Pubdate: Tue, 05 Aug 2014
Source: Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, NH)
Copyright: 2014 Geo. J. Foster Co.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mYsCsdPU
Website: http://www.fosters.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/160
Author: Kimberley Haas

NEW DRUG TASK FORCE SURPRISED BY AMOUNT OF HEROIN ON STREETS

DOVER - Members of a new countywide drug task force say the amount of
heroin they are seeing on the streets is surprising, even to
experienced law enforcement officials.

"The volume of heroin we are seeing is at the level of marijuana we
dealt with 15 years ago," Sgt. Brandon Drysdale, the task force's
commander, recently reported to the Chiefs of Police of Strafford
County. Drysdale said Monday that when he started as a police officer
in Somersworth 17 years ago, marijuana was the most commonly seen drug
for law enforcement officials. Today, heroin, which is cheaper and
easy to obtain, has become the drug of choice for many area residents.

The task force was not put into place to specifically combat the
heroin epidemic, which Attorney General Joseph Foster has called the
biggest problem facing New Hampshire. Instead, Drysdale said, the
force is a way to pool together resources from a number of communities
to address drug problems as a whole and to combat the other crimes
associated with substance abuse.

Robberies and burglaries are examples of those crimes, Drysdale
said.

"The Attorney General has a task force which has been running for many
years. Rockingham County has a drug task force as well," Drysdale
said. "We tried to put together the best structure based upon the
ideas and philosophy of drug task forces in this state, and others as
well."

Since the task force was established on July 1, 19 investigations have
been started and three arrests have been made. Members of the task
force have seized a variety of drugs, cash and property.

"We have our assigned office space where we meet every day and talk
about what we are going to do," Drysdale said. He said there are nine
people who work on the force. Some are full time officers, others are
part time.

According to a press release authorized by Sheriff David Dubois, all
law enforcement officers assigned to the task force have been sworn in
as Strafford County Deputy Sheriffs and operate under the authority of
the Sheriff's Office which gives the task force jurisdictional
authority throughout the state.

"This Task Force has established partnerships with state, federal, and
other county units working to address drug crime throughout the state
and region and is committed to a cooperative effort in addressing this
growing problem throughout the region. The Strafford County Sheriff's
Office is honored to have been asked to provide leadership and support
to this endeavor," Dubois said.
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