 |
| Mayor Susan Haugh speaking to Wellsville Crime Watch Committee |
In their last meeting of the year the Wellsville Crime Watch
Committee had the honor of having Mayor Susan Haugh doing one of her favorite
things. The Mayor was the guest speaker
for the November meeting.
For her topic the Mayor spoke on a subject that has been
near and dear to her heart, even before entering the Wellsville political arena.
Since becoming a Village official that
passion has only intensified. Since
becoming Mayor, at the beginning of the year, the Wellsville drug scene has
become one of her top priorities. She
has devoted countless hours in enlisting help to supplement the efforts of our
local law enforcement. With a limited
budget the Wellsville Police Department is restricted for funds for their drug
fighting resources. Their determination
to fight the Wellsville drug problem is fraught with other demands on their
time and money. It’s a determination
that Mayor Haugh has embraced whole heartedly even at the risk of putting
herself in peril.
She has personally put herself at the forefront of the drug
fighting effort doing things that many men would be leery of trying. She has personally knocked on the doors of
suspected drug dealers in town to present the occupants a letter of
warning. She has personally told
suspected dealers and users face-to-face that the party is over; it’s time to
get out of “Dodge” or face the consequences.
In her first few months in
office she has left no doubt that she is lady that takes Teddy Roosevelt’s
advice to “walk softly and carry a big stick” very seriously.
Even before taking office she initiated meetings with other County,
State and Federal officials begging for whatever assistance they could render
in fighting the Wellsville drug problem.
She has not let the complexities of our legal system slow her down or
discourage her efforts. She encouraged
members of the Crime Watch Committee not to give up.
It’s a very slow process but it is beginning to show
positive results. In January of this
year there were 27 suspected drug houses in town. In August that number was down to 19 and now
it down to 10. Put quite simply dealers
don’t like being hassled and will move on to avoid it. That is especially true for suspected dealers
that have warrants out on them for minor misdemeanor offenses, suspended driver’s
licenses, etc. That unexpected knock on
the door can come at any time. They don’t
want that extra attention.
The Mayor said any and all efforts by everyone are greatly
appreciated. All calls and tips are
immediately passed on to the authorities.
All calls are kept confidential and the caller’s identity is never
disclosed. Another angle Village officials are working on
to enforce is aimed at landlords or property owners that knowingly rent to
known drug dealers and users. Doing so
is in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2925.13.
Anybody found complicit will be prosecuted to the limit.
Before closing the Mayor thanked all the agencies who are
making efforts fighting the illegal drug scene.
Those agencies include the Wellsville Police Dept., the CC Drug Task
Force, the CC Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio State Patrol, the Bureau of Criminal
Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the US Marshalls. Haugh said they’re all committed to fighting
the drug problem and have been extremely generous in helping our Village. Even though they may not be visible their
efforts are continuing and it is something she promised to never give up on.
The Crime Watch Committee next meets Thursday, March 21,
2013.
ole nib
