http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150418/NEWS02/704189933
Springfield police chief says bath salts is the biggest drug problem in town
By Susan Smallheer
Staff Writer | April 18,2015
Len Emery Photo
Police Chief Douglas Johnston, left, explains the fingerprint system and breath-test machine to Select Board members during a tour of the Springfield police station.
SPRINGFIELD — Bath salts, not heroin, are the biggest drug problem in town, Police Chief Douglas Johnston said Friday.
Johnston, giving four members of the Select Board a tour of the police department and an update on some of the department’s challenges, said the state’s laws are not strict enough to address bath salts.
Johnston said possession of bath salts is a misdemeanor — regardless of the amount — and the Vermont Legislature appears unwilling to change that.
“You could have a tractor-trailer load and it would still be a misdemeanor,” he said.
Johnston said the effect of bath salts on users is unpredictable, with some people turning angry and violent.
He told the board his department is called to the Springfield Hospital emergency room for overdoses, but only if the person is violent and hard to control. Otherwise, the department is not informed of drug overdoses, he said.
Medical confidentiality is the reason, he said.
Johnston said a lot of the new bath salts arriving in Vermont are stamped with Chinese characters and have came from China, one way or another.
And he said the composition of bath salts is changing, making it difficult for laws to be written to address specific ingredients.
Johnston said the effects of a drug sweep almost two years ago were mixed: Only those people charged in federal court are still in jail.
Selectman Walter Martone, who was elected last month, had his first tour of the police station, which started many years ago as a car dealership and later became home to manufacturing companies, the last being Lucas Industries.
The police department moved in after a $2.2 million renovation in late 2007.
“This is a nice department,” said Town Manager Tom Yennerell, who said he’d visited the department before but hadn’t gotten such an extensive tour.
Yennerell became town manager last November.
Johnston said the building needs air conditioning for its computer room, since the computer equipment generates a lot of heat. He said he received one estimate for air conditioning in the small room, and decided that leaving the door open to the rest of the building would have to suffice in the short term.
Johnston said the department still has two sergeant vacancies, even after promoting Detective Patrick Call to one of the sergeant positions. He said he will advertise outside the department to fill those positions.
Once the department is up to full staffing, and the department’s new computer software system for tracking crime reports is installed, the chief said, he hopes to divide the town into thirds, with officers assigned to specific areas.
The board praised Johnston sending officers to lunch at Springfield High School twice a week in an effort to promote better relationships between the department and the town’s youth.
Johnston said another school in town has requested an officer to come for lunch.
It is refreshing to know that four out of the five Select Board members had the interest and took the time to visit the Springfield Police Department and meet with it's administration. I am told that the only member who did not attend was Selectman McNaughton, who has been highly critical of the Springfield Police administration. Since he is always citing "the word on the street" and/or "what I'm hearing" perhaps this would have been his golden opportunity to meet with the people he criticizes and express his concerns directly to them instead of posting second or third hand information on the Springfield United for Action page.
ReplyDeleteThis guy is out of touch with reality. What a moron..yeah we don't have a drug problem. We also didn't have a problem years ago when this started and the families started complaining and begging we have an issue we have an issue. He said the same thing then. WELL WELL WELL here we are and now there is a murder. Drug related of course. Who makes statements sooo stupid as he does. Ok so all the drug arrests and convictions over the last several years does not constitute a problem? What more are you people gonna endure before asking for this guys resignation or termination. He is ineffective and is a treasure trove of excuses WHY he cant do his job. It is always something with him. He is out of touch with law enforcement issues and solutions. Damnit already..get rid of him Mr. Yennerell!
ReplyDeleteThe person who posted on 04-20-2015 8:06, you should get your facts right as he never said there wasn't a drug problem. Now who is the moron?
ReplyDeleteYes, I missed the April 17th daytime meeting at the police department. I have had several one on one conversations with Chief Johnston. We agree on many things and disagree on a few things. Whenever, I have a good opportunity to have a one on one with the rank and file in the PD, I also have conversations with them. I encourage citizens to contact me with concerns about the administration of Town business, and I am not reluctant to voice those concerns in the course of Selectboard meetings or elsewhere. With respect particularly to the Police Department, there is a reluctance for people to speak out publicly. The phrases used as a result express two things: 1) that I am hearing concerns; and 2) that these are not verified concerns, merely those are that are being brought to my attention. My purpose in running for office was not to be a cheerleader for Town Government, if someone believes that a member of the Selectboard should be a consistent cheerleader for Town Government, I respect that opinion, but it is not an opinion that I share. I do not allow people to use "Annonymous" when they post or make comments on Springfield United for Action, they have to use their name. Posters, including myself, have on numerous occasions applauded the Police Department leadership. There have also been comments and posts that could be taken as criticisms.
ReplyDelete