CITIZENS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT MUST WORK TOGETHER ON METH

Editor:

As a citizen of Mesa County, I thank the members of the
Methamphetamine Task Force for the work that they have done and the
strategies they developed to combat the impact of meth on our community.

However, the report does not specify how citizens can get involved in
addressing meth labs in their neighborhoods.

As a citizen, I experienced the operation of a meth lab in my
neighborhood. I live close to a high school and witnessed students at
lunch and after school stop for a few minutes in their cars, then leave.

I monitored the activities and kept the officer of the drug task
force assigned to the problem informed by reporting license plate numbers.

The conclusion in my case was that the meth lab operated for six
months in my neighborhood and then moved on. I was never updated by
any law enforcement officer until I pursued information on my own.

I am also critical of the Methamphetamine Task Force report since it
did not survey high-school students for meth use and we know that is
also a problem.

The methamphetamine concerns in our community will require citizen
involvement. I intend to be one of them.

ALFONSO SALAZAR

Grand Junction