Pubdate: Sun, 29 May 2016 Source: Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY) Copyright: 2016 Daily Freeman Contact: http://www.dailyfreeman.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3269 TOWN DOUBLES DOWN ON POLICE STAFFING TO FIGHT DRUGS TOWN OF WALLKILL, N.Y. - A Massachusetts police chief made headlines and created a social media stir last year when he declared the 50-year "war on drugs" a failure and turned his department away from criminal penalties and toward treatment. That initiative by Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello has picked up traction in other departments across the nation. As the New York Times reported in January, "56 police departments in 17 states have started programs modeled on or inspired by Gloucester's, with 110 more preparing to do so." In Wallkill, police and elected officials have decided to double down on enforcement. Town officials said they are adding three more full-time police officers to the 23 full-timers and 13 part-time cops on the beat. Officials on Thursday announced the move, which will cost $300,000 per year, with the support of Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler and state police. Between 70 and 75 percent of all crime in the area is drug-related, Hoovler said. Town Supervisor Daniel Depew said the war on drugs is back. "The war on drugs should not have died with Nancy Reagan," Depew said, an apparent reference to the former first lady's "Just Say No" campaign against drug use. "I feel the federal government and the state government generally have done everything but faithfully abandon doing anything to directly impact these issues. Speaking on behalf of the state police, they need help, the District Attorney's Office needs help; funding needs to be put in place to combat this now before it takes over our culture and destroys our society," Depew said. Police Chief Robert Hertman also said there is a connection between crime and drug use. Representatives of the Town Board, police union and community advisory committee were at police headquarters to support the additional officers. - - Mid-Hudson News Network and Freeman staff - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom