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.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman