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Police Chief Jason Cross lays out steps to end drug epidemic

In fourth public drug forum, Chief Cross advocates greater community involvement, a long term, local rehabilitation center, a second School Resource Officer, increased access to Drug Courts, more police officers and equipment, greater public participation and use of tiplines, continued and increased faith based response and intervention.
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By Ed & Linda Waggener

Columbia Police Chief Jason Cross laid out steps Adair County will need to make to rid the community of the scourge of meth and crack cocaine here and prevent widespread use of heroin here, in the fourth community Drug Forum, this one at Living by Faith Church on Tuesday evening, June 20, 2017.

He moderated the meeting, attended by approximately 50 people, including other Columbia Police Officers, Sheriff Harrison Moss, two Columbia City Council members, former substance abusers who are now clean because of tough love, drug court, rehabilitation centers and faith; Pastor Bobby Withers and members of his church and the Gradyville area; and Dr. Pam Stephens, Superintended of Adair County Schools.

Chief Cross advocated the following needs
  • Community involvement - He asked for citizens report activity in their neighborhoods which appear to be drug dealings. "The business is now mobile," he said, often taking place with home deliveries or meetings. Those meetings happen in store parking lots and other pre-designated spots - some even in church parking lots

  • A second School Resource Officer (SRO) on the Adair County School District Campus. Chief Cross said that of the 12 officers on the Columbia Police Department, the school officer accounts for one third of the calls the entire 12-man (the Columbia Police Department personnel are entirely male), including calls to homes where children are neglected, left alone, some physically and sexually abused. He told of one mother who was selling her 15 year old daughter in order to support a drug habit, another incident where a truancy was investigated and the nine year old girl had been left at home with only eggs and bread for two or three days for the girl and her little pre-school brother.

  • A Long Term Rehab Facility in Columbia - Chief Cross said, and recovered drug abusers agreed, that addicts have to have not only 'tough love' from family, but may have to have jail time to realize the depth of their problems, but most need long-term rehabilitation. Chief Cross said that Barkley Hancock who operates Journey to Recovery Centers, is actively investigating the possibility of opening a long term rehabilition center here.

  • Increased access to Drug Courts. Chief Cross and others present said that Drug Courts offer strict supervision and said that many owe the recovery to drug courts. He and those with Drug Court experience, called for greater access - which according to some in attendance, is only for those facing or having a felony conviction.
  • Greater Resources, more law enforcement officers. Chief Cross called for more personnel, in addition to a second SRO, on both the City Police Department and the Sheriff's Department the current drug crisis. CPD Public Information Officer Josh Brockman said that his research that in 34 years the only new position on the City Police Department has been the SRO.

  • Increased Faith Based efforts to help with intervention. Chief Cross called for more volunteers from the community and churches.

  • Continuing Compassionate Policing. Chief Cross said that his department practices Compassionate Policing. Part of this he said, is that when a addict hits rock bottom, and comes to law enforcement and asks for help getting off drugs, that help is as forthcoming as current resources allow.
Chief Cross maintained that a popular misconception is that Columbia and Adair County's drug problems are the worst anywhere. He said that some neighboring communities already have heroin distribution and use, and noted that there was one evening in Campbellsville when the emergency services were overwhelmed and fatalities resulted from heroin overuse. Accoring to Ofc. Brockman, the local police have dealt with only five cases - so far - involving heroin. But Brockman said that realistically, he knows that drug are pushing heroin here.

Chief Cross said that community involvement, including attending the Drug Forums - there have been four now - is changing the direction of the effort Chief Cross urged those in attendance to change the direction, asking that everyone get involved and be proactive against the drug problem, and work with law-enforcement. He asked that individuals call KY Sen. Max Wise and Rep. Bam Carnety to aid in efforts to get a long term drug rehab facility here in Adair County.

Misty May who spoke personal experience of having been addicted, arrested, accepted the drug court option and was able to become drug free because of the long-term support of that program. She shared her gripping story and now lives to help others.

One of the major points she made was how vital it is that drug addiction and education be stressed in schools where young students are doing things today that even she can't believe, worse than her worst behavior as an out-of-control 15-year-old.

Ofc. Josh Brockman, a 16-year-veteran of the Columbia Police Department who echoed the challenges and needs of the police and sheriff's departments. He also appealed for residents to call and, while remaining anonymous, share information about possible drug sales locations in their neighborhoods. He said the only way to have change is for everyone to be involved in the battle against illegal drug sales and illegal drug consumption.

Suggestions came from others who, like Misty May, have pulled themselves out of the depths of addiction with the help of programs like drug court and people who believed in them and gave support rather than money.

This story was posted on 2017-06-21 05:10:19
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Chief Cross opens fourth community drug forum



2017-06-20 - Living by Faith Community Church - Photo by Ed and Linda Waggener.
Columbia Police Chief Jason Cross opened the fourth public community drug forum being held around the county in efforts to stop illegal drug use and be proactive in stopping the growth of Heroine addiction. Both the Columbia Police Department and the Adair County Sheriff's Department are asking for greater community involvement. Tips are helpful. To avoid tying up 911 emergency lines people are invited to call 270-384-4119. Once the call is received officers can do a 'knock and talk' and begin the discovery process to see if there's a need for further investigation of possible drug sales at the particular location.
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Pastor Bobby Withers listens to testimony of former addict



2017-06-21 - Living by Faith Church, 3041 Edmonton Road, Columbia, KY - Photo by Ed Waggener, Columbia, KY.
Living by Faith Pastor Bobby Withers, center listened intently to testimony by a recovered drug abuser during the Tuesday, June 20, 2017, Drug Forum, hosted by his church, Living by Faith Community Church, and conducted by his son-in-law, Columbia Police Chief Jason Cross. The forum, the 4th in a series which has included gatherings in the Adair County Judicial Center, and at Breeding and at Knifley, was attending by a strong showing of around 50 people. - EW
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CPD Ofc. Josh Brockman addresses drug forum



2017-06-21 - Living by Faith Church, 3041 Edmonton Road, Columbia, KY - Photo by Ed Waggener, ColumbiaMagazine.com(c).
Ofc. Josh Brockman, a 16-year-veteran of the Columbia Police Department echoed the challenges and needs of the police and sheriff's departments, presented by others at the 4th community Drug Forum held last night, Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at Living by Faith Church. Ofc. Brockman called for more community participation, asking residents to call and, while remaining anonymous, share information about possible drug sales locations in their neighborhoods. He said the only way to have change is for everyone to be involved in the battle against illegal drug sales and illegal drug use.
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Sheriff Harrison Moss at Drug Forum at Living by Faith Church



2017-06-21 - Living by Faith Church, 3041 Edmonton Road, Columbia, KY - Photo by Ed Waggener, ColumbiaMagazine.com(c).
Adair County Sheriff Harrison Moss listens as Drug Forum Moderator, Columbia Police Chief Jason Cross, speaks. Chief Cross asked those in attendance to be proactive requesting Adair County Fiscal Court and the Columbia City Council to allocate enough financial support adequately fund law enforcement agencies, particularly with equipment and personnel.
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Happy Birthday, Billy C. Milby

Columbia/Adair Co. EDA meeting report 20 Jun 2017

Living by Faith revival: 21 through 25 Jun 2017

A CM shortcut: Nearly five dozen Birthdays to start the day

Wants to know if Adair Recycling takes TVs, electronics

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Doug McCammish: Working together is what makes MSI great

VBS at Russell Springs United Methodist starts Wed 21 Jun 2017

View even more articles in topic News
  

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