Study would help federal and local officials target crime
WASHINGTON, DC— In response to continuing drug crime in Pennsylvania, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today called for a threat assessment to be conducted on drug crime and gang activity in Eastern Pennsylvania. Senator Casey called for the assessment, to be performed by the Johnstown-based National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
“Crime and violence resulting from the illegal drug trade continue to punish communities throughout the Commonwealth,” wrote Senator Casey. “Federal support of local efforts to combat gang and drug activity in Pennsylvania is necessary to eradicate these problems, and I want to work closely with the Department of Justice to identify federal resources that can be brought to bear on this problem.”
The letter continued: “As part of your review, I request that NDIC identify the primary source cities from which these drugs originate and the methods of transportation employed to deliver these drugs. Local law enforcement already has a substantial amount of information about drug and gang activity in their communities, and has been remarkably effective with limited resources. The intelligence provided by NDIC should help local leaders target these resources more effectively.”
The mission of NDIC is to provide strategic drug-related intelligence, document and computer exploitation support and training assistance to the drug control, public health, law enforcement and intelligence communities of the United States in order to reduce the adverse effects of drug trafficking, drug abuse and other drug-related criminal activity.
Earlier this week, Senator Casey sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calling for additional federal help to combat drug crime in Pennsylvania. The letter highlighted recent reports of drug dealers from the New York City area targeting Northeastern Pennsylvania. He also called for the reestablishment of the Route 222 Corridor Anti-Gang Initiative that targeted gang-related violence in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Reading, Lancaster, York and Harrisburg.
Senator Casey secured $400,000 for the Lehigh Regional Crime Center in the Senate version of the fiscal 2011 Commerce-Justice-Science. Unfortunately, appropriations bills were blocked at the end of last year in part because of earmarks and this funding did not go through.
A copy of the letter requesting a threat assessment is below.
Dear Attorney General Holder:
I am writing to formally request that the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) in Johnstown, Pennsylvania conduct a drug threat assessment and an analysis of gang activity in Eastern Pennsylvania, with a particular focus on drug and gang activity in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, the Pocono Mountains, the counties along U.S. Route 222 in Pennsylvania, and in Dauphin and York counties. I respectfully request that this review be expedited.
Several communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania have experienced a significant increase in crimes related to drug and gang activity. Violence and crime stemming from drug and gang activity continue to be a problem in the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Reading, Lancaster, York, and Harrisburg. These cities previously banded together to form the Route 222 Corridor Anti-Gang Initiative. This initiative, which was recently disbanded due in part to a lack of federal funding, serves as an example of the value of cooperation between national, state and regional law enforcement.
As part of your review, I request that NDIC identify the primary source cities from which these drugs originate and the methods of transportation employed to deliver these drugs. Local law enforcement already has a substantial amount of information about drug and gang activity in their communities, and has been remarkably effective with limited resources. The intelligence provided by NDIC should help local leaders target these resources more effectively.
Drug dealers have been drawn to smaller cities in Pennsylvania to capitalize on the demand for these drugs and the relative lack of supply. Many dealers move back and forth between source cities and such smaller cities. This illegal activity involves interstate travel and presents challenges for local law enforcement. Federal resources are vitally needed in these communities to combat such activity.
Crime and violence resulting from the illegal drug trade continue to punish communities throughout the Commonwealth. Federal support of local efforts to combat gang and drug activity in Pennsylvania is necessary to eradicate these problems, and I want to work closely with the Department of Justice to identify federal resources that can be brought to bear on this problem.
Thank you for your prompt consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
cc: Mr. Michael F. Walther, Director of the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC)
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