CRACKING DOWN ON DRUG DEALERS

The North Central Drug Task Force has made a number of busts over the past
few months that, while by no means halting the flow of illegal drugs into
the Fitchburg-Leominster area, have at least made a dent in the stream, and
may be showing dealers that area cops are serious about driving out drug
dealers.

The task force is comprised of police officers and detectives from various
area departments.

Attacking a regional problem on a regional basis is a great idea that is
paying off.

There was a large marijuana bust in Ashburnham after which some $100,000 in
cash was seized, and there have been numerous arrests made by the task
force in Leominster and Fitchburg over the last several months.

Last week, an arrest in Fitchburg netted powder cocaine and $55,000 in cash.

We see this increased attention on the area's drug problem as reason for
cautious optimism. The officers involved should be credited for their hard
work. But there's a long way still to go, and you can help.

Police officers and detectives can only do so much, can only be expected to
know so much. Ordinary citizens can be invaluable to their efforts in that
they can serve as extra eyes and ears for the police department.

If you know of or have reason to suspect activities related to drug-dealing
or other crimes, tell the police about it, and if need be, keep after them
to do something about it.

At the same time, local police must do more in the way of community
policing. The more officers on the street, visible to residents and drug
dealers alike, the fewer problems they'll be.

Your tax dollars are funding these initiatives, and you deserve to live in
a drug-free, low-crime environment.