A Draft Proposal to Eliminate Illegal Drug use through Volunteer Community Involvement

JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | Oct 8, 2005 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

Yesterday my wife and I attended a community awareness meeting called at our church to talk about the growing methamphetamine and illegal drug problem in our little Idaho community. The County Attorney and a Captain with the Idaho State Troopers made the presentation, with the local Police Chief and Sheriff also in attendance. About 300 people attended.

Idaho is an increasing target for the Mexico Drug Cartels for developing and deciminating drugs. The officials clearly showed and demonstrated how these drugs are being funneled, using illegal aliens as carriers, from Mexico, across the remote sections of the US border and the country, and into Idaho. from there, some of the most remote interstates (I84, I90, and I80) allow the drugs to make their way either east towards Chicago, or West to Seattle and Portland and then up and down the west coast.

The figures indicate that over 85% of the illegal drugs in this area come directly from Mexico. All the more reason for much, much more firm border interdiction.

But that is not the focus of this thread.

In our area we have a couple of towns that have literally been turned into war zones. Small Idaho towns (like Caldwell) with daily shootings in the street between these drug gangs, their competition, and the law enforcement. We do not want that condition spreading to our town. These officials were literally appealing to the community to help stem the tide, report suspicious behavior and calling for us to educate our families and friends and neighbors about the problem, and how critical strong morals and family values are in addressing it.

After the meeting I spoke with the county attorney and the State Trooper Captain. I made a couple of suggestions that they were enthusiastic about and asked me to formalize into a Draft Proposal and send to them. The draft deals with a volunteer program similar to one I proposed here on FR and in my Dragon's Fury Series of books regarding volunteer terror watch groups formed up, armed, and trained under the local Sherioff's department.

Before I send the draft, I am asking my Freeper brother and sisters to comment on it and help further flesh it out.

Here is the propsoal...sorry in advance for the length of this post, but I ask you to read this, think about it, comment on it...and then consider similar programs in your own areas:

---

A Draft Proposal for a Volunteer
Community Illegal Drug Elimination Program (CIDEP)
Gem County, Idaho

Introduction
This draft proposal is based on the October 7th, 2005, presentation by Idaho State Police Captain, Don Von Cleave and Gem County Prosecutor, Timothy Flemming, in Emmett, Idaho. From that presentation, it is clear that the illegal drug problem in our community is worsening. Clearly, and in keeping with the pleas from these gentlemen, a community-wide, citizen-based response is in order. This draft proposal defines a volunteer Community Illegal Drug Elimination Program (CIDEP) which could be created implemented individually or from expanding and evolving the current neighborhood watch programs in the area. While the current programs are relatively sparse, and focus on suspicious criminal activity dealing with theft, robbery, etc., the CIDEP would expand into a community-wide program that adds illegal drug related activities, and serves as an avenue for associated out-reach programs.

The goals of this program, the method for initiation, a basic organization structure, and ideas for funding for expenses incurred by this volunteer program are presented in this document.

Overall Goals of the Program
The overall goal of the CIDEP is to bring the entire community together in responding to the problem of illegal drugs in the community, particularly methamphetamine. In so doing, the program is an organization of volunteers at the most basic level of the community, capable of addressing this issue at that level. This is accomplished by making the following goals the focus of the effort:

1. Community wide involvement (gridded community, quality volunteers lead each grid)
2. Education (reality and specifics of problem, outreach, family values)
3. Prevention (neighborly care, sending a message, unwelcome environment for drugs)
4. Reaction (avenue for available treatment, eyes and ears for law enforcement)
5. Model and replication (community, county, state, etc.)

Each of these areas of focus is discussed individually as follows:

Community-wide Involvement
It is essential that the program expand rapidly to cover the entire community. This can be accomplished through gridding the community into manageable segments and then identifying quality volunteers to lead each of those segments, or Community Illegal Drig Elimination Groups (CIDEG). For more on how this can be accomplished is covered read the section entitled, “Methods of Initiation”. Each individual CIDEG leader recruits volunteer members from amongst friends, relatives and neighbors within their area. Support of these group’s efforts from city, county and state agencies will be essential.

Education
Each CIDEG will provide educational opportunities for those members of the community within their boundaries, or others friends, relatives and neighbors who care to attend their CIDEG functions. This education will be directed at the nature and extent of the specific drug problem(s), the importance of family values and involvement, the availability of resource, and the specific goals and activities of the respective group. The avenue for this will be through neighborhood get-togethers, eats, and other meetings on a regular basis. At these meetings discussions are held and material is presented that educate the participants in the above described areas,

A good initial resource would be the presentation Captain Van Cleave made on October 7th in Emmett. Such a presentation should cut to CD and made available to each group.

Prevention
The regular meetings be each group in the respective areas of the community will send a two-fold message. First, the community will be educating itself as to the extent and ramifications of the problem. As more citizens are made aware of the horrible ramification engaging in illegal drug use, more and more will choose to “just say no”, knowing that they have the support of the community in so doing. This message will be the community saying that it cares for its members and is willing to be involved in their betterment. Secondly, a clear message will be sent to the criminal drug traffickers that this particular community will not tolerate their behavior. Such a program can rapidly become self feeding, leading to sustained reduction and then elimination of the mentality to take illegal drugs and in reducing the supply of illegal drugs significantly.

Reaction
Currently the illegal drug problem is real and it is growing. Any reaction to the existing problem must have both a rehabilitative and a law enforcement element.

For rehabilitation, the volunteer CIDEGs, which by nature will be close to their own area of the community, will be the ideal place to discover and report abuse, and refer those willing to seek help to the avenues providing it. It is expected that in the regular neighborhood meetings, information will be presented to the citizens regarding these treatment and rehabilitation programs. The members of the CIDEG will be in a position, as neighbors and friends of those around them, to help nurture and support others through this process, which can only lead to better rehabilitation…and less relapse.

From a reporting and law enforcement perspective, the CIDEG and its members will function as a classic neighborhood watch program, with an emphasis on illegal drug related activities. This will require ongoing training to be supplied through local law enforcement and/or social services agencies.

Model and Replication
As this becomes effective, it can be replicated throughout the county, and then into other counties, until it has covered the state. From there, other states will pick up the idea and establish a growing block to illegal drug activities across the nation. The more effective we become, the less friendly illegal drug areas there will be within our borders.

Method of Initiation
This program can be initiated through the involvement, suggestions, and potential oversight from community organizations already in place. An initial list of such organizations follows:

1. Churches (Catholic, LDS, Baptist, Jewish, etc.)
2. Kiwanis Club
3. Local Veterans Organizations
4. City Council/Local Police
5. County Commissioners/County Attorney/County Sheriff, etc.

Representatives from these and other organizations should be invited to planning meetings. A board of directors or oversight committee could be established from amongst them.

The basic idea is to grid out the community into manageable sections where a single, quality volunteer leader could be arrived at for each area. Those individual would be recommended by the various organizations listed above. Depending on the specific county, various area coordinators, municipality coordinators, and a county-wide coordinator could also be identified.

If the grid is determined quickly, several leaders could be identified and the initial CIDEG meetings could be held within a few weeks. Within a few months an entire area the size of Emmett could be fully functional if the support is forthcoming.

Basic Organizational Structure
The basic organization would be relatively straight forward. Volunteer citizens from each individual area are headed by a Group Leader. These groups work within their respective boundaries to hold public get-togethers, eats, education forums, and provide information regarding treatment, rehabilitation, etc. They also organize themselves into traditional neighborhood watches, with special training and emphasis on drug awareness. Finally, they act as good neighbors to the people within their respective geographical (or spheres of influence) and reach out to, mentor, and help those seeking assistance.

Each Group Leader works with municipal or area coordinators to receive information and coordinate response from local social services, law enforcement, or rehabilitation agencies. A county-wide coordinator works with the area and municipal coordinators and facilitates their needs by coordinating with county-wide, state, and federal agencies, and with other county coordinators to facilitate information flow, advertisement, funding for activities, etc.

A basic depiction of the mature organization just described is shown below:



During development and initiation, the initial groups would have a single municipal coordinator until the organization warrants a more mature organizational structure like that depicted above.

All of the positions within the CIDEP will be voluntary with no salary or other remuneration outside of advertising, material, or other expenses approved in advance and budgeted by the County and Municipal/Area Coordinators in conjunction with the oversight group.

Ideas for Funding
The CIDEP should have little or no major operating expenses, salaries, insurance, etc. It is strictly voluntary. Having said that, there will be advertising/announcement costs (radio, newspaper and potential TV ads), material costs (CD presentations, copied literature, etc), and other costs associated with making the public aware of the program and with the educational and out reach efforts of the individual groups.

Volunteers will be expected to carry the burden of their own travel, time, and incidental costs as a part of their civic duty. This applies from the individual group members up to the county coordinator and oversight group.

For advertisement, announcement, literature, material, and potential costs associated with meetings, several avenues are available for funding. The various social services, law enforcement and other agencies could make their applicable literature available at no cost, realizing that the savings associated with the success of the program far outweigh such costs. Newspapers and radio or television stations would be asked to donate time as public service announcements. Groups like the Kiwanis and other organizations would be asked to donate time and material. Finally, there are federal and state grants that could assist in such funding.

Summary
What has been discussed here is a draft proposal for a program to address the rising problem of illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine, head-on. It presumes and depends on the basic goodness morality, and willingness of the individual members of the community to stand up and provide civic service. It will clearly require review and perhaps modification to ensure it complies with existing laws and ordinances and is workable with the agencies that would be involved.

When faced with the extent of the problem, and with the clear choice of either having literal gunfire in the streets like what is occurring over in the Caldwell area…which all responsible citizens in the Emmett Valley are concerned about…or putting our foot down and offering help to those who desire it and sending a clear message to those who seek to perpetrate this criminal activity amongst us, I believe that good citizens will rise up and perform their civic duty, help those desiring it, and send that message. That message must be clear and unequivocal…this activity and behavior will absolutely not be tolerated in our community!

When people of good conscience, regardless of religious or political affiliation, and regardless of social status, stand together in the breech, the entire community is benefited. That is what is required. I have full faith that, that is exactly what can occur here in the Emmett Valley.

Once successful in Emmett proper, such a program can be expanded rapidly throughout Gem County. Once successful in the county, it will naturally grow, in one form or another, and be modeled and replicated in other counties across the state. From there, other states will pick it up, based on its success, and a line can be drawn across the width and breadth of this nation.

Success breeds success. When citizens see that they can become involved and make a difference…I believe they will rush forward to make that difference.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

[Jeff Head]

If you have the time and inclination, please respond.

[HiJinx]

Gotta run, but...

You said:

This draft proposal defines a volunteer Community Illegal Drug Elimination Program (CIDEP) which could be created implemented individually or from expanding and evolving the current neighborhood watch programs in the area.

It reads rough, does this work?

This draft proposal defines a volunteer Community Illegal Drug Elimination Program (CIDEP) which could be implemented independently or by expanding and evolving the current neighborhood watch programs in the area.

So far, it looks like a good program. When I can I'll look some more...

[dalereed]

Glad you did it, no government agency or employee could come up with anything that good and comprehensive.

Looks like a plan that should be initiated nation wide.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

Looks like a pretty comprehensive proposal, but....

Your opening paragraphs describe your problem as more of a "trans shipment point" for Mexican produced meth - not local druggies &/or local meth production.

The above should be addressed directly ?
profiling of new residents
strict enforcement of traffic laws - search & seizure
community alertness to suspicious activities
generally, making the new (undesirables) - unwelcome

[M. Dodge Thomas]

Drugs are a big problem and I’m sure the program is well intentioned.

Unfortunately it reminds me a lot of the anti-crime "community watch" programs organized in every neighborhood s Castro's Cuba during the 70s and 80s - which ended up with their nose in everybody's business.

[Eastbound]

It seems simple and straightforward with a minimum of command structure. I think it would work, Jeff. The network could serve two functions -- drugs and terrorist activity.

Not sure I understand the organizational chart showing the interaction between the fed, state and local officials with the individual groups. Looks like the municipal coordinator is left out of the loop.

I am assuming the area coordinator will oversee all non-municipality areas in the county and will be responsible for those group activities, though the flowchart doesn't show the groups attached to the area coordinator. I'm assuming they are there.

I would think at the outset that if you can ramp it up as a dual-function program, you won't be short of firepower when needed.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks...that is beter wording. I'll use it.

[Jeff Head]

It's both...the DEA and the state and local guys are being very effective in getting the trans-shipment people...but they admit, as soon as they do, the cartels from Mexico replace them with new people from the south. In ten sting operations over the last few years in that particular area, they convicted over 300 of them. All but 13 were foreign nationals from south of the border. They are replaced as fast as they can get them.

The local agencies want the community's help to assist in drying up the demand by identifying those involved, getting help to those who want it, and making the environemnt completely unfriendly for those who don't.

[Jeff Head]

That's where the basic morality and goodness of the people come in. This is not a government program, it is a volunteer citizen program.

[Jeff Head]

The agencies interaction is in assistance mode...the org chart is very initial and nothing more than an idea stimulator in that regard. These groups are not meant to take direction from the governbment agencies...just assist them and in turn, be assisted by them as required.

I believe it could work in a dual mode...in fact for any criminal activity within the community.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks...something like it should be implemented. Feel free to use it in your own area.

[Eastbound]

I commend you for your involvement and leadership in this, Jeff. I am convinved the drug war or the war on terror, especially if it becomes a domestic war (as it appears the cities are starting to gear up for) will never be won without the personal participation of John Q. and all the abled-bodied -- especially our veterans who have not forgotten their oath.

If the side-benefit will be the reduction of local and area crime, so much the better.

[Jeff Head]

Amen. It is becoming more and more obvious that the War on Drugs...the real war on drugs, and the war on terrorism are inexorably linked. I am grateful we have local officials here who recognize that John Q. and his basic morality, family values, and civic commitment are the answer and are willing to actively petition that help.

We'll see where this proposal goes.

[hoosierham]

Every time someone proposes yet another gov't or quas-gov't agency my freedom nerve twinges.The Neighborhood Watch programs could logically already have called in tips ,but few care.Until the American people decide drugs are not "cool" all you are doing is providing another BigBrother group to help spy on your fellow citizens.I think too many parents fail to care or don't know what to watch for and so allow their kids to become addicts.The entertainment world mostly winks at,if not openly endorses illicit drugs.When caught,the "important". movie stars and politicians get off with little or no punishment;as long as that continues they will be able to influence more young people.And the usually unspoken attraction of the drug is that it will improve sexual pleasure,so less cultural emphasis on sex might help.

I also believe the constant barrage of tv ,radio,and print ads for yet another stomach,headache,allergy,sex drive restorative have made "just say no to drugs" a poor joke.

When the states are allowed to treat the ports and borders the way air travellers are screened,then foreign drugs would largely disappear.The key is "customers";with no market the drug suppliers would go to some other activity.

Soliciting drug use,that is,offering a sample to your kid ,ought to be enough for severe punishment.

[Travis McGee]

Jeff, you never fail to jump right into the thick of it! I think just speaking to some of the groups you mentioned about the concept would be a good first step, toward assembling a list of potential volunteers. I think it has to start there.

[yoe]

Hi Jeff, I have sent this onto others that have the ability to move communities to do something. I like it - however, I am a great Indian, but ain't a chief*~*

[mlc9852]

That's my view. I just don't like the idea of asking neighbors to spy on each other.

[Jeff Head]

This is not a government agency or a government anything. It is a proposal for citizens to stand on their own and invite the people in their neighborhoods to eat-outs, meetings and get-togethers to try and educate them and offer those who desirte it, help in addressing their additction. Through education and help, coming ftom their own neighbors and friends, the desire for and attraction to illegal drugs will be significantly lessened.

...and then yes, if they see illegal activity in this regard, they report it...like any good citizen would and should do. That sends the message to the hardened ones, those who desitre no help...that the community will not tolerate the illegal and destructive behavior. Nor should they.

Nothing big brother or spying about it. It is about being friends to your neighbors and acting as good citizens to help uphold the law and do their civic duty.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks...the more common citizens who become involve in helping both their neighbors and fighting such illegality, the better.