Pubdate: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 Source: Glendale News-Press (CA) Copyright: 2002 Times Community Newspapers Contact: http://www.latimes.com/tcn/glendale/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/167 Author: Ben Godar, News-Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) QUANTITY DOESN'T ALWAYS EQUAL QUALITY Glendale Police Vice/Narcotics Officers Hope Going After Small Crimes Prevents Larger Ones. GLENDALE -- The officers in the Glendale Police Department's vice/narcotics detail believe that even small drug offenses warrant serious investigation. "The most important thing about narcotics enforcement at the local level is preventing the little crimes that tend to fester and rise to a greater level of crime," Sgt. Tom Lorenz said. So far this year, vice/narcotics officers have made 161 drug-related arrests and seized several hundred thousand grams of everything from marijuana to cocaine. They have also seized more than $500,000 in cash, which will help fund drug awareness and enforcement. "We don't like chasing dollars," Lorenz said, "but when you seize drugs you usually end up seizing assets as well." In addition to drug trafficking, vice/narcotics officers also handle cases involving prostitution, gambling and alcohol-license violations. Lorenz said while Glendale has a low occurrence of prostitution and gambling, those cases are a major priority. "If left unattended, those activities start to create a certain kind of neighborhood," Lorenz said. That concern that neighborhoods not be allowed to deteriorate also plays into the detail's alcohol investigations. Lorenz said officers pay special attention to bars where drinking regularly leads to assaults. Vice/narcotics officers also work to educate the community on drugs and drug use. In the last year, Officer Tim Feeley launched a program to help educate parents on what drugs their children may be exposed to. "Kids receive DARE, but the parents are unaware of a lot of the newer drugs," Feeley said. Ecstasy, GHB and Ketamine have become the drugs of choice for many young people, and many parents do not know what they are or what effects they can have, Feeley said. Though Ecstasy seizures have increased, Lorenz said investigators still find a wide variety of drugs in Glendale. With the belief that every possession arrest could lead to a dealer, it is not uncommon for vice/narcotics officers to start a shift at 6 a.m. and not head home until midnight. "We have to work on drug-dealer hours," Lorenz said. But the officers on the detail believe that kind of persistence sends a message to drug users and distributors. "If you sell drugs, we're going to come and get you," Lorenz said. "That sends a message, and word travels fast." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D