I need some advice. - Law Enforcement Local and International Law Enforcement Community

**Lazarusproject** · 04-24-2008

Hello, I am new to this forum yet I have been a supporter of Law enforcement since I was a child. In years past I have been a member of Law enforcement forums and chat rooms but I have not done much on the internet for a few years until now.
I work as a Residential Counselor in a placement for troubled teens. I once thought about going into the Law Enfocement profession when I was younger. As I grew older I found that my particular talents were better suited to help teens find their way in the hopes of them growing into mature adults who are on the right side of the Law.
Although I have been in Social work now for about 9 years now all together I still admire and often support law enforcement in any way that I can.

Now, what has caused me to go and renew my online activity and become more active is this. A close friend lives in a low income apartement complex with her 8 year old daughter and a good husband who unfortunatley works many hours on most days. The problem is that this family is a good one who are trying to raise their daughter to be healthy and drug free as she begins to get old enough to see and understand what is going on around her.
This apartment complex has many drug users and some dealers as well. The land lord will do nothing to help the situation due to his own criminal activities. The Land lord often pays for sexual favors from one of the crack addicted female tennents in the building neighboring my frinds apartment. My friend wants to badly do something to better their situation but does not know how to do it with out risking retribution. She fears for her daughter and they can not even safely go to the park as that entire neighborhood has so much drug activity and the various types of criminal activity that go along with that.
I have known that the area they live in is a bad one for many years and even through I warned my friend before they moved there they did not have a choice due to their low level of income. I want to help them clean up their building at least. I advised her to keep a low profile and not speak out at all right now about her feelings as this could make her a target. I also advised her to remain friendly when ever she is forced to communicate with people in her complex as well as to keep her eyes and ears open for any info that I may be able to pass on to Law enforcement that could lead to busting up the drug rings in that complex.
I suspect that the reason that this has gone on so long without local law enforcement being able to clean it up is because they may not have the Anti-drug tastforce level needed to deal with the wide spread problem. Or there may be some people close to law enforcement in that Town who are a part of the problem.
I need advice on how to proceed. I want to do what is right and help this area where my friend and her family are forced to live be cleaned up, at least improve things there enough so she can feel safe enough to take her daughter outside to play once in awhile.
Thank you all in advance for allowing me to join and for any advices you have to help us.
Lazarusproject

**DoubleTap** · 04-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarusproject

I suspect that the reason that this has gone on so long without local law enforcement being able to clean it up is because they may not have the Anti-drug tastforce level needed to deal with the wide spread problem. Or there may be some people close to law enforcement in that Town who are a part of the problem.
I need advice on how to proceed. :

First off welcome, second, please don't say a department is on the take, thats not nice.

Now, your friends needs to go in and talk to the police. She can go to the police department explain the situation and the department will handle it the way they want, there is not much else you or she can do. Who knows the department could be doing something right now and she may not even notice it...you just never know. Tell her to go to the police department and talk to a shift supervisor they will direct her where she needs to go.

**Lazarusproject** · 05-15-2008

I have lived in the area for over 20 years and the growing drug problem in this particular town along with neighboring Rochester and parts of Dover is easy for All to see. It is like the town is a person who ignores a cancer. If ignored too long the town will not be worth anything and it will become nothing but a slum.
I have very high respect for people who fight for what is right in society. That includes Police/Fire/Rescue/Military personell. I will not though pretend that we are not all human and thus subject to the same potential for doing wrong.
I find it hard to believe that good people with the power to make change would allow a huge criminal eliment to grow for 20 years without taking a stand to clean up the town. I have seen other towns who have fought and made progress against crime ridden areas.

As I grew up in this area I also vacationed in Boston and at times visited the red light district as well as other crime infested ares, While the drug problem in Summersworth grew over the years Boston has become safer now then it was when I was a teenager vacationing there. I have seen the differences that a police presence and efficient anti-drug task force can make. I also have visited a few clubs run by crime families in Boston where Drugs/prostitution/Thieft were happening in front of a few certain Boston police officers. I say nothing lightly, I simply know what can happen if things are not cleaned up around here.

My friend asked me for help. that is why I am helping by asking the one source I need to the most. I will pass on your advice to my friend, although it was not anything I have not already told her. The landlord at her apartment complex is dirty, The other tenants smoke crack without hiding it and my friend is stuck living there with Users/Dealers and thieves infesting her entire bilding. Telling the Department what they already know will not solve her current problems.
The town has a newly built handsom Police complex within four miles of her apartment complex, yet they are more concerned with traffic enforcement then the growing drug dealing and related crime problem. Or so it seems when ever I drive through the area and see speed traps but never see officers looking into the obviouse problems that her apartment building is having. If my friend reports this to her local PD and word gets back at all her saftey is at rist, Her 8 year old daughter's saftey is at risk and when the landlord gets wind of it she and her family will be homeless.

Thank you thogh for what help you have given.

**DoubleTap** · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Or so it seems when ever I drive through the area and see speed traps but never see officers looking into the obviouse problems that her apartment building is having

Is your friends willing to pay MUCH higher TAXES so that police will constantly be there. Or so that your city will make a Drug task force. Again, you do not know if they are doing something already or not. That is why it is called UNDERCOVER, so people don't know what they are doing. Please stop saying that they are doing nothing if your friend hasn't gone over to the police station and reported it.

They are not speed TRAPS, because speed traps are illegal in most/all states if I am correct. With your post I have detected a hint of disrespect for police. Again, YOU have no idea if they are doing something in the department or not because YOU don't live there, you are only going off of what your FRIEND said. Tell her to go to the police department, file a complaint.

**Swattie** · 05-15-2008

I would suggest your friend talking with a narcotics detective and telling them, in detail, what they have seen, including which apartments are involved, time of day and people and descriptions involved. Even the vehicles involved.

She can be proactive without being noticed.

If that fails then get the media involved. The police will have no choice but to get involved at that point.

I have seen alot of crooked cops in my career, but there are alot of honest ones too.

**redbird** · 05-15-2008

I suggest that your friend MOVE as soon as possible.It is better to be 'down and out'and maybe have a little back up than to be the only meat in the soup..Go to whoever and wherever you may to raise enough cash to get them out of there..Even if the law were to get really involved...Its not going to be posys and rosies there for a LONG TIME to come,I say that from the description of the hood.Get money and HELP THEM LEAVE...

**redbird** · 05-15-2008

Remember money talks..There are people living there who are HAPPY THERE.It is no place for children.REGARDLESS...

**Lazarusproject** · 05-17-2008

WOW, Thank you all for your helpful replies.
I mean NO disrespect for those who are honest in law enforcement. I DO not respect those who wear the uniform but are not as they seem.
I have suggested going to the Media, I may have to do this for them using any information they give me to help. Details and dirt on why the owner is as much of a criminal as the drug dealers infesting his apartment complex.
I will also take the advice of talking to some one involved in Narcotics, But I will have to talk to some one I know in a different department where I know people. I don't know the Police in this town so I really don't know yet who are the honest brave law enforcers and those who may not be.
When a friend of mine is in need of help and children's lives are in danger I check my ego at the door. no one should take offence at anything I suggest may be going on, as it is suggested only as a possible reason. If I knew it was true for sure I would not bother suggesting it, I would just talk to some one at the Federal level. Department of Justice or something.
I have read all the good advice that has been written here and I will put it to good use. Thank you all again.

**DoubleTap** · 05-17-2008

Your welcome, but please for the sake of the children get something done soon!!!

**TimothyJ** · 05-17-2008

Sometimes we are reminded of the grim realities of society.