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Springfield police chief wants stricter sentences for drug traffickers
Posted: Feb 14, 2017 5:03 PM EST
Updated: Feb 14, 2017 6:53 PM EST
By Adam SullivanCONNECT
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. -
The police chief in Springfield, Vermont, wants tougher penalties for drug traffickers.
He points to the case of two men from his community, picked up in Massachusetts over the weekend. They were already known to police for drug activity when investigators say they were stopped on Interstate 91 in Holyoke with nearly 800 bags of heroin. They were charged with felonies, but bail was set at just $540. The chief in Springfield says that surprised him.
"When they get these dealers they need to have stricter sentences for these dealers to send a message that is not going to be tolerated anymore. And until that is sent through our judicial bureau, we are going to continue to have an uphill battle," said Chief Douglas Johnston, Springfield Police Department.
Johnston says more education and treatment are also needed to make a dent in the drug problem that continues to plague the region.
Springfield police chief wants stricter sentences for drug traffickers
Posted: Feb 14, 2017 5:03 PM EST
Updated: Feb 14, 2017 6:53 PM EST
By Adam SullivanCONNECT
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. -
The police chief in Springfield, Vermont, wants tougher penalties for drug traffickers.
He points to the case of two men from his community, picked up in Massachusetts over the weekend. They were already known to police for drug activity when investigators say they were stopped on Interstate 91 in Holyoke with nearly 800 bags of heroin. They were charged with felonies, but bail was set at just $540. The chief in Springfield says that surprised him.
"When they get these dealers they need to have stricter sentences for these dealers to send a message that is not going to be tolerated anymore. And until that is sent through our judicial bureau, we are going to continue to have an uphill battle," said Chief Douglas Johnston, Springfield Police Department.
Johnston says more education and treatment are also needed to make a dent in the drug problem that continues to plague the region.
Sure, Mass sets the bail low, they come back to Springfield, and then Mass refuses to extradite; problem solved (for them.)
ReplyDeleteBottom line, current sentencing is not a deterrent. So what did the electorate of Springfield do about it when we had options in November? We sent the same useless representatives back to Montpelier expecting a different result. Been said before, we have the government we deserve. Let's roll out the welcome mat for every felon, addict, trafficker, welfare bum, disability scammer, and assorted low lifes we can attract.
ReplyDeleteAmen
DeleteSpringfield had several candidates pushing change in the Representative and Senate races, but we returned the same Representatives. Didn't matter that they confessed that they had voted wrong on several issues, or that they had no viable plan to combat the heroin plague. It does not appear that the voters even pay attention to the issues.
DeleteSurprise, another excuse...For as long as he has been in charge it is one excuse after another. How about a plan Chief? I get the Springfield on the move wags the dog, but surely you could have come up with more than traffic quotas, lunch with a cop and foot patrols...? Is head of the Chief's association just a way to get out of town and drink with cronies? Maybe at least try to use some leverage with the prosecutor and or judges. Here's an idea, show up to the court for these bail hearings of repeat offenders. Or maybe just get out of that ivory tower and do some actual police work, better yet, get out of the way of the decent cops you have left on the force before they leave too
ReplyDeleteCan't comment on the rest, but I encountered the Chief out yesterday doing police work, following the Citizens Bank robbery.
DeleteVermont is in a death spiral and it's Liberal thinking is making it worse. There are people who legitimately need pain medication but the government is acting as their doctor. It's much easier to buy drugs on the street then get it from medical professionals.
ReplyDeleteWhen will people wake up. The war on drugs has been a failure since day one and incarceration has done nothing to cause addiction rates to go down. In fact they continue to rise. It is time to try drastic measures and place all of our eggs in one basket. Build rehabilitation centers that are similar to a prison but with much more freedom and without the environment of violence. Make drug offenders go to mandatory drug rehab centers that act vaguely like a prison. That way the people who want to see them punished will be happy and the offender's will get REAL help. And even with all of that there will still be a low success rate but I promise it will be much higher than just locking them up.
ReplyDeleteRobert, in many places around the world the war on drugs has been a success. The means may be hard for some to stomach, but there is no denying it works. Without smugglers and dealers, there are no addicts.
ReplyDeleteRehab is a farce. Addicts minds are permanently hard wired to spend their lives seeking out the next high. Our community is awash in cheap opiates. Curtailing availability is the only effective solution.