Pubdate: Tue, 28 Feb 2012
Source: San Juan Journal (WA)
Copyright: 2012 San Juan Journal
Contact:  http://www.sanjuanjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2456
Author: Steve Werhly

ISLANDERS SEEK SOLUTIONS TO COMBAT HARD DRUG DEALERS

Formed less than six months ago, the San Juan Island Anti-Tweakers 
and Thieves Group already has 143 members on Facebook.

And more than sixty islanders joined leaders of the group at its 
first public meeting, Saturday at the Mullis Center, to talk about 
methamphetamine and heroin abuse in San Juan County, and what can be 
done to prevent it.

After four hours and six pages of questions, moderator Paul Arroyo 
closed the meeting by declaring his personal satisfaction with both 
the questions and San Juan County Sheriff Rob Nou's answers about 
prevention and prosecution of the sale and possession of 
methamphetamines and other drugs.

Most, but not all, of the audience nodded in agreement.

Before addressing three-dozen prepared and audience-submitted 
questions, Nou said he came to the meeting "honored and humbled" at 
the opportunity to "give publicity to a problem that hurts our 
children and open a line of communication with people that want to do 
something about the problem."

A series of questions about what "average citizens" could do to 
report drug crimes and stop the "thievery that goes with drug use" 
led Nou to welcome help from citizens.

"We're interested in tips, including anonymous tips," Nou said. "The 
best crime protection can sometimes be a nosy neighbor."

Nou emphasized, however, that everything he does to prevent and 
prosecute crime must be guided by "the oath I took to uphold the 
Constitution, including especially the bill of rights that guaranties 
our freedom."

Two specific anti-drug techniques were discussed: drug sniffing dogs 
and formation of a drug court. Nou said neither is part of San Juan 
County's anti-drug portfolio, but both have merit and could be 
important in the drug abuse prevention program.

"We can borrow the dogs from the mainland when needed," Nou said, 
adding that a drug-court model, used successfully in metropolitan 
areas, may make less sense in a small county like San Juan.

Nou noted that an important prevention step that parents could "and 
should" do is to pay close attention to their children, including 
checking backpacks, rooms and especially children's cars.

"Parents have a responsibility to watch and check on these things," 
said Nou, adding that the constitutional search-and-seizure 
guidelines that he must follow don't apply to parents, who must do 
whatever's necessary to keep their kids from hurting themselves or others.

Attending the meeting as a member of the audience, deputy prosecutor 
Charlie Silverman added that the greatest tragedy of drug abuse in 
the community is the "damage that all drugs, including alcohol and 
pot, do to the brains of our children."

Steve Gresham, San Juan Island Drug Prevention Coordinator, and Brad 
Fincher, District Court Probation Officer, stressed that help was 
available, especially to kids, through public and private agencies 
and hospitals. Silverman cautioned that kids and adults in the 
criminal justice system face severe treatment and that state and 
local agencies have been forced to cut back on supervision because an 
ongoing drop in state funding. Fincher added that those on probation 
must pay part of the cost of their own supervision.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom