communities authority to create the  zones was passed 
last year by the state Legislature and  recently took effect. The 
City Council's Public Safety  Committee will take up the proposal at 
its meeting Jan.  12.

Maine Public Safety Commissioner Michael Cantara said  the law 
reflects legislators' commitment to keeping  drugs out of the hands 
of young people.

"It allows municipalities to declare as a matter of  public policy 
that areas that tend to attract children  should be made safe from 
the potential harm and ravages  of drugs," Cantara said.

Creating the zones is "letting not only young people,  but the public 
at large know the use and sale of drugs  in those areas is all the 
more serious given the fact  that young people's brains are still 
developing," he  said.

Cantara believes the rarity of drug crimes within 1,000  feet of a 
school compared with the number of drug  crimes overall suggests that 
the philosophy works -  that many people involved in drug activity 
intentionally avoid school areas.

The Police Department is proposing a long list of safe  zones, 
including 21 athletic fields, 51 parks, 29  playgrounds and 41 
recreation facilities. Each zone  would have to be marked with signs 
reading "Drug-Free  Safe Zone, Increased Penalties for Drug Crimes 
Committed Within this Zone." The signs would serve as a  reminder of 
the areas' special status for would-be  criminals - regardless of age.

"The safe zone doesn't differentiate between adolescent  drug 
traffickers or the 25- or 30-year-old, the adult,  doing it," Ward said.

In addition to the message sent by the creation of safe  zones, the 
reality of the tougher drug penalties should  cut down on crime near 
those areas, Ward said.

"Aggravating the potential sentencing makes sure  someone dealing 
(drugs) in the area of children has a  stronger probability of being 
sentenced for a longer  period," Ward said. "The extended benefit of 
this is  when you move that element out of those areas, then  other 
crimes would diminish in those areas as drugs  move away."

It's an argument that makes sense to Randee Bucknell,  parent of a 
9-year-old and president of the Adams  School Parent Teacher Organization.

"I think stiffer penalties for that type of behavior,  especially 
where children congregate, is long overdue,"  Bucknell said.

"Not only is drug activity undesirable, but a lot of  people who are 
involved in drug activity also do other  things that are socially 
unacceptable," she said. "I  mean, we are raising the next 
generation. I think  minimal exposure to socially unacceptable 
behavior is beneficial."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman