SAINT CLAIR - In response to trends seen by Saint Clair police and the concerns voiced by residents, the department is implementing a new approach for 2014 involving a focused group of officers who will address illegal drug crimes in the borough.
The team will be under the direction of Acting Police Chief William M. Dempsey, who said "we have decided that in the interest of community safety there is no time to waste."
He said the upswing in crime seen by the department associated with illegal drugs, specifically methamphetamine, results in violence, property crime, theft and other criminal activity.
"Our department has noticed that the illegal drug use has elevated from recreational users to individuals who appear to be addicts," Dempsey said, adding that although the use of the drugs has always been present, the collateral damage to the community has also risen.
Two incidents this month in the borough resulted in drug charges pending against two people, with drugs and drug-related items confiscated.
An unwanted person call at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 16 resulted in charges against Allyson A. Kiessling, 20, of 212 E. Main St., Schuylkill Haven.
Police said Kiessling was charged with possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after she was found with a packet of heroin stamped "good work," several similar open packets and a hypodermic needle.
A vehicle stop at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday at East Hancock and North Mill streets resulted in charges pending against Jennifer Eckert, 97 Water St., New Philadelphia.
Police said Eckert was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Michael Sura, 138 Center Road, Douglassville, and was found to be in possession of needles, pills and a smoking pipe with burnt residue inside. In addition, Sura was turned over to state police at Schuylkill Haven after it was discovered he was wanted for theft and receiving stolen property charges.
Dempsey said that with the increase of illegal drug use, officers will investigate the crimes in two ways: covert operations and overt operations.
Covert operations will consist of undercover work directly against those who traffic illegal drugs in and out of Saint Clair while overt operations will consist of visible, comprehensive actions addressing illegal narcotics in suspected drug houses as well as the small and mid-level truck traffickers and abusers.
"The overt operations will be primarily fueled by developing probable cause traffic stops and the development of tips provided by the public and informants," Dempsey said.
He said that the financial state of the municipalities that surround Saint Clair has led to either little or no police protection. This, Dempsey said, allows drug addicts and drug dealers to migrate into those unprotected jurisdictions.
"Saint Clair is surrounded on all sides by municipalities that lack a full time police presence," he said. "This has led to a problem for us these criminals will often enter our municipality to commit various crimes resulting from drug use."
The acting chief said concerned residents can call Saint Clair police at 570-429-2240 to report suspected drug activity in progress. The caller, he said, must relay detailed information such as a description of the vehicles, houses or people involved.