Residents vent frustration with drug problem

DUNDEE--Nearly 200 people attended the community forum to combat heroin Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Dundee school auditorium. After several recent heroin overdoses in the Yates County area, many residents came together at the meeting to learn what they can do to stop the problem. However, many are also learning the difficulties and frustrations that come with attempting to catch those who are distributing the illegal substance.
The meeting was sponsored by the Yates Substance Abuse Coalition (YSAC). The panel of speakers included Sheriff Ron Spike, District Attorney Valerie Gardner and Director of Public Health Deb Minor. Environmental Prevention Specialist at Council on Alcoholism and Addictions of the Finger Lakes Mike Ballard, also spoke during the meeting, along with Kris Schiek, a parent of a person in recovery, and Susan Wager of the Finger Lakes Addictions Counseling and Referral Agency (FLACRA). Representatives from Congressman Tom Reed, State Senator Tom O'Mara and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano's offices also attended the forum to speak about what is being done at the state and federal level to combat the heroin crisis.
Several of the crowd members voiced their frustrations with the legal system, noting many of the people they have reported to be allegedly involved in the heroin trade are still active. While several community members spoke during the forum, they were not required to give their name prior to comment. They also noted there needs to be more funding so area agencies have the resources to do their jobs. Area law enforcement officials spoke at the meeting, not only to inform the community of the dangers of the drug, but also to detail their limitations when it comes to arresting and prosecuting heroin distributors.
Some crowd members expressed their frustrations with the fact that the tips and information they have provided to law enforcement has not been acted upon.
"There are numerous accounts that have been called in by many people in this community, and there is nothing done," one crowd member said. "And they are still the same people every single time."
Gardner said the difficulty comes in catching the suspected dealers in the act.
"In order for an arrest to be made, there has to be probable cause," Gardner said. "When the police respond to any kind of complaint, they need to have direct evidence essentially of what is going on. [...] These are the limitations of our legal system that we can't have the police departments make an arrest because you suspect someone is doing something."
Lieutenant Scott Backer said phone numbers and names are helpful, but not enough to base an arrest on. He added anonymous tips cannot be used to get a search warrant, adding there needs to be a written complaint.
"I can give you a list of 1,000 people right now in Yates County who are dealing drugs," Backer said. "It comes back to the resources. Monday, [Jan. 18], I was doing investigative work due to our staffing levels. If there is one person in the county, which house do want me to sit on that day? It comes back to staffing and being able to get the resources to put just into that."
Backer said the county no longer has a drug officer, noting investigators also have to address other crimes like welfare fraud and burglaries. Spike noted the county did previously have a drug investigator through grant funding, but added the position did not get refilled by the legislature a few years ago when there was a vacancy. He said the county's staffing levels are where they were at 15 years ago, even though calls and complaints have increased.
"Kids need to be so scared of this stuff they don't even consider trying it," Backer said.
Spike said while anonymous tips were not enough to base an arrest on, they are helpful in giving the department a starting place when it comes to an investigation. He highlighted one instance where a tip came in giving a vehicle description and approximate time of its arrival into the county from a drug run to Rochester. Spike said they waited for the vehicle and followed it until it failed to signal before making a turn. This gave the officers enough probable cause to initiate a traffic stop, during which they found several baggies of heroin and were able to make an arrest.
Kevin Fultz directed his comments to the state and federal representatives, noting there needs to be more funding for local groups and departments so they can better fight the heroin problem.
"We need to get some money, obviously, to Mr. Spike to help fight this disease," Fultz said. "He doesn't have the resources or the money. [...] We need to let everybody know how we really need to get money to these people to fight this -- to the coalition and to all these groups who provide treatment. Let's get some money to them so they can help."
Legislator Bonnie Percy encouraged people who supported getting a new drug investigator to attend the public safety committee meetings and let the legislators know their thoughts.
"We will do everything we can to get a drug investigator," Percy said.
Mayor Fred Cratsley Jr. said while there is a lot of discussion on the aftermath, there needs to be more done to prevent people from getting hooked in the first place.
"We have a dire need here," Cratsley said. "Our governor is spending billions on necessities, but in my opinion, this is a necessity."
Kelly Houck said while the school is in need of funding to provide drug prevention programming to students, it does not mean the district will sit by and do nothing. She said the district held an assembly on the issue in December, emphasizing the importance of preventative programs for students.
"I really believe it is preventative education that will stop this epidemic," Houck said. "We need to be part of that, all of us together. Have those hard conversations with your kids. Question them. Don't just take it at face value. Do that probing and really hold them accountable for their whereabout and their actions. We are doing it, and please help us be a part of that team."
Recently elected Starkey Councilman Jack Ossont expressed his concerns with the pharmaceutical companies who distribute the legal opioid pills. He called these "the gateway drug," to heroin use, as many addicts became hooked prescription pills on prior to turning to the cheaper heroin. Schiek said there are a lot of regulations as far as writing prescriptions that should decrease the amount of the substance that gets distributed. She said there are also certain requirements physicians will follow that can also track to see if a user is abusing the system by jumping between emergency rooms or from physician to physician. Minor and Spike also identified safe drop off points for unused drugs at the Starkey Town Hall and the Public Safety Building in Penn Yan to ensure the leftover drugs are not misused.
For those who do wish to make anonymous tips, Spike said people can call 315-536-5558. He added they will also be coming out with a free downloadable app for smart phones, which will be debuting in late January.