DRUG WAR CALLS FOR TOUGHNESS

NORTH BUFFALO -- Implementing stiffer penalties, more education
programs and increased rehabilitation efforts were just some of the
recommendations suggested by local police and prosecutors during a
special task force meeting to discuss the state's war on drugs.

State Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Ford City, who was chosen to head the House
Task Force on Drugs and Law Enforcement, along with several other
state representatives on the Republican Policy Committee, heard from
county police officers, district judges, prosecutors and treatment
professionals Thursday during one of six meetings across the state to
discuss the issue.

"The proliferation of drugs throughout the Commonwealth is a very
serious problem," Pyle said. 'We need to address this problem and give
the people on the front line fighting this fight the necessary tools
to get drugs off the streets and out of our neighborhoods."

Kittanning police Chief Ed Cassesse and Armstrong County detective
Frank Pitzer suggested the Legislature implement mandatory minimum
sentencing for those arrested on drug charges.

"I would like to see legislation in place where if you are arrested
for dealing drugs, and you are out on bond and caught with drugs
again, there should be a mandatory minimum sentence," Cassesse said.
"We need something stronger to keep these people in jail, so that they
aren't back out on the streets in a few days."

Pitzer also asked for legislation that would allow for the forfeiture
of any weapons held by those arrested on drug charges.

"Even if the guns are not being used in the crimes they are arrested
for, it allows for a potentially deadly situation," he said. "Our goal
is to provide officer safety at all times and when these dealers are
allowed to possess firearms, it raises the chances of an officer being
injured or killed that much higher."

Also testifying was Armstrong County President Judge Joseph Nickleach,
who suggested that a combination of education, punishment and
rehabilitation are key to helping curb the problem.

"We need programs to deal with people who are true drug addicts," he
said. "We have very good counseling and treatment programs through ARC
Manor and other agencies, but we need to do more to provide a way for
these people to break the cycle of addiction and repeat offenses."

Among others who testified were Lt. Tom Dubovi, station commander for
the state police East Franklin station; District Judge Guy Haberl of
Indiana County; Kay Owen, director of ARC Manor; and Indiana County
Common Pleas Judge Gregory Olson.

The task force members hearing testimony included Republican Reps.
Pyle, Dave Reed of Indiana, Mike Turzai of Allegheny County, Richard
Stevenson of Mercer, Jim Marshall of Beaver County and Curt Sonney of
Erie.

The task force will continue to hold similar meetings around the state
and will use the information and recommendations to consider future
legislation or changes to existing legislation, Pyle said.