POLICE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE

Along with Jerome Kellner, who commended the Kahekili Terrace residents for
their rally against drugs (Letters, Sept. 30), I too commend the residents of
Kahekili Terrace for not only demonstrating their zero tolerance to drugs in
their neighborhood but for also contradicting the negative images of public
housing.

I live within walking distance of Kahekili Terrace. It's a good neighborhood,
the yards are neat and children can be heard laughing all along Market Street.
I am proud of the Happy Valley community and of the residents of Kahekili
Terrace.

Drugs do exist in Happy Valley and have ravaged many of its community members,
including the people of Kahekili Terrace and Piihana Terrace. The Maui Police
Department recognizes the reality of drug use and its potential harm, and we
are concentrating our efforts to arrest drug dealers and users in this
particular area. No deals are cut, as implied by Mr. Kellner, that will allow a
drug dealer to continue to poison our community.

In addition to enforcing the drug laws and locking up drug dealers, through
partnerships with the youth the Maui Police Department is trying its best to
influence these kids never to be under the influence of drugs.

I am not only proud of the residents of Kahekili Terrace, Piihana Terrace and
the Happy Valley community, I am equally proud of the fine men and women of the
Maui Police Department who are committed to ensuring there is never a reason to
refer to any Maui community as a slum or an urban jungle.

Assistant Chief Gary Yabuta

Maui Police Department

Wailuku