Pubdate: Mon, 14 Mar 2005
Source: Enid News & Eagle (OK)
Copyright: Enid News & Eagle 2005
Contact:  http://www.enidnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2012

WAR ON DRUGS CERTAINLY IS WORTH FIGHTING, WINNING BY LOCAL OFFICERS

The Enid Police Department has been at it again.

This time a major drug sting, "Operation Ice Storm," targeted an operation 
bringing drugs from Mexico to Enid.

EPD had plenty of help this time, as 10 other law enforcement agencies 
joined in the raid that netted 20 arrests, as well as the seizure of 12 
vehicles, more than $7,000 in cash and about $16,000 worth of illegal 
drugs. The raid was the result of an 18-month investigation by Detective 
Rick Tanner of EPD's narcotics unit.

We've seen more than one drug raid in Enid this year, and we are sure we 
will see many more before 2005 is over. We stand behind the Enid Police 
Department and all other law enforcement agencies trying to rid our 
community of drugs.

We've seen and heard comments supporting the police and those comments 
saying the war on drugs can't be won and is not worth fighting.

We say it is.

Will we ever completely rid our community of drugs? No. We all know that 
won't happen. As long as there are people willing to use drugs, there will 
be people who will break the law bring drugs into our city or manufacture 
them and sell them. So in that respect, the war on drugs will never be won.

But, just looking at it in those terms is to miss the more important point. 
There never will be the final victory in the war on drugs. There always 
will be people willing to risk it all to sell and use drugs.

But, each raid like Operation Ice Storm is a victory. Each individual 
arrest is a victory. Every time a dealer is arrested and his illegal drugs 
confiscated, it's a victory. It means that much more poison is off the 
streets and can't be used to ruin lives, destroy families and sink another 
person into the downward spiral of drug addiction.

Some people say drug abuse only hurts the user, so let that person ruin his 
or her life. Once again, people who think like that are missing the bigger 
point.

Drug abuse only hurts the user? Think again.

In Operation Ice Storm, six children from 9 months old to 13 years old were 
put into the custody of the Department of Human Services because they were 
in homes where adults were arrested. Still think only the user gets hurt?

How many other crimes are committed so someone can feed his or her drug 
habit? How many innocent people are victimized so someone can feed a drug 
habit? Only the abuser gets hurt? Get real.

We offer our thanks to the Enid Police Department and all the agencies that 
participated in this latest drug raid. A lot of poison will never make it 
to the streets because of their work.

Congratulations, and good luck with the next raid.
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MAP posted-by: Beth