MORE DRUGS LEADS TO MORE CRIME

NORWOOD — When the slight, smiling man came into the convenience store
my husband and I owned years ago, I was working behind the counter and
was admittedly naive when it came to criminal behavior. If I had been
wiser, I would have noticed that he was wearing a long sleeved
sweatshirt on a warm August evening, perhaps to hide the needle marks
on his arms.

The fellow was a bit hyped up, but I thought he was just an outgoing
guy. Until he showed the knife and told me to empty the cash register.

Thankfully, I wasn’t physically harmed and the robber didn’t get much
of a take. But I was shaken and forever changed as a victim of a
violent crime.

Drug use is an acknowledged factor in the commission of crimes.
According to statistics disseminated by the U.S. Department of
Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2002, about a quarter of
convicted property and drug offenders in local jails had committed
their crimes to get money for drugs. Among state prisoners in 2004,
the pattern was similar, with 30 percent of property offenders and 26
percent of drug offenders likely to commit their crimes for drug money.

It is no wonder that Norwood’s Board of Selectmen is alarmed at the
larger number of drug-related arrests in town. The presence of more
drugs can only mean more crime. At a recent meeting of the board,
Norwood’s Police Chief Bartley King reported that arrests for drug
possession are on the rise.

“We do have a larger number of arrests now related to drugs,” said
King. “We seem to be having a more prevalent use of drugs since the
beginning of the year.”

King reported that there have recently been two drug-related overdoses
and reported three cases of possession to distribute Class A drugs,
which include heroin. Heroin, he said, is the “drug of choice” because
it is relatively cheap.

There have also been three reported Class B violations, which include
cocaine, and four instances of drug violations near a school or park,
according to the chief’s report to selectmen.

There are currently a number of ongoing drug-related investigations in
Norwood, according to King, who told the board that the police
department is working with the Norfolk County Police Anti-Crime Task
Force (NORPAC) and police officers in area towns to crack the cases.
One recent bust included the seizure of approximately 360 pounds of
marijuana intended for distribution.

“That’s so disheartening to hear about the huge amount of drugs in the
area,” said Selectman Helen Donohue.

The somber presentation of Chief King and the sincere concern of the
board are not lost on Norwood’s residents. Even with the
acknowledgement that drugs have long been a presence in town, the
recent increase in activity is frightening to those who make Norwood
their home, who raise families here, and who plan to live out their
later years in the company of family and friends.

Those who introduce drugs into Norwood, whether as users who need
help, or distributors who need jail sentences, are a threat to the
very fabric of the community. Norwood’s police force needs all the
support they can get from other towns, other agencies, and state and
federal governments to wage a successful assault on local drug use and
distribution.

And they need the cooperation of the community, to be their eyes and
ears, to report anything suspicious to the police. Perhaps some
education of the public is in order to help them to be alert to the
signs of drug-related activities so that they know when to notify the
authorities.

It’s one thing to give people the benefit of the doubt, as I did on
that August night more than a decade ago. But such naivete can allow
crimes to go unreported and people to become victims of drug-related
crimes. Let’s get smart about this and get drugs out of Norwood.