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Deputy Melissa Yerpe, Lieutenant Melanie Churakos, Sheriff
Rick Whitney, Senator Young, District
Attorney Lori Rieman, Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb and Deputy Joseph Yerpe
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Little Valley, New York – As the heroin and opioid crisis
continues to devastate families and communities around New York, Senator Catharine
Young (R,C,I – 57th District) announced $90,000 in funding for local law
enforcement agencies to support drug interdiction efforts. Senator Young,
joined by Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, District Attorney Lori
Rieman, and Allegany County Sheriff Rick Whitney, announced the news at a press
conference Wednesday at the Cattaraugus County Office Building in Little
Valley, New York.
“In my conversations with law enforcement officials these
days, a word that I hear often is ‘unprecedented’. The heroin and opioid crisis
has invaded our rural communities on a scale not seen in previous drug
epidemics. In its wake, it has left a trail of heartbroken families, destroyed
lives, and tragic, needless deaths,” said Senator Young. “Our law enforcement
officers are on the front lines in this war and it is crucial they have the
resources they need to investigate and arrest the dealers as well as help those
in life-threatening overdose situations.” Cattaraugus County’s share of the
funding will support the work of two, part-time, undercover drug investigators
who function as part of the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force. The Task Force brings together the New York
State Police and local law enforcement agencies for regional drug
investigations. A focus of the Task Force is to identify, arrest and prosecute
high level dealers and secure maximum prison terms with the help of the federal
Drug Enforcement Administration office in Buffalo and the U.S. Attorney’s
office.
Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb said: “In my 27 years as a police
officer, I have never seen a more dangerous threat to our community than the
one we are facing right now. While our narcotics investigators are working to
stem the tide of drugs on our streets by targeting dealers, our officers are
balancing police work with paramedic skills as they respond with
ever-increasing frequency to heroin and opioid overdoses. Among the facts that
really underscore the widespread nature of this problem: our women’s ward at
the county jail is routinely at its capacity of 25 – filled with young women,
most who are mothers, who have been brought in on drug charges. This is a
disturbing ‘first’ in my career and a reminder that we still have a long way to
go.”
“Senator Young has been a critical partner in our efforts to
combat this epidemic. We are grateful for this latest funding which will
support two, part-time deputies working in collaboration with the Southern Tier
Regional Drug Task Force which targets the high volume dealers who are
perpetrating this deadly crisis,” he added.
District Attorney Lori Rieman said: “As everyone knows, this
epidemic is wide and far reaching and, unlike many drug epidemics in the past,
no one is immune from its devastating grip. It affects rich as well as poor,
young, as well as old. Beating opioid addiction requires more time and
resources than the other drugs we have seen in the past. We are grateful for
Senator Young’s grant and it is money well spent. Our drug officers work around
the clock, sacrificing so much to eradicate drug abuse and addiction.”
Allegany County Sheriff Rick Whitney said their department
anticipates using the funds for mobile digital terminals (MDT) in narcotics
investigators’ cars - computers which allow officers to communicate directly
with remote crime information databases.
The funding will also support the cost of overtime for narcotics
investigators and an infrared camera to help detect marijuana growing
operations.
Sheriff Whitney said, “Allegany County continues to see a
steady flow of narcotics, with heroin, suboxone and prescription drugs driving
the majority of arrests. The biggest challenge is the fact that dealers within
the underground drug scene are continually changing their product and
operations in an attempt to ‘outsmart’ law enforcement. This requires our
investigators to constantly shift their tactics to remain effective in this
fight.”
“Senator Young’s commitment to this issue has been
invaluable. She has been a staunch advocate on the legislative front and has
fought tirelessly for funding to help local law enforcement deal with the
situation on the ground. We are fortunate to have her on our side in this
battle.”
