DRUG CRACKDOWN IS ONLY ADDING TO THE VIOLENCE

Acting police Commissioner Leonard D. Hamm attributed the recent
killings [in Baltimore] to "good police work" ("Killings' link to drug
crackdown examined," Jan. 17).

Hasn't anyone told the commissioner that the police are supposed to
decrease murders, not increase them?

"As police have clamped down on the narcotics trade and cut into its
profits, dealers have become more aggressive about collecting drug
debts - leading to more violent confrontations, Hamm said at a news
conference."

Is Mr. Hamm proud of this scenario? Is this reason to gloat? To brag?
Is the whole world crazy?

Doesn't simple logic dictate that if police were to not "clamp down on
the narcotics trade," there would be fewer murders?

Would not Baltimore then be a better, safer place to
live?

According to Eli Silverman, professor of police studies at the John
Jay College of Criminal Justice, "police crackdowns in New York and
elsewhere have been known to exacerbate street violence."

So if it is well known that the so-called war on drugs causes more
murders, why are we fighting it?

Bring the troops home now and the murders will decline -
now.

A. ROBERT KAUFMAN

Baltimore