Pubdate: Sat, 08 Jul 2006 Source: Times, The (Munster IN) Section: Illiana News Copyright: 2006 The Munster Times Contact: http://www.nwitimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/832 Author: Steven Stanek Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) DALEY COMPARES DRUG DEALERS TO TERRORISTS Since April 15, Deaths Tied To Heroin Reported, Police Said CHICAGO | Mayor Richard M. Daley told a new group of police academy graduates on Thursday that the worst problem they would face in their careers was the city's "drug epidemic." Drug dealers "have destroyed more lives in this country than I believe all the world wars combined," Daley said, comparing the problem to international terrorism. Daley spoke a class of 43 new officers, giving them a stiff introduction to the violence and drug-ridden streets of Chicago. Though Daley touted Chicago Police Supt. Phillip J. Cline for the city's declining crime rate, he spent more time talking about drugs in Chicago, naming it the biggest threat to the city -- even in the age of terrorism. "Since 9-11 we talk about terrorism -- terrorism from outside the country and inside the country," he said. "But it's a sad comment that we have terrorism 24 hours, seven days a week in America. It's called drug dealers." Daley's remarks came amidst a spate of heroin and fake heroin overdoses that rocked the city. Since April 15, when the police started an official tally, there have been 20 deaths tied to overdoses on heroin or drugs thought to be heroin, according to police department statistics. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman