Pubdate: Sun, 28 Oct 2001
Source: Bristol Press (CT)
Copyright: 2001, The Bristol Press
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1643
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/569
Author: Kristen A. Turick
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?186 (Oxycontin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

NARCOTIC ARRESTS UP

BRISTOL -- Narcotic arrests in the city are up by about 20 percent this 
year, due in part to the implementation of the police department's Crime 
Suppression Unit almost one year ago and increased legwork by the 
department's narcotics division.

"That's not to say there has been more narcotics activity, but we've been 
more aggressive in going after them," said Sgt. Eric Osanitsch of the 
narcotics division.

According to Osanitsch, the division has seen consistent use of heroin and 
crack cocaine among area drug users, while synthetic drugs such as Ecstasy 
and Oxycontin have gained popularity.

Oxycontin, a prescription painkiller, is often used by heroin users, but 
can be hard for people to obtain, according to Osanitsch.

"I think most [users] would prefer Oxycontin because it's pure and it's a 
certain dosage, but it's a limited supply," Osanitsch said, adding that 
there can be 500 tablets of the drug available one week and none the next 
because the supply is largely dependent upon forged prescriptions and 
pharmacy thefts.

With heroin remaining the drug of choice for most local users, Osanitsch 
said the division has investigated approximately six deaths suspected to be 
heroin-related.

"We had a time there when we got more than usual early in the year," 
Osanitsch said. "The problem with heroin is you're not sure what you're 
getting and some of it has been very strong, some of it has been up to 85 
percent pure."

Police Chief John DiVenere said he is pleased with the effect the 
department has had on local drug activity.

"We don't have the open-air drug markets we used to at Davis Drive and 
Union Street," DiVenere said. "I remember driving down there in an unmarked 
car and people surging up to us to sell drugs."

DiVenere said the creation of the CSU last November frees up three officers 
to focus on a variety of duties, including narcotics arrests.

"The CSU officers don't have the responsibility to answer routine calls for 
service," DiVenere said. "They are encouraged to go out and find things, 
they spend a lot of time in our hot spots and working with narcotics to do 
some surveillance, some stake-outs and some stings."

According to Osanitsch, the CSU officers making drug arrests means the 
narcotics division detectives can focus on long-term investigations.

"They're doing more street-level interdiction while we're doing more 
upper-level investigation," Osanitsch said, adding that the work of the CSU 
"gives us intelligence on what's going on. Those [street-level arrests] are 
vital to our investigation because everything builds from those arrests."

Osanitsch said drug investigations can be lengthy and require a lot of 
patience by detectives.

"Our thrust right now, our main purpose is to get at the mid-level heroin 
and cocaine dealer. It takes time to develop those cases, it could take 
months. There's a lot that goes into it and you don't see results 
immediately," Osanitsch said, adding that the work of the division is never 
done because the people arrested on drug charges are quickly replaced by 
other dealers on the street.

"Generally, there's always someone waiting to fill that void," Osanitsch 
said. "There's a temporary lull, but in a couple of weeks, there will be 
somebody else moving in."
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