After reading comments by Kenneth E. Lamb (Viewpoint, Dec. 22), a self- admitted former alcoholic, about the defendants recently arrested in the bust of a cocaine ring, a few questions: I gather that Lamb is better off as a result of coming clean. Was he arrested? If so, was that instrumental in his recovery? If not, would arrest have helped him to regain control over his life? And since the defendants appear to be mostly pillars of the community, is their arrest necessary to get them to gain control over their behavior? [continues 152 words]
Many Already Pleaded On State Charges In Cocaine Ring The 30 people arrested on state charges in a major cocaine bust earlier this month are scheduled for arraignment today, but most will not appear in court. Circuit Judge Jan Shackelford will preside over the 9 a.m. arraignments at which defendants generally enter not guilty pleas and are assigned to a trial judge and court date. But at least 17 of the defendants accused of participating in what prosecutors call a massive network of drug users and dealers already have entered written pleas of not guilty and are not required to appear at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building. [continues 550 words]
How A Clandestine Operation Foiled A Pensacola Drug Ring It's the ultimate in close-quarters surveillance, and it's something that just doesn't happen in Pensacola. Perhaps in high profile, organized-crime investigations in New York City and Chicago. Or during large-scale South Florida busts that net hundreds of pounds of seized drugs. "Operation Sandshaker," the federal investigation into a cocaine ring that led to 41 arrests this month, marks one of the first times authorities in Northwest Florida have installed hidden cameras inside a suspect's home. [continues 1358 words]
It is a shame when we read that our government has essentially declared war on its own citizens. Thus seems to be the case in the "Sandshaker bust." Much can be said about the "drug war," but the recent arrests illustrate, better than any words, the problems associated with this hypocritical, wasteful and generally wrong- headed effort which erodes our civil liberties and ruins the lives of citizens who, for the most part, are productive and constructive members of our community. [continues 446 words]
The phone rang. The national editor of a newspaper asked me, "So are they going to rename the town Pensa-cocaine? I see we're not the only place getting snowed under." Call it what you will. The righteous wing of the community: shameful, an indication of society's decadence, proof the cultural war is being won by the wrong side; the liberal latitudes and attitudes wing of the community: boomer-generation recreational drug use, poor personal choices, predictable dysfunctional living manifested by out- of-control controlling behavior. [continues 798 words]
Scales, Refrigerator, $9,000 Among Items Seized In Raids Federal agents hauled off an array of items used to snort, weigh and smoke cocaine, including sifters and scales. They got dozens of plastic bags containing traces of the drug. They took photographs that had been posted on one man's refrigerator, nearly $9,000 that another man had stowed away in a safe, address books from several homes and a firearm. The agents walked out with a bounty when they searched 11 locations in the Pensacola area as the "Operation Sandshaker" investigation into local cocaine trafficking came to a head Dec. 8-9. [continues 866 words]
"Operation Sandshaker"? Why not "Operation Stake-out on Panferio Drive"? Sheesh! OK, what's the difference between a crack bust on West Cervantes Street and a cocaine bust on Pensacola Beach Boulevard? Location, location, location! I guess that white sand wasn't the only draw for some folks and they didn't need a hurricane to blow it all away, either. All joking aside, any conspiracy theorist worth his salt might want to take a closer look at the big picture here. Everyone knows the Sandshaker Lounge may as well be built on solid gold as beach sand. The developer or investor who happens to land this property in a sweetheart deal is going to make a killing on condo sales, don't you know? You don't suppose there's any connection? No, no way! (You think?) Ernest Lewis Gulf Breeze [end]
Feb. 27 Sentencing Set; Life In Prison Possible The woman known for introducing the Bushwacker to Pensacola Beach pleaded guilty Thursday to federal drug conspiracy and money-laundering charges. Linda Murphy, owner of the Sandshaker Lounge and Package Store, admitted to helping her husband, Robert Murphy, and others pay for large amounts of cocaine that they had been importing during the past three years. Linda Murphy is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 27. She could face from 10 years to life in prison and fines of up to $4 million. [continues 824 words]
The recent headline "Prominent citizens arrested in drug ring" by Amber Bollman and Brett Norman displayed tasteless, tactless and uncalled for mention of a totally innocent and uninvolved family member of one who was arrested. The mention of a family member of a 40-year-old adult has absolutely no journalistic value and should never have been mentioned. I suppose the writers were trying to justify their headline's use of "Prominent citizens" because in my opinion there was maybe only one who could be considered prominent of those arrested. It's as if they drive around looking for the proverbial puddle with an unsuspecting bystander on the other side. Good, community-oriented people get hurt by this kind of indiscretion. I guess my message is, "Think before you print." Kees Barfield, Tampa [end]
I am not perfect, nor have I never made bad choices or mistakes. However, I do know there are consequences to my actions. That said, the statement in the Dec. 11 News Journal by attorney Jim Jenkins that "the majority of the people who have contacted me are merely personal users of cocaine (sic)" blew me away. His argument is that because they just use they cause no harm. Who does he think he is kidding? The "merely personal users" are the very people responsible for trafficking. They are the sole reason the cocaine dealers are in business. [continues 124 words]
Archer, Powell, Sanford Each Reverse Pleas Three more suspects indicted on federal drug charges last week have pleaded guilty and have agreed to cooperate with the government's investigation. On Friday, Mary Jo Archer, Glen Murray Sanford Jr. and Dana Lynn Powell admitted to taking part in a drug conspiracy that brought more than 5 kilograms of cocaine into the area during the past three years. They initially pleaded innocent Dec. 12. Another suspect, Denise Killerlane Winkler, also appeared before U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson on Friday morning. But Prosecutors and Winkler's attorney, Carl Lida, asked to have the hearing closed, and Vinson approved the motion. [continues 583 words]
Nancy Davis was pregnant with Ronald Reagan's child before they were wed. Speaker of the House "Nitwit" Gingrich was having an affair during Bill Clinton's impeachment. Speaker-elect Bob Livingston was rejected to replace "Nitwit" because it was found out Bob was messing around on his wife and had many previous affairs. Congressman Henry Hyde had sexual indiscretions with a married woman for five years. Isn't having an affair a big lie? Didn't George Bush dodge Vietnam through the Texas Air National Guard compliments of Daddy Bush? George never finished his full tour in the Guard. What makes commander in chief George so different from Bill Clinton? When asked about drugs and booze George said he won't go back past 28 years. Bush was embarrassed during his campaign when it came out he had gotten a DUI in the past. [continues 54 words]
Operation Sandshaker Nets More Than 30 Some 40 people face drug-related federal and state charges in connection with a major cocaine trafficking operation that agents have been investigating for three years. At least 32 people had been taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, and more arrests were expected as authorities worked to locate additional suspects. Federal authorities had search warrants for 12 locations in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and filed paperwork to seize the popular Sandshaker Lounge & Package Store, two Pensacola Beach condominiums and a house on Gonzalez Street. [continues 1013 words]
Would it not be wonderful if our governor, who bravely inserted the feeding tube in the Schiavo case, would use his power and influence with his "hip pocket" Legislature and create a level playing field for all Florida citizens? Since his daughter, Noelle, and the Republican mouthpiece Rush Limbaugh have escaped punishment under our drug laws, why not grant amnesty for all the inmates in our jails and prisons who are there for violating those same laws? At a cost of over $50 per person, per day, think of the tax savings by releasing one-third of our prison population. A much better deal than the lottery for the schools. A good deal for rehab. William R. Davenport, Pensacola [end]
Federal Officials Seeking Forfeiture Of Property Three more people charged in connection with a cocaine-trafficking operation were taken into custody Wednesday, one day after federal and state authorities announced more than 30 arrests and seized 31 vehicles. A Miami-area woman, Denise Killerlane Winkler, 43, has been arrested on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilograms - approximately 11 pounds - of cocaine. She is among 11 people under federal indictment in the wake of a three-year investigation that culminated this week with the release of a 41- page affidavit detailing cocaine buys witnessed and recorded by drug agents. [continues 1173 words]
Major League Baseball officials finally agreed to step up to the plate and begin penalizing players for steroid use next season after learning that more than 5 percent of this year's tests came back positive. This is a wise course of action for the league. If cheaters are found, they deserve the punishment handed down by league. Anabolic steroids not only are illegal but they also are dangerous. They tend to increase blood pressure, harden arteries and increase the risk of heart disease, liver disease and certain forms of cancer. [continues 349 words]
I must correct a writer on the reference to Kaneh-Bosm in Exodus 30:22-24 ("Different word," Letters, Oct. 13). The word kaneh-bosm has been mistranslated as calamus, a common marsh plant with little monetary value that does not have the qualities or value ascribed to kaneh-bosm. The error occurred in the oldest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint in the third century B.C., and was repeated in the many translations that followed. Research indicates that the root "kan" in this construction means "reed" or "hemp," while bosm means "aromatic." This word appears five times in the Old Testament, in the books of Exodus, the Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. So please do some research on the word of the Lord God Almighty, Deb. Scott Russ, Baton Rouge, La. [end]
In reference to Deb Stow ("Different word," Letters, Oct. 13), the phrase, "kaneh bosm" is the original Hebrew use of our present word cannabis. It was mistranslated in five locations in the Bible, often as calamus. Those five locations are Exodus 30:23; Song of Solomon 4:14; Isaiah 43:24; Jeremiah 6:20; and Ezekiel 27:19. In 1980 Hebrew University in Jerusalem confirmed this information. Kaneh bosm was mistranslated to cane or calamus, sweet cane, fragrant cane or sweet-smelling incense, etc., depending on the translation. - - Stan White, Dillon, Colorado [end]
I have heard enough about the male in jail for drug offenses. He cried he would rather do community service or go into the military rather than sit in jail. You had the lady write in saying that it would be a shame to force this young criminal into the military, and Circle K selling alcohol and tobacco were worse than his drug possession. You have a male writing in for putting them into the armed forces, stop already. First of all, having a history of drug use, let alone convictions will stop you from being allowed into the military. We discharge the users we find in the service. Second, convenience stores sell alcohol and tobacco products, but these are legal items in this country where as drugs such as your jailbird had are not, or else why is he incarcerated? [continues 59 words]
In "Somebody pays" (Letters, Oct 23), Mr. Holleman said that the deceased's estate should pay for the funeral escort. I agree. After all, shouldn't we all pay for the services we receive from our police that don't directly relate to catching criminals? Let's send a bill to the parents of students in the "D.A.R.E." program. Let's charge all organizations and businesses for the times they have requested officers speak at their meetings or put on safety demonstrations for their employees. [continues 146 words]
In "Military an option to prison" (Letters, Oct. 23), Clark Tugwell suggests that young people charged with drug, alcohol and other offenses be offered an option of entering military service instead of jail. The military services have a minimum age requirement of 18. If an 18-year-old (an adult) is facing jail time, it is most likely not for a first-time youthful offense. Drug and alcohol problems generally begin at a much earlier age. At any rate, the military does not want them, and if their offenses are a matter of public record, will not accept them. [continues 122 words]
I bristle at the thought of sending substance abusers into the military as a way of easing prison overcrowding ("Military an option to prison," Letters, Oct. 23). These people have chosen to violate the law. Why would we want to reward that conduct? Do we want to teach a substance abuser to use machine guns and explosives? Do we want to burden our military with retraining people who cannot live within the broad guidelines of civilian life? I do agree that offenders could be more beneficial to society by not sitting in cells. Put them to work on road gangs! At a time when military enlistments and re-enlistments are down, we need to provide more support and benefits to attract and retain professional military personnel. Charles E. Johnson Pensacola [end]
I have a suggestion to make to the judicial system. Our jails are overcrowded and very costly. We could change that by allowing judges, for example in the cases of youthful DUI offenses, drug offenses and other youthful offenses, to offer a choice of jail time or the military. The idea is not to put hardened criminals in the military, but young people who made a wrong choice in their life. In my opinion this is much more beneficial to society and youth than sitting in a jail cell. To the young person it would be a valuable experience all of their life. Clark I. Tugwell, Pensacola [end]
WEAR-TV ran a story on Oct. 2 about the folks on Green Street who were fed up with the crack cocaine dealers in their neighborhood. I live in the same corner of Brownsville surrounded by Green Street, Mobile Highway, Citrus Street and Jackson Street. When the crack addicts and dealers moved in around my home with their accompanying trash and crime, I fought back. I watched them, identified them and called the sheriff's dispatcher every time I knew where, when and how they were making deals. [continues 117 words]
Zero tolerance, hmmm, referring to Stan White's letter ("In the Bible," Letters, Oct. 3): Exodus 30:22-24 does not list Kaneh bosm (cannabis) as an ingredient for the holy anointing oil. Myrrh is more or mowr. Cinnamon is qinnamown. Calamus is qaneh. Cassia is qiddah. Olive Oil is zayith shemen. You wanted me to believe you, yet the word of the Lord God Almighty read different. - - Deb Stow, Pensacola [end]
The recent news concerning Rush Limbaugh's alleged drug problems comesas no great surprise. If the accusations prove true, he has my sincere sympathy, and I wish him well in his recovery. However, it is time for us to wake up to the fact that drug addiction ,in particular prescription drug addiction, is in danger of becoming this nation's number one public health problem. This issue transcends all ages, genders and socioeconomic groups. Sadly, we have become a nation of pill poppers. It is interesting to note that our number one prescribed drug happens to be hydrocodone, a powerful prescription pain medication. [continues 75 words]
Thanks for publishing Scott Russ's outstanding letter ("It's time to put an end to the double-standard `War on drugs,' " Oct. 4). A well- known white Republican talk show host is being investigated for purchasing huge amounts of prescription narcotic pain killers illegally on the black market. If this had been somebody by the name of Willie, Tyrone or Jose - in other words, a black or brown person - the investigation would be conducted by a SWAT team at 4 a.m. [continues 51 words]
In the Bible I'm having zero tolerance for cannabis (marijuana) prohibitionists and their terrorizing ignorance, so I was pleased to read Stephen Heath's powerful letter ("Join L.E.A.P," Sept. 27, 2003) and would like to add a biblical perspective. The U.S. government's attempt to exterminate kaneh bosm (cannabis), which is part of the holy anointing oil for all the generations (see Exodus 30), is, biblically, not something to consider exterminating. Bush and his servants' staunch attempt to exterminate what God gave and said was good, on the first page of the Bible, is not similar to loving your brother, but rather is a sign of hatred. The government's war on cannabis is worse than ludicrous, it's Luciferous. Caging humans for using or growing a plant is anti-Christian and uncivilized, not just to me but to God who sent me. Don't believe it, just ask Him yourself. Stan White, Dillion, Colo. [end]
I read Chris Collins' letter to the editor ("Paying the debt," Sept. 19) and it made me sad. I don't want to see someone like Chris Collins go to jail or be forced to join the military. In my opinion it's not Chris Collins that is wrong but the law that is wrong. Using or selling illegal drugs may be wrong because it's illegal, but is it really any more wrong than working at a convenience store that sells alcohol and cigarettes? Alcohol and tobacco kill hundreds of thousands of people a year, yet we don't put people who sell them in jail. [continues 66 words]
Thanks for publishing the letter by Stan White ("Drug reform needed," Letters, Sept. 18). It's no wonder our younger generation has no respect for the law. Prohibition has created a double standard. Our former and past presidents have admitted to drug use and they have still risen to the office of president of the "greatest" nation in the world. The weakest members of our society wind up going to jail for drug use while the rich and connected get off with little or no criminal sanctions. So what message are we really sending to our kids? [continues 52 words]
I was sorry to hear of the Santa Rosa County sheriff's plane crashing and am glad to hear the occupants are recovering. But this leads me to ask, why is the Sheriff's Office still wasting valuable grant dollars by using aircraft, flying around in the sky all day, looking for marijuana plants? Any law enforcement officer with integrity will acknowledge that no matter how many illegal plants they discover and uproot, there's no one in Santa Rosa - or anywhere else - who wants marijuana, that can't get it. [continues 107 words]
I am in the Escambia County Jail waiting to be shipped off to prison for the next 82 months. I was sentenced to prison for failing a drug test while waiting for an open bed in a local drug rehab center. My crime was a non-violent drug offense and the only victims in my case will be those of you who pay tax dollars to house, clothe and feed me for the next seven years (along with thousands of others in my same situation). [continues 85 words]
Many citizens agree ("Failed prohibitionists," Sept. 3) it is time for credible drug law reform to end overuse of the incarceration system. It makes me ask if without the "treatment, not jail" advantage, would this letter have been written by the governor's drug-addicted daughter Noelle Bush instead of Steve Hach? Stan White, Dillon, Colo. [end]
In response to the recent story on crime rates and prison overcrowding, it is important to note that almost one-third of drug-related admissions to our state prisons are for possession offenses. At current incarceration levels, the state prison system spends over $230 million per year just to house drug offenders. Our sentencing priorities are so far out of balance that non-violent drug offenders are often given mandatory prison terms that run longer on average than those given to murderers and rapists. [continues 123 words]
Police officer Michael DeLay tells News Journal readers that criticism of police shootings is too often knee-jerk and unwarranted. He cites an example wherein he came close to harm when an apparently innocent bystander assaulted him during a traffic stop. The inference is that such encounters give police similar justification for violence against unarmed citizens. What he ignores is that criticism from the ACLU and others against police is not unwarranted if we also consider the many stories where cops assault or kill unarmed citizens. In the past decade police from Los Angeles to New York City and many points in between have killed citizens in drug raids to wrong addresses; on simple marijuana busts; and in the worst cases, direct murder with a dropped weapon provided by self-same police. Refer to www.hr95.org/Memorial.html for just a partial summary of citizens killed by police. [continues 68 words]
As Escambia County looks for creative ways to reduce an overcrowded jail population, reports of a drop in the nation's crime rates to their lowest levels in 30 years raise questions about the need to build more prisons. In other words, do more prison cells mean less crime? Some criminologists attribute the drop in crime to tougher prison sentences, more prisons and to demographics, as the population is aging. Violent crime, for example, tends to be committed mostly by young males. [continues 411 words]
What do boredom, stress and money have in common for American teenagers? They all play a significant role in leading them to substance abuse. More than half of the nation's 12- to 17-year-olds are at greater risk of substance abuse because of high stress, frequent boredom, too much spending money or some combination of these characteristics, according to a Columbia University survey released last week. Those with $25 or more a week in spending money are nearly twice as likely as those with less to smoke, drink and use illegal drugs, and more than twice as likely to get drunk, said the study by the university's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. [continues 204 words]
In an effort to stave off overcrowded prisons and keep violent criminals behind bars, Gov. Jeb Bush should be commended for asking the Legislature to increase spending for the state prison system. Society has grown weary of criminals, especially those who commit violent felonies. If - as seems likely - keeping criminals in jail means less crime, then having criminals in jail is a plus for most people who are not in jail, and society in general. Bush's request comes as lawmakers are at the Capitol for a special session on medical malpractice insurance. The plan calls for putting about $60 million more into the prison budget. The corrections budget for the 2003-2004 fiscal year is $1.82 billion. The increase would take it to about $1.88 billion. [continues 189 words]
It is truly amazing to see all the negative opinions from so many individuals before all the facts are in about a subject they know little or nothing about unless they themselves are in that position. I refer to the position of a law enforcement officer who is fighting for his life when combating a violent individual. To make the assumption that a nude person that was obviously having either some serious mental health issue or a drug or alcohol reaction, posed no real threat and was merely seeking help, is beyond naive. The likes of Susan Watson, an associate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and other members of the community calling for some kind of community-funded board, paid for by taxpayers' money, before the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's (FDLE) investigation is complete is unconscionable. [continues 485 words]
I have to agree with Richard Connolly about all the shootings by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. Like the shooting of a black woman who was shot in her car awhile back by the Pensacola Police Department, who said she was making a drug deal in a parking lot and tried to run over the officers with her car. Even if that was the case, they could have shot her tires out or found some way to stop her. They didn't have to kill her. It seems to me and the other citizens here that the deputies and police in Escambia and Pensacola are trigger-happy. We need the citizens to elect a new sheriff who will stop all these unneeded shootings. Buddy Newman, Pensacola [end]
Frain Prepared OxyContin Injection That Killed Man An admitted OxyContin addict was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison for preparing an injection of the prescription narcotic that killed a 37-year-old man on a drug binge. Laura Frain, right, was sentenced to 12 years in prison by Escambia County Circuit Judge Terry Terrell in the death of Eric Seese. Tony Giberson @PensacolaNewsJournal.com Laura Frain pleaded for leniency from Circuit Judge Terry Terrell. She said she was in the throes of a brutal opiate addiction that had taken her career, husband and child when she found herself in May 2001 at the late-night party in Cantonment that left Eric Seese dead. [continues 457 words]
Citizens Panel Sought To Examine Deputies Conduct American Civil Liberties Union of Florida leaders are asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate what it calls a "pattern of fatal police shootings by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office." Civil rights marches, state law enforcement investigations and special training have not stemmed what local civil rights groups believe is a burgeoning crisis in community and police relations. "There are issues here of policy and competence. It is the job of the police to apprehend a person and take a person into custody," said ACLU of Florida Executive Director Howard Simon. "When the person you are trying to apprehend ends up dying, that's not a successful police operation." [continues 1536 words]
TULIA, Texas (AP) -- Mattie White had all but given up hope that she would ever again be reunited with her two children sent to prison during an undercover drug operation since called into question. "I thought, `It's not going to ever happen.' I would go off and cry to myself," White said. Her children were among 46 arrested in 1999 in this small Panhandle town. But over the past few months, White's hopes have risen as civil rights advocates decried the arrests as racially motivated and a judge recommended that the convictions be overturned. [continues 571 words]
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- The new head of Alabama's law enforcement agency has formally banned racial profiling by state troopers and added a new procedure for reviewing motorists' complaints. The policy, unveiled last week, prohibits troopers from stopping motorists based solely on ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, age or cultural group, and mandates annual training. "This policy clearly states that such actions will not be tolerated," Public Safety Director Mike Coppage said. Coppage's move, mirroring actions by other states, drew surprise and praise from black legislators who had expressed concerns about racial profiling in the past. [continues 328 words]
Safe Stolen In Deadly Crime Reported To Hold Marijuana A March 10 home invasion that resulted in the death of Christine Snyder's daughter now has led to the mother's arrest. Jessica Snyder, 18, was beaten to death when four men broke into her Warrington home and stole her mother's safe, according to the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. The men were arrested and charged with murder, and the safe was recovered. Investigators later cracked open Christine Snyder's safe and found more than a pound of marijuana and $400 in cash. [continues 786 words]
You know, I understand that there are valid concerns about drugs in our schools. I understand that there is a need for rules, regulations and punishments for children who knowingly expose other children to these dangers, and for the parents of these children. However, I wonder if we've been so jaded by the push to be "pro- active" in correcting the problems at hand that we can't tell the difference between a pill-pushing pre-teen and an absent-minded adolescent who just forgot to take his daily Flintstone? I applaud any and all efforts to rid our schools and communities of drugs, but how far is "too far"? Pensacola [end]
The older I get the more I appreciate the signature toast of the late Ed Ball, "Confusion to the enemy." In that spirit, I offer what hopefully will be my annual column to muddy the waters for those who insist on pinning political labels on everyone. This stems from my increasing unhappiness with the growing partisanship raging through the land. Boiled down, it comes to this: "If my side does it, it's right; if your side does it, it's wrong." [continues 642 words]
Zero tolerance policy in schools? Let's get real guys. How many drug abusers are going to bring their drugs to the office or turn them in to teachers? If a child finds drugs they should: (1) Seek a witness; (2) Turn them in to the first adult on staff they see. Zero tolerance doesn't apply here. Duh!! BETH WOODS, Pensacola [end]
Escambia County principals have apparently bought into the myth that punitive sanctions deter drug use. The University of Michigan's "Monitoring the Future Study" reports that lifetime use of marijuana is higher in the U.S. than any European country, yet America is one of the few Western countries that uses its criminal justice system to destroy the lives of citizens who prefer marijuana to martinis. It's worth noting that tobacco use has declined considerably in recent years. Public education efforts are paying off. This raises serious questions about the zero-tolerance war on some drugs. Mandatory minimum prison sentences, civil asset forfeiture, random drug testing and racial profiling are not necessarily the most cost-effective means of discouraging unhealthy choices. ROBERT SHARPE Program Officer Drug Policy Alliance Washington, D.C. [end]
Principals Against Drug Policy Change Escambia County principals say the issue is simple: Changing the School District's zero-tolerance policy on drugs will mean more drugs on school campuses. Middle and high school principals met with School Board members Wednesday to voice their concerns with a proposed policy that would allow students to turn in drugs or weapons without fear of expulsion. Board member Gary Bergosh suggested the policy, which is called "safe haven," as a way to ensure students who intend no harm are not unjustly punished. Bergosh said the policy would be used in cases where a student found drugs on campus or mistakenly brought prescription medicine or a pocketknife to school. [continues 685 words]
