Charlie Baker wants to put $5 million toward combatting fentanyl sales
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Gov. Charlie Baker wants to put $5 million toward combatting fentanyl sales, by regionalizing the approach to curbing the drug found in most of the state’s fatal opioid overdoses.Typically, if a drug dealer isn’t arrested in a roundup by local authorities, they simply pick up shop and move to a neighboring town, a news release from Baker’s office said. But under legislation filed by Baker, departments would act together regionally on major drug arrests through a new fentanyl interdiction pilot program. The money would go toward helping police departments do the work — overtime costs, and surveillance, the release said.
This program will support a regional, multi-agency approach to fentanyl interdiction and crime displacement by local police departments, and funding will help supplement surveillance work + OT costs for units engaged and officers in the field working to get buyers into treatment.
— Charlie Baker (@MAGovArchive) October 29, 2018
“The presence of fentanyl and the drug dealers who sell it continue to be fueling factors in the deadly heroin and opioid epidemic,” Baker said in a statement. “We are confident that the increased communication and coordinated police work this legislation supports will lead to safer communities and we urge the Legislature to enact this bill promptly.”
While the number of deadly overdoses is going down — there was a 4 percent decrease from 2016 to 2017, according to a report from the state Department of Health — fentanyl continues to be a driver. Of all the fatal overdoses in 2018, 90 percent of the victims had a “presence” of the drug.
“The Governor’s innovative regional approach will go a long way to promote enhanced cooperation among law enforcement agencies and departments which will benefit every community in the Commonwealth with their efforts to combat the scourge of fentanyl and addiction,” Donald Caisey, president of the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society, said in a statement. “This is truly great news. Unfortunately fentanyl is one of many nightmares we all share.”
https://twitter.com/MassGovernor/status/1056939041239822337
