DRUG SWEEP EXECUTED

Police Arrest Several In Syracuse After Investigations Initiated By Tips
From Public.

It wasn't exactly the best way to start the day.

More than two dozen people were arrested early Wednesday in a citywide drug
sweep, following a six-month investigation.

"They weren't very thrilled to see us," said Sgt. David Proud of the
Syracuse Police Department's Special Investigations Division. "Not as nice
as a cup of coffee when you first get up."

About 100 officers, detectives and state troopers fanned out through
Syracuse starting about 5 a.m., Sgt. Tom Connellan said.

By 9 a.m., they'd rounded up about two-thirds of the 34 people for whom
they had arrest warrants.

"We're going to continue with our efforts until everyone is in custody,
however long it takes," Connellan said.

The youngest suspect was 14; the oldest was 49. Two of them were women, and
the charges included 48 felonies, 34 misdemeanors and five violations.

Investigators didn't recover any guns or drugs during the sweep, Proud
said. That's because they only had arrest warrants from the Onondaga County
District Attorney's office, not search warrants.

"We get out there early in the morning to catch them at home when they're
sleeping," Proud said. "They're not going to be ready for us, and they
won't have a chance to get their guns."

The investigations were the result of tips phoned in to the police
department by concerned residents and information provided to officers at
Neighborhood Watch meetings, Chief Dennis DuVal said.

"This helps in the overall scheme of what we're trying to do, and when
things are affecting neighborhoods adversely, it allows people in the
community to know that there are things they do can help in a positive
way," DuVal said.

Once police had their leads, they performed undercover operations to catch
the street-corner dealers on tape with illegal transactions, the chief
said. The cases against the suspects were prepared as officers continued to
monitor their behavior to make sure they had current addresses for all of them.

They were to be arraigned in both city and county court later Wednesday,
Proud said.