Pubdate: Sat, 25 Jun 2005
Source: Herald-Dispatch, The (Huntington, WV)
Copyright: 2005 The Herald-Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.hdonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1454
Author: Bryan Chambers

SEMINAR TO EXPLAIN DRUG TRADE

HUNTINGTON - Tri-State residents have an opportunity next week to
learn more about how to spot drug activity in their neighborhoods and
the mentality of drug dealers.

Two Charleston Police officers who are involved in drug and anti-gang
enforcement efforts will give a presentation titled "Street Gang
Identification and Drug Awareness" at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the
auditorium at Huntington City Hall, 800 5th Ave. One of the officers
is a member of the CPD's anti-gang enforcement unit. The other is a
member of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team, or MDENT, an
18-person unit consisting of officers from the Kanawha Sheriff's
Department, Charleston Police Department, State Police and several
small municipal police departments in Kanawha County.

Huntington Police Lt. Mike Davis said he hopes the presentation will
educate the public about the dangers of the drug trade.

"I assume they will paint a picture that the situation could get worse
than what we are seeing now, so that may wake a few people up," Davis
said. "We get the impression that drug dealers think Huntington is an
easy place to sell and that they have slim chances of getting caught
in town. It's our job to make them feel uncomfortable."

Members of Charleston's Anti-Gang Enforcement Unit and MDENT could not
be reached for comment Friday.

Davis said the presentation is a good follow-up to Thursday's
community forum, which focused on the warning signs of drug addiction
and suspicious activity. The reference to gangs in the title is a
little misleading, he said. "We believe that the people who sell drugs
here form loosely-knit groups and may be tied to gangs in larger
cities," he said. "But we don't want citizens to believe that we have
organized gang problems here in Huntington, because we don't."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin