SOARES' COMMENTS WERE FLAWED AND APPALLING

As the President of the National Narcotic Officers' Associations
Coalition representing 62,000 police officers from throughout the
country, including New York, I was appalled by the comments of Albany
County District Attorney David Soares when he suggested to Canadians
that they not emulate U.S. drug policy and intimated that drug laws
existed to create high-paying jobs for law enforcement officers.

This May 15 was the annual Law Enforcement Officers Memorial ceremony
in Washington, D.C. Since 1792, more than 17,000 American police
officers have lost their lives in the line of duty, many while
enforcing drug laws.

More importantly, 24,000 people die each year as a result of illicit
drugs, and countless lives are ruined and opportunities lost when
young people fall into the abyss of drug use.

Clearly, drug sales are a bio-chem attack on American citizens and
cannot be ignored. Sound drug policy must embrace prevention,
treatment and enforcement. Teen drug use is down by 17 percent, but
how long will that trend last if our young people embrace Mr. Soares'
flawed message?

In the memory of the law enforcement officers who have been murdered
while enforcing drug laws and in the memory of the children who have
died or had their lives ruined by drugs, I would urge the citizens of
Albany County to reject the drug policies proposed by David Soares
and deny him the opportunity to serve in such an important position
the next time they go to the ballot box.

RONALD E. BROOKS

President National Narcotic Officers Associations Coalition

West Corvina, Calif.