FDL POLICE CRACK DOWN ON DRUGS

Alarmed by an increase in local drug-related violence, the Fond du Lac
Police Department has stepped up enforcement in a near downtown neighborhood.

"We're trying to get it cleaned up before it gets out of hand - if it isn't
out of hand already," said Capt. Kevin Lemke.

On two evenings last week, officers shook down everyone who came into the
neighborhood surrounding Forest Avenue between Military Road and Brooke Street.

"I don't want to use the gang word, but I think we have some competing drug
interests moving in," Lemke said.

Police say several violent incidents in the city in recent months are
related to the drug activity.

The incidents include a Molotov cocktail that was thrown through a window
at a home on Fourth Street; a man beaten up in a Forest Avenue bar; a man
who pulled a gun on another at the corner of Forest and Military; and an
assault on residents of an East First Street house. Local police also have
made several drug arrests in recent weeks.

A racial issue?

A man who said he's lived in the neighborhood for 16 years said increased
police patrols are actually contributing to the tension building in the
area. The man refused to give his name during an interview on a Forest
Avenue sidewalk Monday.

"I believe this is a racial thing," the African American man said. "There
are just as many white people around here, but you don't see police shaking
them down.

"I'm not saying black people don't do drugs," the man said, "but white
people do to. There are a lot of people here, and every black person
doesn't sell drugs."

Drug dealing in Fond du Lac involves both black and white people, Lemke said.

"It seems the crack problem is a black issue selling and a white issue
using," he said. "So obviously, this is a community problem."

Department statistics show more white people than black have been arrested
on drug charges in 2001 and so far this year. In 2001, 240 whites, 18
blacks and six Hispanic adults were arrested on drug-related charges. (See
accompanying chart.)

Whites comprise 92 percent of the city's 42,203 population and blacks
comprise 1.8 percent. While whites made up 91 percent of the people
arrested on drug charges in 2001, similar to their percent of city
population, 7 percent of the black population was arrested, more than three
times their percent of city population. Hispanics comprise nearly 3 percent
of the city population and 2 percent of the population arrested on
drug-related charges in 2001.

Last week, officers "shook down" seven people in the neighborhood - five
blacks and two whites, Lemke said.

"Nothing was found except one guy was cited for OAS (driving after
suspension)," he said. "A half-hour later, he drove through again and was
arrested."

Many people stopped by police in the neighborhood in recent weeks appear to
be living in the neighborhood, but they have Milwaukee and Illinois
addresses, Lemke said.

A stepped-up police presence in the area is justified, he said, by an
increase in the number of complaints to police from neighbors.

Neighbors react

Pinky's Food & Gas at the corner of Military and Forest is a popular spot
in the neighborhood, handling a steady flow of traffic seeking gas,
cigarettes and beer.

About two months ago, after he had closed for the night, someone broke a
window at the store, said owner Kulwant Singh.

"Otherwise, I haven't really noticed a problem," he said. His daughter and
wife also work at the convenience store and have not been bothered, he said.

But from his porch at a rooming house across a vacant lot from the store,
Janos Pan said there are big problems in the neighborhood.

"This building (referring to his own), no problem," he said while drinking
another beer from the 24-pack by his side on a recent afternoon. "Across
the road (indicating the Eldorado Apartments), they have a problem. And the
biggest problem is up the road at the Crossing Tavern."

He welcomes the extra police patrols.

"But they arrest a guy for dealing drugs, and the next morning, he's back
on the street," Pan said.

Crossing Tavern owner Craig Wedde said he recently installed a camera in
his poolroom after hearing "in the last couple of days about drugs and stuff."

Other than a fight a couple of weeks ago that resulted in the arrest of a
Fond du Lac man on substantial battery charges, Wedde said he hasn't seen a
big change in the neighborhood. More African Americans are patronizing his
bar, but he said clientele does change from time to time.

He likes the neighborhood. It's where he grew up and where he feels
comfortable.

"On the west side of town you also get better value for your money in real
estate," he said.

History repeating itself

In the early 1990s, similar problems arose in the neighborhood.

The Police Department responded by moving Officer Paul Clarke into a home
on Harrison Place and creating a district office in the Calumet Apartments,
located at the corner of Forest and Harrison.

The district office has been converted into apartment space, Lemke said,
and Clarke has since moved to the North Fond du Lac Police Department where
he is deputy chief. An officer lived for a time at 20 Forest Ave., but the
building has suffered from poor management since it fell into receivership,
and the officer has moved out.

"Paul Clarke and (Fond du Lac Police Sgt.) Mike Frank cleaned it up, but it
has slid back," Lemke said.

With current budget restrictions stifling overtime, Lemke said it is
unlikely police will have the manpower to reinstate some of those programs.

It's loud

"There's too many ignorant people down here," said 16-year-old Nicole
Kirby, explaining why she doesn't like living on Harrison. "They keep you
up all hours of the night."

"This is the worst place in town," said Eric Shady, who doesn't live in the
neighborhood but is friends with Kirby.

Although there is drug activity, Kirby said she isn't afraid for her safety.

"I used to live in Milwaukee, so this doesn't bother me," she said.

"Yeah, it's not like you're going to get shot or something," Shady said.

Janos Pan's landlord, Ed Schneider, said he's not in the neighborhood very
much, but he thinks it's better than it was years ago.

"It's been a while since I've heard 'Oh this neighborhood,' " he said.
"Back then (early 1990s), I actually had a tenant move because she was
uncomfortable here."

In the three months he's lived above The Crossing, Corey Gere, 22, said he
has seen a number of fights and a lot of gang-related crack cocaine
activity. Gere has had his own share of run-ins with the law. A state
circuit court Internet site shows arrests for possession of drug
paraphernalia, battery and disorderly conduct, to name a few.

Sometimes he's uneasy when he walks outside, especially at night, Gere said.

"There are drunk people all over the place," he said.

Although he would rather live someplace else, Gere said it is the only
place he can afford that will let him keep his dog.

Getting better

Since police have stepped up patrols, the neighborhood has quieted down a
bit, Lemke said.

It is important for the department to take proactive steps, he said.

"You can't just be reactive. That means somebody gets hurt," Lemke said.

The department would react the same in any neighborhood with similar
activity, he said.

"We have a problem in this neighborhood, and we're going to deal with it,"
he said. "If this were happening in another neighborhood, we'd do the same
thing there. But right now, this is where our violent calls are coming from."