CITIZENS SAY ENOUGH TO DRUGS, CRIMINALS

Our View: What Can People Do About Spokane's Murderous Drug Trade?

He is only 14, the young man allegedly involved in the drug-bust-gone- bad
on Spokane's lower South Hill. One man died and two others were seriously
wounded. Since the shootings, conversations have been filled with the words
gangs and drug deals and B.C. Bud marijuana -- the drug that the young men
killed over.

The murder got people's attention, especially when added to the rash of car
thefts, break-ins and vandalism. People who do not break the law finally
said, "Enough." More than 100 of them gathered Thursday night at Roosevelt
Elementary School to hear police, health officials and community policing
volunteers answer questions and offer some solutions.

They learned that there are gangs in Spokane, but chances are they won't
mess with you unless you are into drug dealing.

You could get caught in their arena, however, if your home is nearby. And
meth continues to be a huge problem, because meth users are mainly the
people stealing, vandalizing and burglarizing cars and homes.

What to do? The message was clear: Get involved.

One man in the audience talked about what it took to clean up his
neighborhood: "Neighbors worked with neighbors. We worked with the police
department. People have to say, 'I will get involved."'

Many more volunteers are needed to patrol neighborhoods and "record and
report" through Spokane COPS. Block Watch needs neighborhood captains.
Updated e-mails on crimes that happen in every city neighborhood are now
available through a program called E-Net (call 625-3300).

Landlords are often on the front lines of the battle against meth. The
Inland Empire Rental Association publishes articles on the topic and in May
an organization called STAYPUT will sponsor a forum to help landlords learn
how to fight meth (call 535-1018).

The Spokane Regional Health District has several excellent brochures on the
chemicals used in meth labs, and it offers tips on recognizing a potential
lab by a neighbor's garbage. Empty Heet bottles and Sudafed packages are
two telltale signs (call 324-1560).

Crime Check is a resource (456-2233). District 81 has a hotline to report
suspected drug and gang activity in schools (354-SAFE).

Information is an important first step to action. Two years ago, The
Spokesman-Review published an in-depth report on the meth problem. That
report is still available under "special reports" at
www.spokesmanreview.com. Another special report on our Web site, titled
"Key Moments," can help explain how a 14-year-old might end up in a gang.
And how, if enough adults get involved, we don't have to sacrifice our
children to gangs, meth or B.C. Bud.