It is with great sadness that I write this letter. By now we are all aware of the at the Haven Pharmacy in Medford that left four innocent people dead. That it would happen in any community is shocking. That it has happened in my own community makes it more personal. That it has happened at all makes me angry.
What more needs to occur for us to realize that we have a serious crime problem in Suffolk County? What other tragedies are required for us to understand that some of the most heinous crime is arising from drug abuse and the proliferation of narcotics? The problem is huge. It is in our schools, in our homes, on our streets. I believe that education can be a tool and so have held two community drug forums. I have worked to bring crime-fighting tools like ShotSpotter to communities plagued with gun and drug violence. I have fought hard to get more cops on the street.
There is more to do. I believe we need even more police and they need resources to fight the drug war we are facing in our communities.We have to tighten the controls on narcotics so that they do not fall into the hands of addicts and dealers. And we have to find ways to protect doctors and pharmacies that are entrusted with the responsibility of legally dispensing these substances to the sick and dying.
For now we need to come together as a community and help our police catch this killer. I have launched a wanted-poster campaign in this effort. What happened in Medford was a wakeup call for us all.
