TOWN OF WALLKILL – Drug trafficking has increased exponentially in recent years and the Town of Wallkill is no exception.
To demonstrate town officials are not kidding, they are adding three more full-time police officers to the 23 full-timers and 13 part-time cops on the beat. Officials announced the move that will cost $300,000 per year on Thursday with the support of District Attorney David Hoovler and State Police.
Between 70 and 75 percent of all crime in the area is drug related, Hoovler said.
Town Supervisor Daniel Depew said the war on drugs is back.
“The war on drugs should not have died with Nancy Reagan,” Depew said. “I feel the federal government and the state government generally have done everything but faithfully abandon doing anything to directly impact these issues. Speaking on behalf of the State Police they need help, the DA’s office needs help; funding needs to be put in place to combat this now before it takes over our culture and destroys our society,” Depew said.
Police Chief Robert Hertman confirmed that there is a nexus between crime and drug use.
Representatives of the town board, PBA and community advisory committee were at police headquarters to support the additional officers.
