DRUG ACTIVITY ON THE RISE IN CITY

Everyone from law enforcement officials to community leaders agree that
illegal drug sales are on the rise. Opelousas, however, seems to be
carrying the brunt of a larger problem.

"Drug dealers are rotating out of prison, and when they get back on the
street, they go back to doing what they know best," said Opelousas Police
Chief Larry Caillier. He said drug dealers are "testing the waters" now
that they are back on the street.

Many of the people that have served time in jail for drug-related crimes
tend to end up back in jail as repeat offenders, according to Chief Deputy
Laura Balthazar of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office.

OPD Lt. Dwayne Grimmett agreed that drug trafficking has increased in the
last few months because OPD has received "a lot of information" that
certain people are starting to sell drugs again.

The Rev. Frank Ford of the Community Chapel Church of God in Christ said he
is asking the community to "take back their neighborhoods." He also
believes that drug activities are increasing in many places in Opelousas.

"Measures need to be taken to stop this," Ford said. "Younger people feel
like they are 'telling' and the older people are too afraid to say
anything; and then there are others who don't care because they think
nothing is wrong with people dealing or using drugs."

Ford said people in Opelousas "want fear out of their lives" and he
encourages local citizens to take preventative action by reporting to
police any illegal drug activity they see taking place. He added that
families should take action against their children who commit crimes and
try to get them professional help, even if it involves calling law enforcement.

Grimmet echoed Ford's plea that anyone with drug-related information should
call the police department. All calls will be kept confidential, he said.

However, as of now, no residents questioned in the neighborhoods most
plagued with illegal drugs would talk about the problem if their name were
to be printed, out of fear of some sort of retaliation.

At the same time, OPD Capt. Mark Leblanc said the City Council has approved
a new policy that will allow the police narcotics division to obtain "drug
buy money."

The Opelousas City Council shut off the funds for undercover drug purchases
by police at the last fiscal year's budget meeting. The new policy for
using "drug buy money" is modeled on the Louisiana State Police policy,
according to Leblanc.

"Any seized funds, after they are brought through the proper channels, are
available for us to use to combat the illegal narcotics trade," he said.

However, Leblanc noted that currently, no new funds have been dedicated for
buy money.

Under the new plan, and after proper adjudication, all seized drug-related
money will be divided up between the court system, the St. Landry Parish
District Attorney's Office and the agency that seized the money. In effect,
police will be able to buy drugs from drug dealers with the dealers' own money.