Revamped Task Force hits Susq. streets

BY STACI WILSON

A revamped county Task Force took to the streets nearly two weeks ago, concentrating an effort in the Susquehanna area, District Attorney Robert Klein told the borough council at the Wednesday, April 20 meeting.

Klein said that the Task Force is now targeting areas in an effort to step up enforcement. Seven vehicles were out at once in the same area on the first night of the “new version” of the Task Force, Klein said.

“It’s not what we’ve done in the past,” he said. Along with Task Force officers, Pennsylvania State Police and the Susquehanna Police Department all took part in the interdiction effort.

Klein also said the Task Force had typically worked only weekend night hours. That, too, he said would be changing to include weekdays, holidays and daytime hours with the higher, saturation patrols.

Klein also announced the drug Take Back day on Saturday, April 30. “We want to get as many drugs as possible off the streets,” he said.

He reminded council members, most of whom attended a meeting the prior week for municipal leaders on the county’s drug problems, that prescription medications were a “direct path to opiate issues.”

Klein also spoke about the “Fight Crime” link on the county website. The link will take users to a form (which can be filled out anonymously) that residents in the county can use to report suspicious and/or drug-related activities in their neighborhoods.

Councilwoman Debra Zayas said she has been passing the word about the reporting form, but some people have expressed doubt about their ability to remain anonymous. “There’s so much doubt,” she said. “How do we get past that?”

Klein said that would happen with time. “We’re really about protecting our sources,” he said. “This is as important of an issue as it gets.”
“Maybe we can’t save the whole world,” Klein said, “but we can save out county.

Council President Joe Varsik said that on the Friday evening the Task Force was at work in the Susquehanna area he noticed more patrols through the town than he had in years. He said the borough council was “100%” behind the district attorney’s efforts.

Turn in your unused or expired medications for safe disposal on Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at locations throughout Susquehanna County.
Prescription drugs are safe when properly used, but deadly when abused.

Drug overdoses kill almost as many people as car accidents and guns combined.

Seventy percent of drug abusers got their first drugs from a home or friend’s medicine cabinet.

Count and control your prescription drugs to prevent abuse.

Proper drug disposal can save lives and the environment.

Local Rotary Clubs provide community outreach information in cooperation with the district attorney’s off ice and locations that collect the drugs.

Collection sites are: Montrose Courthouse, Forest City Emergency Building, PA State Police barracks, Gibson, and the Great Bend Police Department.