DRUG SUMMIT POINTS UP THE NEED FOR OVERHAUL

The drug summit is now history, with tens of thousands of words, much wringing
of hands, numerous pie-in-the-sky recommendations, but no money (unless you
count the profits to major drug dealers and their lawyers) to even keep pace
with the numbers of addicts and related criminal activities.

During the summit, law enforcement officials trumpeted a raid on a major
Waipahu drug house that arrested nine people, some of whom were previously
arrested on a raid at the same location some months prior. Narcotics, firearms
and currency were again seized. One of those arrested had 80 prior arrests, a
second 50 prior arrests and a third 41 prior arrests, but still they were
released. In the latest raid, unless there were outstanding warrants, all were
again "released pending further investigation." Not much of an incentive to
reform.

The spineless Legislature refuses to give our local prosecutor the tools to
fight this blight and does not even allow the local laws to conform to the more
stringent federal standards. As for money, forget it. Meanwhile, the state
Parole Board keeps pushing dangerous criminals out the back door to make way
for new recruits coming in the front door.

The present system is beyond even life support. The only alternative I see
after almost 40 years experience in federal law enforcement is for the federal
government to be petitioned to take over the entire justice system from the
state. Honest citizens need constitutional protection as much as, if not more
than, our criminal elements. Let's get moving.

Frank D. Slocum

Wai'anae