ALL MUST HELP

A year ago Rutland was shocked and saddened with the tragic deaths of
Theresca King, Debra Fell and Charles Conway. The fact that crack cocaine
contributed to the crimes highlighted Rutland's growing drug problem.

Heroin use had been growing in our community. In September, before the
tragic deaths, a major bust had resulted in 12 people being charged in a
heroin ring. But it became obvious that even fine police efforts like that
in September needed more resources from the community.

I immediately started raising funds to provide overtime and other resources
for the police department to step up its efforts in the war on drugs. The
Board of Aldermen pledged $20,000 from the Zamias funds, the Vermont
Department of Public Safety provided another $20,000, and private donations
solicited by John Russell from local businesses and individuals totaled
$44,000.

Two police dogs were obtained by the force and put through extensive
training. The Kiwanis Club and the Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion
each donated $5,000 to acquire and train the dogs. A year's worth of food
for each was donated by Richard Manning at the Pet Cage. Both of these dogs
have proved to be valuable resources to the police. In March, the voters
agreed with the enactment of a rooms, meals and entertainment tax, which
enabled me to have the police establish a Rutland City Drug Task Force
beginning July 1, to provide more enforcement. But it became obvious that
more must be done than just making arrests.

The community as a whole had to become involved. I formed a partnership
with the National Crime Prevention Council in Washington, D.C., to put on a
two-day workshop here in Rutland. About 60 members from all parts of the
community attended to set a plan for the future. The start-up money for
this effort was provided by Central Vermont Public Service Corp., Rutland
Regional Medial Center and Rutland Rotary Club, totaling $11,700. We
understood that any plan had to be more than just police intervention. It
must include prevention and treatment as key components for it to be
successful. We also felt that the entire community must continue to be
involved for any plan to be successful.

I established a committee to implement the goals and objectives we learned
in the workshop. This committee is comprised of members from city
government, the agencies that deal with education and treatment of drug
offenders, and members of the public in general. This group eventually
became Rutland's United Neighborhoods, or RUN. I hired Avery Cleary as a
part-time coordinator to work with RUN. The committee has identified four
different neighborhoods with common bonds in the city. Neighborhood leaders
were appointed and neighborhood meetings are being held, as well as
citywide meetings to both inform the public and receive input. The police
take an active role in all of the meetings to educate, inform and reassure
the public, and to receive information as well.

The most important point is to not waver in our war on drugs, but to
continue it through the involvement of the public in their neighborhoods.
To this end, RUN will sponsor a citywide meeting. This meeting will serve
as follow-up to the horrible events of Sept. 11, and the public will be
informed of the city's ability to respond to acts of terrorism, and other
emergencies.

While Rutland in Vermont may never be a target for the tragic events in New
York or Washington, D.C., emergencies can still happen. I understand that
an emergency that at one time didn't create much public concern, can now
bring fear to the best of us.

The city's Police Department, Fire Department, regional ambulance and other
emergency responders, as well as the department of public works and
representatives of the schools will be available to inform the public what
is being done, and what will be done, in the event of any emergency. It is
hoped that we will be able to answer as many of your questions as possible
and perhaps quell some of the fears that we all have. The meeting will also
give an update on what neighborhoods are doing and how you can help out.

This meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the Grace
Congregational Church meeting room, off West Street in Rutland. Please come.