Pubdate: Wed, 05 Apr 2006
Source: Jacksonville Daily News (NC)
Copyright: 2006 Jacksonville Daily News
Contact:  http://www.jacksonvilledailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/216
Author: Roselee Papandrea

SHOWING SIGNS OF GETTING TOUGH

Jacksonville/Onslow Crime Stoppers has always been a serious organization.

Now, the Crime Stoppers board is attempting to deliver a serious 
message to the public in its latest campaign to "put drug dealers 
where they belong."

Gone are the cartoon characters, including a Sherlock Holmes 
character holding a magnifying glass and a raccoon playing the role 
of masked bandit. The latest billboards -- there are currently six 
scattered around Onslow County -- have a photo of a law enforcement 
officer putting handcuffs on a drug dealer.

"The emphasis is to get drugs out of the community, including our 
base and our schools," said Joe Yannessa, chairman of the Crime 
Stoppers board. "To do that we want to attack drug dealers who are 
bringing drugs into our community. We hope the billboard message will 
instill in the community a willingness to come forward now that they 
know the magnifying glass is really on these drug dealers."

Tips received through the Crime Stoppers program are "invaluable to 
law enforcement," said Jacksonville police Chief Mike Yaniero. "Tips 
give us an indication where there are drug problems and who is 
involved. If we get multiple complaints, we can target our limited resources."

It's one of the reasons Yaniero opted to donate some of the Police 
Department's confiscated drug money, which must be used to combat 
drug problems in the city, to help fund the billboard campaign. The 
Onslow County Sheriff's Department, the Naval Criminal Investigative 
Service and the Crime Stoppers board also paid for the billboards.

"I really believe this is a good thing," Onslow County Sheriff Ed 
Brown said about the billboard campaign.

"The No. 1 problem in America is drugs. Sixty to 80 percent of all 
crimes are drug related. If you reduce the drug problem, you reduce 
the crime problem. It makes sense."

Based on the types of tips called into the Crime Stoppers hotline, 
it's clear that drug-related crimes are an issue in the city, the 
county, county schools and on Camp Lejeune.

"About 40 percent of our calls are drug related," Yannessa said. 
"Drug-related calls are the single, highest crime reported through 
our tip line."

The more area residents get involved in helping law enforcement fight 
drugs, the easier it will be to rid the area of them.

"We couldn't do it alone," Yaniero said. "Drugs are still a major 
issue. With drugs comes other crimes. With other crimes comes 
violence. It's a perpetual circle. While we may never be able to 
eradicate drugs, we must do our best to stop drug dealers so it 
doesn't get out of control."

Brown said legislators also need to focus on the drug problem and 
create stiffer laws.

"If the word gets out that there are tough drug laws in North 
Carolina, people will go somewhere else to do their drugs," Brown 
said. "We need to target the drug problem severely."

Anyone with information about drug dealers can call the Crime 
Stoppers hotline at 938-3273. Callers do not have to reveal their 
identity. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $2,500 for information 
leading to the arrest and indictment of drug dealers.
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