POLICE TEAM UP TO NET DOZENS

3-Day Effort Attacks Crime Across Highland Park

For the past three days, Shirley Davis was able to get some rest.The
longtime Highland Park resident had said she was tired.

Tiredof the drug dealers who sold their crack cocaine across from her
Louise Street home. Tired of motorists who carelessly raced down the
streets.Tired of not feeling safe.

On Thursday, a law enforcement team led by the Wayne County Sheriff's
Department ended a three-day sweep in which officers scooped up juveniles
and adults on charges of arson, larceny,assault and battery, armed robbery,
burglary,credit card fraud, drug trafficking and other crimes.

The team of 37 sheriff's deputies, 12 state troopers, a U.S. deputy
marshaland a police officer eachfrom Taylor and Livonia arrested 43 people
and ticketed about 50 more for traffic violations.

"It's good to see somebody is out there and somebody cares about us," said
Davis, 67, who has lived in the city for more than 40 years. "It's a
wonderful sight to see."

Highland Park's severe financial problems led to a state takeover in June
2001. Dozens of public safety officers have been laid off or have left the
force in recent years, leaving the department so depleted that it has had
to rely on state troopers and the sheriff's deputies.

"Each community has a right to police protection and an expectation of
basic public safety -- and Highland Park is no exception," Sheriff Warren
Evans said. "In a time when budgets are strained, the most sensible
approach is to work cooperatively with other law enforcement agencies."

Highland Park Police Chief Theodore Cadwell said a heavy police presence
was needed to combat the perception that the city is unable to defend
itself against crime.

"We're not being overrun. Citizens are not locked in their homes, blood is
not running in the street," he said.

Nevertheless, the city needed help and Cadwell expressed gratitude for the
success of the sweep.

"This is excellent. We are extremely happy. . . . We're able to attack
crime on many different levels."

Davis said she hopes there are more sweeps. "I wish there was a way to
eradicate the problem we have," she said.