Dec. 15, 2010
Unique Second Chance Taking Some Drug Users, Others Off the Street
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Police Chief Skip Holbrook will not allow accolades yet , but the drug market second chance intervention program is young. Those receiving a ‘second chance’ could still screw up. For now, the interventions are encouraging.
The Huntington Police Department and other law enforcement agencies teamed for an intervention that so-called “open air” markets in the four square block area surrounding Hal Greer Blvd. Their presence breeds criminal activities such as prostitution, robberies and shootings as well as neighborhood blight.
Officers identified essentially non-violent candidates for the ‘second chance’ program, then, make them an offer whose refusal meant doing time behind bars. The invited saw an unsigned arrest warrant with their name on it.
“It’s an early snapshot [but[ so far so good. We’re pleased with the progress, but do not want to tout success,” Holbrook said. So far, “We’ve seen a pretty dramatic change” in the second chance recipients and their conduct continues to be monitored daily.
The chief indicated this operation was “very specific” in its effort to “eradicate open air” drug market activities, meaning , for now, the program does not apply to other neighborhoods “where drug dealers move from one home to the other.” He explained, “traditional investigative practices and community tips” remain effective.
Acknowledging that the “drug issues [run] from one end of town to the other” , Holbrook emphasized that “we have not identified another true open air drug market to the degree this one performed.”
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Unique Second Chance Taking Some Drug Users, Others Off the Street
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Police Chief Skip Holbrook will not allow accolades yet , but the drug market second chance intervention program is young. Those receiving a ‘second chance’ could still screw up. For now, the interventions are encouraging.
The Huntington Police Department and other law enforcement agencies teamed for an intervention that so-called “open air” markets in the four square block area surrounding Hal Greer Blvd. Their presence breeds criminal activities such as prostitution, robberies and shootings as well as neighborhood blight.
Officers identified essentially non-violent candidates for the ‘second chance’ program, then, make them an offer whose refusal meant doing time behind bars. The invited saw an unsigned arrest warrant with their name on it.
“It’s an early snapshot [but[ so far so good. We’re pleased with the progress, but do not want to tout success,” Holbrook said. So far, “We’ve seen a pretty dramatic change” in the second chance recipients and their conduct continues to be monitored daily.
The chief indicated this operation was “very specific” in its effort to “eradicate open air” drug market activities, meaning , for now, the program does not apply to other neighborhoods “where drug dealers move from one home to the other.” He explained, “traditional investigative practices and community tips” remain effective.
Acknowledging that the “drug issues [run] from one end of town to the other” , Holbrook emphasized that “we have not identified another true open air drug market to the degree this one performed.”
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