DRUG STINGS TARGET MCLAREN AREA

New Vice Unit Expected To Hit Streets Monday

The Kissimmee Police Department has arrested more than 30 people in
the McLaren Circle area for drug offenses after complaints about
neighborhood crime activity were made to city commissioners.

Within a two-week period, 31 people were charged with attempting to
purchase either crack cocaine or marijuana in undercover drug stings
where police officers posed as narcotics dealers on street corners.

Fifteen people were arrested Oct 22 and another 16 on Nov. 5.

The first police operation was conducted just 10 days after several
neighborhood business owners and residents complained at the Oct. 12
City Commission meeting that Brack and Cypress streets and Palm Way
were inundated with drug activity.

The police operations conducted afterward were designed to discourage
illegal drug sales in the area.

"It becomes less appealing to the illegal narcotics buyer," said
Officer Ralph Herrera, police department spokesman. "It affects the
market."

In addition to the criminal charges, several arrested individuals had
their vehicles confiscated by the city. They had to pay $500 for the
return of the vehicles.

But Gwendolyn Hill, one of the most vocal advocates for improving
neighborhood conditions, said she hadn't noticed a change yet.

"It's just a drop in the bucket," said Hill, owner of Gwendolyn's
Beauty and Barbershop on Cypress Street. "Because the crime in this
neighborhood has gone on for so long."

One of Hill's main concerns was the disbanding of the police
department's tactical enforcement unit, which had been operating drug
and prostitution stings in the area. The unit was lost earlier in the
year to the school resource officer program, to the Osceola County
Investigative Bureau and to promotion, police officials said.

But after several weeks of training, a new team will be introduced on
Monday, Herrera said.

"They are going to have to be aggressive," said Hill. "We have to take
our streets back."

Officers will continue to conduct the stings, not only in the McLaren
area, but where drug activity is identified, authorities said.

"I think there a step to eliminating the problem all together," said
Capt. Bill Burnam.