Former narcotics agent talks about war on drugs
Shine the light on the drug dealers and they’ll scatter like roaches. So says the Rev. Eugene C. Beard Jr., a former undercover narcotics agent with the state Attorney General’s office.
Beard addressed a crowd of about 30 concerned residents Tuesday night in the Uniontown High School auditorium, sharing his firsthand knowledge with others. He was frank about the drug problem in the city.
“I know a little about Uniontown, and let me tell you, you got a drug problem,” he said.
Beard, who now serves as assistant deputy chief for the state general’s office, said today’s drugs are stronger and more plentiful than they were years ago. To top it off, he said the drugs dealers and users are younger than ever.
“You have kids ages 11 and 12 using, selling and abusing,” he said.
A self-proclaimed “product of the ’60s,” Beard said he first came into contact with marijuana when he was a freshman in college. Today, elementary and middle school students are experimenting with cocaine, heroin, LSD and Ecstasy, he said.
“We’re talking fifth-graders,” Beard said. “To me, those are babies.”
Beard said something has to be done to curtail the drug problem before it’s too late.
“I’m telling you, there is a serious need to get in front of this problem,” he said. “Drugs are like a cancer. If someone tells you that you have cancer, you have a problem. Same with drugs. The problem will fester and grow and spread, and you have to cut it out, because it won’t go away. And trust me, if you have drug problems, you’re going have other problems.”
Beard said drugs lead to all sorts of problems, including promiscuity and teenage pregnancy.
“It’s a vicious cycle,” he said. “Drugs, sex, babies having babies.”
According to Beard, about 75 percent of people in jail are there on a drug-related issues. People are willing to steal and murder for drugs once they’re addicted, he said, noting that communities infested with drugs have an increase in violent crimes such as burglaries and assaults.
Beard said statistics show one in six children have experimented with drugs.
“Don’t think, not my child, because yes, it could be your child,” he said.
Beard said people need to take a proactive approach battling drugs in their communities.
“You can’t fix a problem if you refuse to believe there is one,” he said. “The only way to get rid of the problem is to formulate a plan and stick to it. It takes guts.”
Beard said people have to take back their community, and that parents need to be parents.
He encouraged everyone in attendance to join a neighborhood crime watch group – there are currently two active groups in the city – and said people should call the police when they see suspicious activity.
“I’m not asking you to do police work, but if your neighbor has people pulling up to the house at all hours, going in for a couple minutes, and coming out with a little brown bag, something’s probably not right. Take down plate numbers and note what time it’s happening. Tell the police.”
Drug dealers are like cockroaches that run when the lights are turned on, Beard said.
“Shine the lights on them, do community marches, let them know you’re taking a stand against it. They’ll eventually get tired and leave. They’ll scatter. It’s your community, you got to protect it,” he said.
Uniontown police Detective Jason Cox, who attended Tuesday’s meeting, encouraged people to call the police at anytime to report suspicious behavior.
“We’re not going to be able to stop everybody, but we can let it be known that we won’t tolerate that behavior here, and eventually the dealers will leave,” he said.
Uniontown Police Chief Ron “Crow” Kozak and Detective Donald M. Gmitter also attended the meeting, answering several questions from residents.
Gmitter said the purpose of the meeting was to give concerned citizens some guidance on how to improve their communities and help police do their job.
“It’s a proactive way for us to get involved with citizens,” Gmitter said. “It’s not just about curbing crime, it’s about improving the neighborhood, too.”
Both detectives said the police department will hold more meetings in the near future.
“We’re here, as policemen, to assist the public anyway we can, but we need help,” Gmitter said.
To rid an area of drugs, Beard said citizens must get involved and that police officers and social service agencies must work together.
“The consequence of sitting back and not doing anything is to have your community become a wasteland,” he said. “Unfortunately, I’ve seen it happen.”