Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jul 2007
Source: West Central Tribune (Willmar, MN)
Copyright: 2007 Forum Communications Company
Contact:  http://www.wctrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/542
Author: Gregg Aamot
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ACTING CHIEF SAYS NORTHFIELD HEROIN PROBLEM IS REAL

NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- Northfield's acting police chief said Thursday 
that high school students here are indeed using heroin, despite 
criticism that a police announcement about the use of the hardcore 
drug was exaggerated.

"I believe this is a problem in Northfield. I think there is no 
question about that," acting Chief Roger Schroeder said after a 
meeting with school and health officials. "We are trying to get our 
hands around it and find a solution."

He added: "One child or student using heroin is too many."

Two weeks ago, Police Chief Gary Smith startled this leafy college 
town about 30 miles south of Minneapolis by saying that as many as 
150 young people were hooked on heroin. He said as many as 250 
current and former Northfield Senior High students could be involved 
in a heroin ring working out of the school, and that the drug abuse 
had fueled a rise in burglaries and thefts, some of them at St. Olaf 
and Carleton colleges.

High school officials said they were blindsided by the report and 
questioned Smith's numbers. Smith has since gone on an unexplained 
leave of absence. Schroeder declined Thursday to say why Smith was on 
leave or discuss the statistics Smith gave at a July 3 news conference.

Even so, health officials arranged for about 30 health and school 
officials to meet to discuss ways to combat drug abuse in the town. 
Smith's report wasn't discussed, but the meeting agenda was headed 
"Beyond the Headlines."

Ruth Amerman, a junior at Northfield Senior High who attended the 
meeting, said it would help if parents had more candid conversations 
with their children about drugs. And she said youth in Northfield 
need to have better rapport with police.

"I don't know, maybe it's in our blood - being in Northfield - to 
fight authority," she said.

At a downtown coffee shop, Northfield resident Jennifer Wolcott said 
Smith's report seemed "out of place for my knowledge of the town."

"We have had one inflammatory statement about it, but I just don't 
know whether it's true or not," she said.

Cathy Collison, who runs a bead shop, said she thinks there was "a 
bit of grandstanding" behind Smith's bombshell. However, she said, it 
has prompted many parents to take a closer look at what's been 
happening at school. Many parents showed up for a recent meeting at 
The Key, a youth center, where the chief's concerns were discussed, she said.

"The adults are asking lots of questions," Collison said.

High school seniors Sam Studer and Abe Henson, relaxing downtown a 
few weeks before their soccer season begins, said they've heard about 
heroin use at their school but haven't seen it themselves. They said 
Smith's estimate must include graduates or students no longer in school.

"It did seem high considering there are only 1,200 students in the 
whole school," Studer said.

Before Smith went on leave, he forwarded the results of an 
investigation into City Administrator Al Roder to the Rice County 
attorney, Smith's attorney said Thursday. The attorney, David 
Hvistendahl, said that probe, more than the controversy surrounding 
the drug issue, contributed to Smith's decision to take a leave. He 
said Smith is undergoing tests for a long-standing health issue.

Hvistendahl said the investigation involving Roder has to do with 
contractual and data practices matters.

Roder didn't immediately return a call left on his home machine or an 
e-mail to his office account.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman