The city of Hurricane has launched a new police unit, in which four officers will be "laser-focused" on cracking down on drug offenses, according to one city official.
The Hurricane Police Department now has a criminal interdiction unit. Four of the department's 16 officers and one K9 will work extra overtime shifts each week - dedicated solely to making drug-related arrests.
Hurricane Mayor Scott Edwards said the city set aside nearly $50,000 for overtime pay for the officers. It is money he said he is "sad" to see going toward stopping a drug-related problem instead of community resources for children or seniors.
"When they're on duty, they are going to be laser-focused on drugs. We want to arrest drug dealers - we want to arrest drug users," he said. "We want to make it very inconvenient to bring drugs into Hurricane."
The officers of this unit will closely patrol "hot spots" where drug activity is common. Officers also will have more time to arrest those with outstanding drug-related warrants, Edwards said.
Edwards admits that the unit isn't going to solve the regional addiction crisis, but he said he believes it will be effective in stopping drugs and drug-related crimes in Hurricane.
"We want drug dealers to say, 'I don't want to go to Hurricane, because I will get arrested again and again.'
"I know it has to change. We'll arrest them every single day, if we have to. We'll seize their assets, we'll take their cars and their money," Edwards said. "It's similar to President Trump building the wall. We can't eradicate the cartels in Mexico, but we can lessen the number of drugs coming into the country."
Some critics see the unit as an effort to arrest the city's way out of the problem - a method repeatedly criticized as lacking results.
Shelia Martin, who runs The Rock Ministries, a faith-based sober-living facility in Putnam County, said continuously arresting drug offenders is a costly and ineffective cycle.
"I'm not saying we should not arrest that person," she said. "But if we arrest them and arrest them and keep placing fines on them, that's not working either. "
Martin called for the county to "unite," suggesting that officials find a way to get an individual into a 12-month treatment program, once they are released from jail. Martin also said she believes more treatment options in Putnam County and clearer education efforts on addiction and treatment would be more beneficial for the community.
"Drugs have their mind so clouded," she said, "but if they go to jail for a month or so and their mind isn't as clouded, then, at that point, let's get them into at least a 12-month place. It's hard to do. We need to find some way and find some funding. If not, a revolving door keeps happening."
Edwards, who said he has gone on several drug overdose calls with the fire department, said he believes the majority of addicts do not want to seek treatment. Many, he said, sign refusals to be transported to the hospital after an overdose.
"It's their choice; they either need to volunteer to get help or get put in prison for a long, long time - and I mean a long time," he said. "A lot of them are stealing cars. They're thieves, nothing but thieves. I don't care if it's an illness or if it's a choice, that's still not anything for me. It's a little old lady getting her stuff stolen. That's not her fault."
Edwards said that, when an arrest or overdose medical call is made, emergency officials offer the patient or suspect options to seek medical attention. The interdiction unit plans to continue making the same offers, he said.
"I could build a 50-story recovery center in Hurricane; [but] they do not want help," he said. "A lot of people do nothing. Nearly everyone does nothing. I'm going to do something. I can't fix the problem. I can only do what I've been asked to take care of as mayor."
In a Facebook post announcing the new unit, Edwards encouraged those who witness drug-related incidents in the city or have any additional information to call the Hurricane Police Department at 304-562-9911 or email CIU@hurricanewv.com.
Hurricane Police Chief W.M. Mullins did not respond to a request for comment.
Reach Carlee Lammers at Carlee.Lammers@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1230 or follow @Carleelammers on Twitter.