POLICE OUTREACH EFFORTS CAN HELP REDUCE CRIME

I read with interest two articles in The Sun's July 27 Maryland section.

In "Drug-related visits to city's ERs down," city officials rightly
credited significant increases in drug treatment funding for the reduction
of cocaine and heroin overdoses seen in hospital emergency rooms. This is
evidence that addressing addiction as a public health issue rather than
just a crime issue is successful.

In "HotSpot program backed at rally," city officials claim community
policing requires too much of officers' time in meetings. But these
meetings are, among other things, between the police officers and addiction
counselors working to get people into treatment and between police officers
and parole officers working to keep people from returning to prison.

While the reduction in crime statistics is important and impressive, the
police department should take a broader view of crime fighting and prevention.

Time police spend meeting with community members and building relationships
can only help reduce the harm caused by drug and alcohol addiction.

Ann Ciekot
Baltimore