BUNNELL INITIATIVE TARGETS DRUG-RELATED CRIME

Bunnell Police have been sweeping the streets again.

In a two-week initiative dubbed "Operation Save Our Streets," or
"Operation SOS," police officers were authorized to use traffic stops and
ordinance violations as an opportunity to question anyone who didn't seem
to have a good reason for being in the city.

Similar sweeps were undertaken several times after Armando Martinez took
over the Police Department in 2007, and he credited the proactive approach
for helping to staunch the city's rising drug crime problem.

This time, Police Chief Arthur Jones, who took over the department's top
job in November after Martinez was named city manager, said he has a plan
to ensure that the results of the latest operation are more long-lasting.

During the past two weeks, Jones said police stopped more than 50 people
for violations of moving and nonmoving traffic laws and city ordinances
such as playing music too loudly, driving vehicles with windows tinted too
darkly, not wearing seat belts, loitering and trespassing. Jones said the
purpose of the aggressive enforcement was to put drivers and pedestrians
in a question-and-answer session with a cop.

"Anyone that seems to be here without a purpose -- people who don't live
in the area or have family here -- is being targeted," Jones said.

In all, a dozen people were arrested during the two-week operation, he
said, including some on drug-related charges. Six more people were given
notices to appear in court.

The largest bust involved the discovery of more than 70 grams of pure
powder cocaine, police said. In that instance, officers said they were
chasing a fugitive on Jan. 10 when he ran into a home on south Pine
Street. They followed him into the home and found the cocaine in plain
view.

Jones said his department plans to take some time to "regroup" before
jumping into the second phase of Operation SOS with another two-week
sweep. Then officers will do it one more time for a total of six weeks, he
said.

But this time the momentum won't stop when the special operation does,
Jones said.

"We failed before because we didn't do the maintenance after the operation
was over," Jones said. This time, he said an officer will be assigned to
continue the proactive enforcement efforts.

It's something made possible because local property owners are getting
involved.

"For years, the criminals have held on to their investment in Bunnell,"
Jones said. "Now the other side is taking back their streets."

The Housing Authority in Bunnell has agreed to pay for the extra officer,
at least temporarily, to help bolster the city's proactive approach to
crime prevention.

Martinez said Operation SOS, and Jones' determination to make it a
long-term success didn't come at his direction but he likes what he's seen
so far.

Martinez compared it to a walk on the beach, with Jones following his
footsteps, putting "his foot exactly where mine would have gone next," he
said.

"It's exactly what we hoped for when I took over as city manager."