DRUG CRIME LOW IN SURPRISE, POLICE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY

Drug crime is low in Surprise and police are determined to keep it that way.

Last year, Surprise police reported 42 arrests on suspicion of drug
possession or use and one for drug sales despite an estimated
population of about 112,000.

Four Surprise police detectives are assigned to state and federal
task forces to combat drug crimes in the city. Also, patrol officers
arrest drug offenders, particularly those caught smoking or carrying marijuana.

In neighboring El Mirage, police appear to be dealing with more drug
crime despite a population about one-third of that in Surprise.
Statistics released by El Mirage police showed 78 drug possession
arrests and 10 arrests for alleged manufacture or sales of drugs
during 2009. Police purchased a drug-sniffing dog this spring to help
with drug enforcement.

"It's a lot of users more so than dealers in Surprise," said Sgt.
Mark Ortega, a Surprise police spokesman. "We still are predominantly
a bedroom community."

But that doesn't mean Surprise drug detectives like Juan Diaz have
lots of free time.

Diaz, who is assigned to Maricopa County's High Intensity Drug
Trafficking Area task force, is often awakened to return to work.

The nine-year officer gives his cellphone number to residents and
officers who call about marijuana arrests, neighborhood drug houses
and suspects willing to talk about their drug suppliers.

Most of his cases start in Surprise, including an ongoing
investigation near Greenway Road and Cotton Lane.

Police heard complaints about frequent traffic at a Surprise home and
suspected someone who lived there might be selling drugs.

Surprise Special Assignment Unit officers helped Diaz and other task
force detectives serve a search warrant at the house on June 17.
Police found drug paraphernalia inside and arrested the resident.

Then Diaz went door to door in the neighborhood to say police were
trying to help. One neighbor thanked Diaz, saying he wouldn't feel
the need to sleep with a gun in his bed.

"Regardless of what I have found in the house, these are the big
cases," Diaz said. "Now they can (safely) walk the street."

Ortega said those efforts seem to have resulted in fewer drug cases
in recent years.

Police said some suspects have told officers they plan to move
outside Surprise due to the increased frequency of search warrants and busts.

"It sends a message, and we're starting to see it in our stats," Ortega said.

Not all West Valley cities have been as lucky as Surprise and El
Mirage, said Lt. Steve Bailey of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

Bailey, who leads the county's drug task force, said the economic
crisis left Southwest Valley cities such as Buckeye and Tolleson with
ample vacant homes easily taken over by drug dealers. Task force
detectives find often hundreds of pounds of marijuana inside those
houses after neighbors contact them with complaints, Bailey said.

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EL MIRAGE DRUG ARRESTS 2009

88 drug arrests.

About 76 percent of arrests involved marijuana possession, sale or manufacture.

About 23 percent of arrests involved other drugs such as
methamphetamine or cocaine.

80 drug arrests.

About 56 percent of arrests involved marijuana possession, sale or manufacture.

About 44 percent of arrests involved other drugs such as Ecstasy or
amphetamine.

Source: El Mirage Police Department

OVERDOSES BY THE NUMBERS

Drug overdose calls to Surprise firefighters:

2009: 170.

2008: 179.

Drug overdose patients treated at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center:

2009: 119.

2008: 127.

Most common overdose drugs in 2009*

30 percent: Drugs often available over the counter such as Tylenol or Benadryl.

28 percent: Antidepressants or psychiatric medications.

18 percent: Opoids such as Oxycontin, Percocet or Vicodin.

2 percent: Illicit or illegal drugs.

*Includes cases treated at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center and
reported to Banner Good Samaritan Poison & Drug Information Center.

Sources: Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Surprise Fire Department