ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN STARTS AGAIN IN VALLEY

SHELTON -- An anti-drug campaign that led to two dozen arrests in the
early 1990s has been started up again by the Valley Street Crime Unit.

The unit has begun issuing "Drug Coupons" that encourage residents to
get involved in cleaning up the streets by reporting drug activity in
their neighborhoods and schools, said Shelton Detective Sgt. Thomas
Adams, unit commander.

"The first drug coupons were issued years ago by then-VSCU Cmdr. Sam
Haurilak," Adams said. "The idea took off in a positive way with the
public, resulting in numerous drug tips, which led to many
investigations and arrests," he said. "We hope to duplicate those
results, and more, by encouraging the public to get involved."

The coupons, for residents who feel they have had "enough" with drug
use and drug dealing, include a space to fill in the name or license
plate number of the person believed using or dealing drugs, he said.

The coupon also has a space for the address or school where the
activity was allegedly taking place. While the VSCU encourages
including contact information, a name and telephone number, all calls
and information provided remain "strictly confidential," Adams said.

The new coupons encourage providing tips on drug use in schools
because, Adams said, drug use among some teenagers has escalated to a
frightening level.

who disapprove of drug use, or see what a bad effect it is having on
fellow students, and will provide the tips needed to aid in the
investigation and arrest of those individuals who are dealing drugs to
youths."

Using the coupons is "worth a shot, if people filling them out are
kept anonymous," said Laurie Driscoll, prevention coordinator for the
Derby-based Valley Substance Abuse Action Council.

"I don't know about students turning each other in because they don't
want to be seen as snitches," she said.

Driscoll said her group is holding a number of sessions on drug-abuse
prevention this week, and anything, like the coupons, that draws
attention to the issue can't hurt.

"We actually would welcome something like the coupons," she
said.

Adams said the coupons will be circulated in Seymour first. "That's so
we don't get too overwhelmed with tips," he said.

He said the VSCU is hoping that Valley businesses, including stores
and gas stations, will make copies of the coupons and have them
available for the public to pick up and use.

Although Seymour has been targeted first, VSCU agents will continue to
investigate drug cases throughout the Valley, Adams said.

Tips can be mailed to the Valley Street Crime Unit, P.O. Box 145,
Shelton, CT 06484; or called into the VSCU tip hot line at 732-5291 or
the Shelton Police Department's main number at 924-1212.

Seymour tips can also be e-mailed to vscu-50-seymour@yahoo.com.