“While we may not be able to prosecute our way out of this
epidemic, that does not mean that prosecution has no role in our fight” stated
U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “While prevention and treatment efforts are critical to
success in driving down overdose death rates, prosecution also plays an
important role. Treatment represents the appropriate way to deal with those
addicted to these poisons. Prosecution
represents the appropriate way to deal with those drug dealers addicted to the
profits generated by their spewing this poison into our community.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with the Erie
County District Attorney’s Office, the New York-New Jersey High Intensity Drug
Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), Central Police Services, and the Erie County Chiefs
Association, to implement these new protocols help to ensure that those who are
selling these potentially deadly opioids receive justice and those who are
addicted receive treatment. Under the initiative, when law enforcement officers
arrive at what they believe to be an opioid overdose, certain information will
be collected and imputed into a law enforcement database and standardized
protocols regarding the processing of the overdose scene and the collection of
evidence will be followed. In addition, the information will also be entered
into ODMAP, a real time, national GPS mapping system which tracks overdoses,
overdose deaths, and Narcan use nationwide.
U.S. Attorney Kennedy further stated, “By standardizing the
way these overdose scenes are processed, we enhance our ability to prosecute
those who peddle this poison. At the
same time, by simply tracking the location of non-fatal overdoses, we enhance
the ability of treatment providers to reach those who are in the greatest need. It is this simultaneous enhancement of both
our law enforcement function—prosecuting drug dealers—and the treatment
function—helping addicts—which constitutes a highly effective one, two punch in
our effort to combat this deadly epidemic.”
“By establishing consistent protocols for all law
enforcement, we will be able to preserve critical evidence in overdose death
investigations in order to prosecute these opiate dealers,” said Erie County
District Attorney John J. Flynn. “I want to thank U.S. Attorney Kennedy for
bringing our partners in law enforcement together on this initiative. By
streamlining our efforts, we will be better equipped to identify the drug
dealers, and hopefully bring an end to this deadly epidemic.”
“This initiative represents the perfect partnership between
law enforcement and public health,” stated Daniel Rinaldo, Drug Intelligence
Officer with the New York-New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
(HIDTA). “Working together to implement these protocols, gather the evidence,
and interview witnesses will enable us to prepare the strongest case possible
for prosecution.”
To date, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted 16
defendants for distributing heroin and/or fentanyl which caused the death of or
seriously bodily injury to 23 victims. The Erie County District Attorney’s
Office has also prosecuted one defendant for manslaughter in connection with an
opioid related death.
