IN WAR ON DRUGS, IT TAKES A VILLAGE

GREEN ISLAND - After recently encountering a slight increase in
heroin-related arrests, village Mayor Ellen McNulty-Ryan is counting
on police to step up efforts to make sure drug dealers know they're
not welcome in Green Island.

During the past few months, the tiny village's Police Department has
made several heroin-related arrests. At this point, neither Green
Island Police nor McNulty-Ryan consider the number unusual - but it
has gotten their attention.

There were also two confirmed reports of heroin-related overdoses in
Watervliet, and one unconfirmed overdose in Cohoes over the winter
that flew under the radar of police, sometimes because of privacy laws
that restrict the flow of medical information to law enforcement
agencies. "It's tough to get information from the hospitals because of
privacy laws, which makes it more difficult for our officers to do
their jobs," said John Burke, an inspector with the Albany Sheriff's
Department Drug Interdiction Unit.

"Some small towns also don't want to admit they have any problems with
overdoses, which also can cause problems with catching dealers we're
probably already familiar with," he added.

Small town or not, McNulty-Ryan realizes that even the most tightly
knit community is not immune to the scourge of drugs and the crimes
and tragic deaths that may arise if the situation is allowed to
fester. "We're such a small area that we don't have drug problems on
the same scale as bigger communities, but before we begin having big
problems, I want to nip it in the bud," said McNulty-Ryan.

The mayor believes statistics show that heroin, which dominated the
drug scene in the 1970s, is making a comeback in communities across
New York state. According to Burke, in the 1980s and '90s the wave of
crime and violence caused by drugs with a more hyper effect, such as
crack cocaine, might have taken heroin out of the spotlight, but the
numbing narcotic was still just as prevalent.

"Crack might have taken over for awhile, but heroin is as big now as
it ever was," said Burke, who added that about 50 percent of the
unit's busts are heroin related.

McNulty-Ryan recently sent out a letter to Green Island residents,
warning them that it is time to take a stand and make sure drug
dealers are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

"We all hear the news reports about pot, cocaine, crack, etc., but now
we have an old drug making a new comeback - heroin," wrote
McNulty-Ryan. "This drug is going to kill our kids faster than all the
others combined - if we don't take a stand.

"Well, we are taking a stand," she added in the letter that came with
a June village electric bill.

To stem the tide, Green Island Police have been strictly enforcing
loitering laws by checking the IDs of any individuals hanging around
the area. Police have also taken out a few pay telephones in the
village thought to be used for questionable purposes.

Also, McNulty-Ryan says police have been walking the streets more to
send dealers and drug purchasers a clear message that drug dealing
will not be tolerated in Green Island.

"They (police) are putting a lot of time and effort into this
endeavor, and I support them 100 percent," said McNulty-Ryan. "I will
give them whatever resources they need to get the job done."

She also strongly recommends that parents educate their children about
the dangers of drug use.

The mayor is contemplating putting together a public forum with the
police at which residents could ask questions that might help their
children and also help authorities fight the war on drugs. According
to Burke, heroin is popular among drug dealers in the Capital District
because they can buy bags for $10 in New York City and sell them here
for $20 or more.

Albany County also draws many recovering drug addicts looking for
treatment at clinics who sometimes trade the methadone they receive
for heroin.