CITY, COLLEGE JOIN FORCES IN DRUG FIGHT

Council, Police, C of C Officials Meet to Talk About Efforts

Elected Charleston city officials and the College of Charleston need to
communicate better in order to combat illegal drug activity among students,
one city councilman said Wednesday.

Councilman Wendell Gilliard said dialogue is necessary to fight the "major
drug problem" festering at the college, after two students were arrested
earlier this month on drugs charges.

The meeting with college officials and local narcotics unit police was not
to point fingers, but to open lines of communication between the college
and the city, he said.

"We as citizens and elected officials now must step up to the plate and
complement (the college) by working with them," Gilliard said, adding that
students could take advantage of the city's crime prevention efforts.

"What impacts the college impacts the city of Charleston" and vice versa,
Gilliard said.

College spokesman Mike Robertson said the meeting opened up dialogue and
updated Gilliard on the college's existing efforts.

For example, incoming freshmen must take an online survey about substance
abuse. An ongoing program offers students an alternative to visiting bars
or using drugs. Also, Robertson said college public safety officials have
an established relationship with the city's narcotics unit.

Gilliard invited college officials to an upcoming Charleston City Council
meeting as a first step to working more effectively together. Robertson
said college officials are planning to attend.

Lt. James Mackey, narcotics unit commander, said working more closely
together is a good idea.

"It would only make the situation more positive," Mackey said. "We can't go
wrong."

Police arrested Konstadino Panagiotakopoulos and Chris Constantakis, both
20 and of Charleston, after finding about four ounces of Diphenoxylate, a
rare and dangerous drug commonly used to stop diarrhea, mixed with the
tranquilizer Diazepam.

Panagiotakopoulos was charged Nov. 9 with distribution of a schedule II
drug. Constantakis was arrested Nov. 15 and charged with possession of a
schedule II drug.

Magistrate Linda Lombard set Panagiotakopoulos' bail at $7,500 and
Constantakis' at $75,000.

The same drug mixture was found in the body of David Phillip Dempsey, a
19-year-old student who fatally overdosed in a Smith Street apartment May
4. Police are still investigating a possible connection.