With state lawmakers poised to start voting on the budget tomorrow, the St. Lawrence County sheriff and the Oswego County sheriff say the proposed spending plan sends a dangerous message to drug dealers, users, and young people. The sheriff of Jefferson County disagrees.
In a joint release issued Monday, Oswego County Sheriff Reuel “Moe” Todd and St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells say the reforms of the Rockefeller-era drug laws, included in the budget bill, are likely to negatively affect public safety.
“The Canadian border remains a key entry point for illegal drugs into our communities and into our schools,” Sheriff Wells said, “but this proposal reduces penalties for major drug traffickers. That’s the wrong message and the wrong approach for dealing with the problem of drugs in communities like ours.”
“The problem of illegal drugs that poison our communities and threaten our children has not gone away and changing the law to reduce the punishment for major drug dealers will make it worse,” said Sheriff Todd. “Especially during an economic recession, when more of our young people and citizens are vulnerable to the lure of drugs and easy drug money, we shouldn’t be taking steps that make it easier and more attractive to deal and use drugs.”
The proposed reforms would reduce prison terms for some drug dealers, release some dealers and users already in prison, and make drug treatment available to certain dealers and users rather than send them to prison.
Sheriff John Burns of Jefferson County told NewsWatch50 he believes the Rockefeller drug laws are harsher than need be for punishing small-time dealers and users.
“I think it’s good to lighten the penalties,” said Sheriff Burns. “I think we have bigger fish to fry than the lower level dealer. Treatment centers are probably a good thing. I’m certainly not in favor of loosening drug laws without treatment.”
Burns believes law enforcement should focus on high level drug traffickers. He cited as an example the concentrated effort by his department to eradicate the crystal meth problem in Jefferson County.
