POLICE NARCOTICS UNIT HAS A BUSY YEAR

STAMFORD - The Police Department's narcotics and organized crime unit
nearly doubled its arrests in 2006, crediting a citywide crackdown and
increase in officers for the success.

Narcotics officers made more than 1,200 arrests last year, up from 677
in 2005, the unit reported. Arrests include narcotics violations,
warrant arrests, liquor law violations, assaults and larcenies.

Police also seized close to $3 million worth of drugs, including $2
million of cocaine and heroin.

Lt. Jon Fontneau, who heads the narcotics and organized crime unit,
said PCP and cocaine continue to be popular drugs for dealers and
buyers, and that sales of illegally obtained prescription drugs have
increased.

Last year, police seized $22,000 worth of prescription drugs, compared
to $700 in 2005.

"They're a very aggressive, proactive group," said Capt. Richard
Conklin, head of the detective bureau.

This year, the unit is averaging about 100 arrests a month, Fontneau
said.

After a rash of gang-related shootings and drug dealing, police
launched a citywide crackdown, "Operation Clean Streets," last June
that involved undercover officers from the Drug Enforcement
Administration and neighboring police departments.

The operation netted more than 100 arrests and is continuing, Fontneau
said.

Arrests from Operation Clean Streets produce "spider webs" for police,
leading them to other drug dealer hangouts and buyers. The sweep
received praise from other departments, and a similar program was
recently implemented in Waterbury, Fontneau said.

Fontneau said arrests also increased because convicted drug dealers
and buyers have served their sentences and are being released from
prison.

"Guys who were in jail are now out and they're becoming empowered," he
said.

Criminals also are getting younger, Fontneau and Conklin said, with
officers arresting more 17- and 18-year-olds.

With 17 narcotics officers, the unit was able to beef up surveillance
at the city's downtown train station, where police say drugs are
trafficked in from New York City, and had more officers available for
surveillance.

Residents rattled by drug dealers staking claim to their street
corners and parking lots also have gotten involved, Fontneau said.

"A lot of people who used to be tolerant are no longer tolerant," he
said.

Police said high-profile arrests from last year included several raids
at East Side massage parlors fronting as prostitution rings that
yielded dozens of arrests and nabbed Winston Clarke, who police called
a leader of a major New York drug ring that sold as much as $3 million
of marijuana.

Investigations with federal agencies such as the FBI and the Drug
Enforcement Administration, along with state parole and probation
departments, have helped Stamford police nab criminals and seek
harsher and lengthier prison sentences, Fontneau said.

The Meet and Greet program, which allows police to track parolees with
the help of the state's parole and probation departments, also has
helped, police said.

"We're welcoming them back to the community, but as we're shaking
their hands and welcoming them back we're putting them on notice
they're being watched," Fontneau said.

Fontneau said parolees meet with Stamford police immediately after
their release from jail and are instructed not to hang out at places
where they have been caught selling or dealing drugs.

The parolees are photographed and monitored by officers. Any violation
of the orders could lead to an arrest, Fontneau said.

In the fall, the unit stands to lose three officers because of budget
cuts, Fontneau said. The city cut $1 million from the department's
budget this fiscal year.

The loss of staff will strain the unit, Fontneau said.

"We'll continue to make our arrests, but it will be more difficult
with less investigators," he said. "We'll be doing more with less."