The officers of our Black Mountain Precinct are dedicated to providing great service to us acting to prevent, suppress and solve crimes. One of the ways they are doing this is to educated the community and provide community collaboration and partnerships regarding crime suppression efforts. The goal is to create a comprehensive program using their resources, partners and the community to reduce heroin use and burglaries within the northern part of the valley. There has been an alarming increase in the number of young adults using heroin. It is increasing because it is cheaper than cocaine, oxycotin and methamphetamine. Sadly, people quickly get addicted to heroin and serious abuse can lead to death.
A steering committee is being established comprised of concerned citizens living in the community. Two of your board members are on the this committee. This committee will be made aware of the current trends regarding heroin abuse, how this leads to burglaries and victimizing many in the community and the downward spiral of the quality of life of those addicted and their families. The committee will meet monthly and the goal is to keep the police department grounded and focused, making sure the concerns and needs of the community are met.
There are three phases to this project.
Phase one is prevention and education and will be led by Sgt. Jamie Rothschild. Phase two is intervention which is also led by Sgt. Rothschild and Phase three is intelligence and investigations which will be led by both Sgt. Mike Gurry and Sgt. Greg Dykstra.
There are many partners in this operation including police departments in other parts of the Valley as well as external partnerships such as MCSO and Partnership for a Drug Free America to name a few.
We commend the Police Department for spearheading this operation and will keep our Desert Ridge Community up to date as the program evolves.
By Kathy Crawford
Communications Committee
Desert Ridge Community Association
