WINDBER COUNCIL DISCUSSES DRUG DILEMMA

WINDBER - Council took time during Wednesday's meeting to discuss drug
problems with Sgt. Rick Skiles.

The discussion stemmed from the recent elections where all three county
judge candidates cited the drug problem in Somerset County as one of the
biggest problems the area is facing.

Skiles, Windber Borough police chief, agreed that the nature of crime in
the county has changed dramatically since he began to serve.

"It used to be all about criminal mischief cases where a bunch of guys
drinking beers at the bar would get in a fight and we'd have to go in and
sort it out," Skiles said, "Now, 85 to 90 percent of all criminal activity
is related to drugs."

Part of the problem is the accessibility of major cities to those looking
to use or move narcotics, Skiles said.

"A kid can leave with the family car at 6:30 (p.m.), drive to Pittsburgh,
and return by 10 (p.m.) with a load of heroin," Skiles said.

The Windber Borough police department works with local schools and the
county task force, but Skiles said families and community members have to
speak out or seek help when they come across someone with a drug problem.

"The victims of crime become the families themselves," he said, "The nature
of the drug problem is that if it doesn't touch you, then nobody gets
involved."

Skiles said the problem gets little input from the community at large. He
cited as an example, the Oct. 19 drug awareness program at Richland High
School.

Less than 150 parents, educators, community leaders and children attended
the "Connecting Our Voices, Straight talk about Drugs and Sex" forum held
at a venue designed for more than 1,000 people.

District attorneys, coroners, doctors, drug prevention specialists and
youth mentors pushed the message that the drugs and sex are out there, but
to a mostly empty auditorium.

Still, Skiles is guardedly optimistic about the problem.

"I hope that we've peaked. I say that cautiously," he said.

The bottom line for police officers is that drugs won't go away until the
demand for drugs go away.

"We had a bust where we brought 36 people in, but now we're (undercover
police) out there buying dope again," Skiles said.