USE REASONABLE FORCE

Tendency Toward Overkill In Drug Enforcement

A Potsdam drug bust last week involved the services of seven
law-enforcement agencies.

Police searched the house of a Potsdam man and allegedly found $80,000
in drugs and 15 rifles.

Members of the St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force arrived at the
house of Billie B. Merrick last Wednesday evening to arrest him on a
County Court warrant. He was previously under indictment on drug-sale
and possession charges.

The suspect was not home at the time, but police said they noticed
marijuana at the residents. The task force then obtained a search
warrant and went through the house.

A night-long search yielded 17 pounds of marijuana and 9 ounces of
cocaine and the fire arms, according to police.

Participating were the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Department, The
New York State Police, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Protection, and
the Potsdam, Massena, Ogdensburg, and Gouverneur police departments.
The services of a locksmith were required, and two drug-detecting dogs
were used.

Mr. Merrick turned himself in the next day and is being held in St.
Lawrence County jail. He faces several charges.

Enforcing the drug laws is important. Confiscating narcotics and
illegal firearms makes the community safer. Such efforts are
appreciated.

But are seven agencies needed? That seems like overkill. Why did three
small forces leave their villages to assist the federal government,
state police and Sheriff? Certainly the state police or sheriff's
department is capable of this kind of action without bringing along a
cheering squad.

Heavy-handedness seems to be a characteristic of drug enforcement in
Northern New York. Last August, five police cars, a helicopter and
officers from several agencies raided a home in the town of Alexandria
searching for drugs. U.S. Border Patrol agents participated.

In that case, officers did not initially obtain a search warrant. But
they did frighten a family in their zeal to find drugs. Jefferson
County Court Judge Kin H. Martusewicz reprimanded police for their
tactics and dismissed charges against the suspect.

Judge Martusewicz's message apparently wasn't heard by the St.
Lawrence County task force.

In every case, police need to use appropriate, not overwhelming,
force. They will best serve their communities by doing so.