HOT LINE LETS STUDENTS ALERT COPS TO TROUBLE

System Hooked Up Because of Rise in Drug Use, Especially Heroin.

Fraser police are trying to get Fraser High School students to help
themselves by using a toll-free hot line to tell police who is
getting in trouble and where trouble is about to start.

All calls to the hot line are confidential. No one but the caller
knows who made the call.

Fraser Acting Public Safety Director George Rouhib and DARE Officer
Lisa Pettyes said the new program, now in effect, was started
because of an increase in drugs and alcohol among middle school and
high school students.

Any student who knows of a party where underage drinking will take
place or knows that a student is taking drugs or drinking alcohol
can call (888) 709-0838 to inform authorities.

"Sure it seems like squealing or tattling, but the call can very
easily save their friend's life or save a friend from getting in
serious trouble," said Pettyes.

"Heroin has made a comeback and we have to stop its use before it's
too late for some of these kids."

Rouhib said he too often sees the negative effects drugs and alcohol
have on kids. He said the kids turn to armed robberies, home
robberies, shoplifting and prostitution to get money to pay for their habit.

Rouhib said Fraser undercover officers recently followed a Fraser
teenager to the Interstate 75-Davison area in Detroit and watched
the teenager buy drugs. He said a 7-year-old kid came out of a drug
house on a residential street and sold the buyers heroin.

"Back a few years ago these kids would smoke marijuana," said
Rouhib. "Now, they are shooting and snorting heroin and have no idea
how extremely dangerous it is."

Rouhib said it is unfortunate that police are dealing with an
abundance of overdoses. He said police often find spaced out
youngsters and have to rush them to a hospital and then call their parents.

Fraser police Lt. Jeff Newton said the department is paying for the
extra service from a grant offered by the Michigan Highway Safety
and Planning Department. He said Roseville and Eastpointe also are involved.

"We have found that kids want to tell us what is going on but they
are afraid their names will get out," said Pettyes. "Our drug unit
will get the information provided over the telephone tip line and
start an investigation."

Pettyes said the person calling doesn't have to give police their
name, and their telephone number will not be seen on caller I.D. She
said kids just want to make sure they cannot be identified.

"Our goal is to concentrate on eradicating heroin use in our area,"
said Rouhib. "There is an inordinate amount of heroin here."

Pettyes said Fraser police sell drug testing kits so parents can
test their children. The department sells 20 to 50 kits a week at $10 each.

"Kids sometimes buy them to prove they're clean, and often spouses
are using them to show the other spouse that they're not using
drugs," said Pettyes.

For more information on the program call (586) 293-1425.