CITY TO ADD OFFICERS IN WAR AGAINST DRUGS

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Recent drug busts involving crack cocaine have some
city officials worried about increased narcotics trafficking through the city.

Commissioner of Public Safety Thomas Curley announced plans last month to
add two investigators to the Police Department to address the problem. His
request met with unanimous council approval.

"Right now, we're being very proactive," Curley said. "We're seeing some
intrusions into the city by some elements we don't want to have here. They
are selling crack cocaine and it's something we want to fight vehemently."

Lt. Edward Moore, who heads the Investigations Unit of the Saratoga Springs
Police Department, says crack cocaine is nothing new to the city. He said
between 1999 and 2000, the department made more than 200 drug-related
arrests, most of which yielded felony convictions.

"It's been here since 1988," he said. The Shower Posse, a gang from New
York City, first brought the drug to the city, he said.

"It took about a month to get rid of them," he said. "Word travels quick
when new faces show up in town."

Other violations in the city, Moore said, are often directly linked to drugs.

"There have always been drug dealers in Saratoga Springs and there probably
always will be," he said. "They drive so many of the other things we
respond to. If we could overcome the drug issue across the nation, things
would be a lot easier on our officers."

Moore said additional officers could benefit investigations. Currently,
only one officer handles narcotics investigations.

"We've seen some increase," Moore said. "Several new faces in town set up
crack houses and recruited locals to assist them. We have had 10 arrests
from the first investigation. Two additional officers will give me 120
hours of investigation instead of 40 hours. We'll have the capacity to
cover seven days, instead of only five."

Curley believes the prosperity of the city makes it more attractive to drug
dealers from other areas.

"There's opportunity here," he said. "We want to make sure the
quality-of-life concept in the city does not include crack cocaine."

Moore agreed.

"This is an ongoing thing," he said. "We got hit this year -- It tells us
that the market is lucrative enough. We've made several arrests within the
last few months involving large amounts of cocaine."

Curley is concerned that as the city continues to thrive, more drugs will
appear.

"We have such an influx of people during the track season. We have an
attractive environment here for people to buy and sell cocaine. Success
doesn't always bring good people."

While Moore says drug activity has increased in recent years, he said, "We
are in no way plagued with drugs in this city."

He said an active community is often the best defense.

"Get your money's worth," he said. "If you see something suspicious, hop on
the phone and we'll take a look at it."