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Book the Colonial Beach 'users,' too
Date published: 8/18/2008
Book the Colonial Beach 'users,' too
At 6 a.m. on Aug. 7, a team of law enforcement officers--representing federal agencies, the Virginia State Police, the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office (under Sheriff C.O. Balderson), and allies from the Northern Neck and our local police department under the direction of Chief Christopher Hawkins--made a drug bust in Colonial Beach ["Drug raids 'hit 'em,'" Aug. 8].
When the new chief took the helm on Jan. 4, I advised him that one of his first duties was to integrate our police force with the county Sheriff's Office and the state police. This he did with dispatch.
This time, the federal and state agencies were not reluctant to include the local police and county Sheriff's Office in the preparations. Job well done! Hollywood could not have choreographed it better.
There is talk of repeating this operation as needed to eradicate the drug plague. Saying that makes one wonder: Where there is a ready supply, there must be a local demand.
Although the feds want to catch the major suppliers, I contend the local users should be held accountable, as well. Is that worthy of pursuit?
In the former raid, the federal charges were used extensively. This time it appears to be a mix of state and federal prosecutions.
Of course, at the local level there is another ingredient involved. If these cases are plea-bargained between defense counsel and prosecutor, one cannot predict the outcome. A "slap on the wrist" will not do.
Let us stick together--the arresting officers, the prosecutors, and the judges.
This little town needs the collective help of everyone involved. Most residents are law-abiding. They want to see justice administered. We can become a model for the entire area. Don't let us down.
Frederick C. Rummage
Colonial Beach
The writer is mayor of Colonial Beach.
Date published: 8/18/2008
Most recent reader comments:
Think about it...and look at it from the up-side
(posted by
Mandrake
, Aug. 18, 2008 3:09 pm)
New laws can be passed at the State level (I am sure the good ole boys will oblige since it makes them look good) Perhaps doubling the sentence for failure to dislcose accurate information would help the drug fiend remember. I doubt very much that a user needs to look for a new dealer every time he is in need...he knows whom to see and where. If the dealer is not accessible he doesn't sell. Where there is a will there is a way. It seems there is no will in America to stop illegal drugs and that is the prob
It would never hold up in court
(posted by
travelin_bone
, Aug. 18, 2008 11:32 am)
First, good luck proving WHEN a drug user used drugs. A positive test could indicate use 10 min ago or 10 days ago. Second, the average user doesn't know the chain of supply or dealer's names. Holding a jail term over their heads and demanding this info is only asking for lies in order to cover one's own arse, which will certainly be part of said drug dealer's defense. Local law enforcement will be exhausted on a wild goose chase looking for Leroy don't know his last name.
Well said Mayor. Plea bargaining is an evil practice
(posted by
Mandrake
, Aug. 18, 2008 9:56 am)
and should be outlawed countrywide.That will not happen because there are insufficient jails to hold all criminals prosecuted under the current scenario, so expedience turns criminals loose with a slap or perhaps a tap on the wrist. Drug users are perceived as victims and drunks are sick. It's difiicult to be tough on weak and sick people.Think about this:A drug user is arrested and charged and in addition if they do not disclose their dealer's name and address they a charged with collusion to distribution
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