Pubdate: Wed, 27 Aug 2003
Source: Topsail Voice (NC)
Copyright: 2003 Hamsptead Publishing, LLC.
Contact:  http://www.topsailvoice.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1786
Author: Kenneth Berg

LET THE POLICE TAKE CARE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS

Dear Editor,

I read with interest Joe Rigby's letter to the editor (Aug. 20, Help Sneads 
Ferry get rid of illegal drugs).

While the idea of discouraging illegal drug use is a valid and morally 
correct intention, I couldn't help but wonder if a "citizens group" is an 
appropriate vehicle for policing the unincorporated area of Sneads Ferry.

It also occurs to me that the factual content of Rigby's letter, as well as 
the front-page story that ran simultaneously, was not substantiated by 
anything or anyone other than Rigby and his opinion.

While the thought of murder, assault, domestic violence, and a myriad of 
other evil acts is indeed a scary thought, neither Rigby nor the news 
article confirm that "almost every crime issue in Sneads Ferry in recent 
months" has been related directly or indirectly to drug use.

It would seem that some concrete statistics would be called for prior to 
leaping to such an inflammatory statement.

Rigby's thinly-veiled attack on the Sheriff's Department renders his 
hypothesis, that Sneads Ferry is under the control of the drug lords, 
suspect in the best case scenario and smacking of a hidden agenda in the 
worse case scenario.

His well-known support for incorporation of Sneads Ferry surfaces rather 
quickly as a possibility.

Even more disturbing to me is his "confidential hot line," pitting neighbor 
against neighbor, encouraging citizens to report people they think may be 
buying or selling drugs -- this is clearly vigilante tactics.

If we have information about our neighbors, we have a Sheriff's Department 
to whom we should direct our information; not a hotline manned by unnamed, 
non-professional, wannabe cops.

I think that prior to besmirching the entire community of Sneads Ferry with 
accusations, Rigby and the Topsail Voice would do well to research some 
accurate statistics to validate their statements, and use their energy to 
encourage cooperation with the system we already have in place -- the 
American justice system, not Rigby's Secret Police.

Kenneth Berg

Sneads Ferry

(Editor's note: While Joe Rigby was quoted in the article mentioned in the 
letter, he is not in charge of SFCIA, he is just one of its members.)
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens