Pubdate: Thu, 15 Sep 2005
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2005 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Author: Michele McPhee, Common Disgrace

UNION HITS CITY ON NARC UNIT CUT

The Boston Police union that represents detectives has filed an unfair 
labor practice against the city of Boston, accusing police department brass 
of decimating the narcotics unit and leaving entire neighborhoods without 
drug cops.

Earlier this year a dozen cops assigned to take down dealers and build 
cases against narcotics bigshots were transferred and entire units were 
shuttered. West Roxbury, Roslindale, Hyde Park and Jamaica Plain are being 
covered by a single drug unit. Before the reshuffling, there were three units.

Narcotics officers in the South End are responsible for drug duties in 
Brighton. Charlestown, which had two drug-related homicides this year, does 
not have a dedicated narcotics unit.

The grievance deals with the issue of patrolmen filling slots historically 
held by detectives. "Right now, detectives have been pushed out of the 
unit," said union president Robert Kenney.

Boston police spokesman Sgt. Tom Sexton said the number of drug unit 
investigators has been reduced, but that the focus of the force remains the 
same. Sexton would not comment on the union's grievance, saying the BPD had 
not been notified of its filing.

"We'll continue to discuss this matter in good faith," Commissioner 
Kathleen M. O'Toole said.

In May, BPD Superintendent Paul Joyce said the reshuffling of the drug unit 
was part of the plan to create a specialized squad -- the Street Violence 
Suppression Unit -- whose mission will be to combat the gang bloodletting 
and drug-related violence that has led to a rise in murders and riddled Hub 
neighborhoods with bullets.

"We continue to address gangs, drugs and firearms violence as our 
priorities and will continue to do so moving forward," he said.

But critics say the reorganization has led to a loss of investigative 
experience rather than a rise in arrests. In recent weeks the Herald has 
highlighted drug use on the Common, in the Public Garden and in other open 
spaces, a scourge becoming widespread across the Hub.

"When you have a dedicated drug unit that is responsible for that area, 
they get to know the dealers, the users and develop professional relations 
that are critical to gathering intelligence," Kenney said. "The unfair 
labor practice will bring it to the forefront."
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