UNDERCOVER COP SHARES VIEW OF THE STREETS

Last week a Sergeant assigned to the Malden Police Narcotics Division
allowed the Malden Observer to ride along undercover for a few hours
to get a better idea of what the job entails and what goes into
combating drug crimes in the city.

Due to the officer's undercover responsibilities, his real name is not
being disclosed in the story.

The department's narcotics division is comprised of five plain clothes
officer.

"We're part of a comprehensive approach to improving the quality of
life in the city," the sergeant said. "The patrol division plays a
major role in addressing the drug problems in the city. They're out
there every day encountering people and responding to incidents. The
information they relay to us is very valuable."

Lately, the narcotics division has been working as a group to maximize
coverage around the city in addition to monitoring specific locations,
following up on overdoses and hotline tips and gathering background
information on a weekly basis.

Likely the most important aspect of undercover work is to be firmly
grounded to stop or approach someone.

"You can't go on a hunch or gut instinct," the sergeant said.

Considering that much of the crime in Malden is drug related, the
sergeant said every single interaction with a suspect is important and
can ultimately lead to crime prevention.

"It all comes down to the way you treat them. If you show empathy,
people are more receptive," he said. "I do find that people in those
situations are very forthcoming in telling how their life got off
track and understanding those reasons is part of the job."

For instance, during a recent arrest a suspect told the sergeant that
at one time he had been crushing and snorting up to 10 OxyContin pills
a day.

"One OxyContin equals about 16 percacets," he said. "That amount would
kill most people. He had developed such a tolerance to the drug."

On the topic of OxyContin, the sergeant said schools play a valuable
role in diverting kids away from experimenting and ultimately becoming
addicted to the powerful drug.

"Most addicts zero in on a time in late high school or just after
graduating from high school when they start using OxyContin," he said.
"Oxys exist everywhere so messages need to be out in schools. The drug
knows no economic or social barrier."

Abuse of OxyContin and heroin, which is the less expensive of the two,
is a seven-day-a-week habit for addicts, he added.

"Our mission is to make it more difficult to sell," the sergeant
said.

For instance, a few weeks ago police arrested at man at the Oak Grove
T-station after he sold 10 OxyContin pills to an undercover cop for
$800.

"There's enough activity to keep you busy," he said. "But you can beat
yourself up if you think you have to single-handedly stop drug use in
the city.

Christine DiPietro, a member of the Drug Task Force, said agencies in
Malden have unique relationships because many are comprised of
longtime residents who are proactive about making improvements in the
city.

"I think [the police] are faced with a tremendous challenge and
they're meeting that challenge with the resources they have," she
said. "The chief is committed to the [OxyContin] epidemic and he's
doing a great job to keep the drug off the street."

Malden has been ahead of the game in relation to OxyContin thanks in
part to the efforts of the task force which was spearheaded by Ward 7
Councilor Chris Simonelli.

But, results are hard to measure, the sergeant said, as he pulled into
a plaza parking lot.

Areas such as these can attract drug activity, he said, because
they're home to a high turnover of motor vehicles, allow for quick and
easy access and are commonly known.

"We just sit and observe. Sometimes you'll see a hand-to-hand exchange
or see drug use in public. But, you don't put blinders on and just
look for drugs. You look for everything," he said.

In response to whether most drug dealers are addicted themselves the
sergeant said for some it's pure economics - selling is strictly
business. For others, as their addiction and tolerance to drugs
increases they're forced to deal drugs to feed their habit.

The sergeant also expressed disappointment that drug cases are often
looked at in a vacuum because the ripple effect of drug crimes aren't
considered in court.

"You don't look at the whole picture," he said.