POLICE DEPARTMENT'S MAJOR DRUG OPERATIONS TACKLING CITY PROBLEM

Hats off to the Baltimore Police Department for its drug-sting operation,
Judge Joseph H. H. Kaplan's opinions notwithstanding ("Drugs: the
city-suburban connection," June 21). I suggested such a program in The Sun
years ago.

Judge Kaplan suggests that police "spend their time arresting violent
offenders" as they do in Boston. Much of the violent crime in Baltimore is
the result of drug dealers' fights over turf. Drug stings will, perhaps,
slow down the activity and maybe help to end it. To me, this experiment is
worth the effort.

There is one slight problem -- addressing the probable-cause issue. The
case can be made stronger by allowing buyers in sting operations to make
the purchases with the real McCoy. That would prevent a legal defense that
no drugs were actually acquired. Then arrests can be made for possession,
and the city would be able to confiscate money used in the purchase and
perhaps the vehicles of those seeking to buy drugs.

One of the addicts quoted in your paper says, "If it wasn't for people like
me, the dealers wouldn't be in business." That says it all. If pressure is
put on the buyers, it may force many of them to seek treatment for their
addictions.

Also, this business of requiring that a person has to have a certain amount
of crack to prosecute for a felony is ridiculous. One vial or 10 is as bad
as 30 or more. Drug dealers can count and make certain they stay under the
amount required for a felony case.

Richard L. Lelonek Baltimore

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski