“ These are OUR children. This is OUR community. We operate as a team. Speaking up is so important.”
This article is in response to the tragic drug epidemic that is affecting many communities. Considering some obvious activity and concern in Brentwood throughout this past year I have decided to post a factual statement about the recent crime and drugs in the Borough. Primarily, I am a parent and resident myself, so I get all the emotion, frustration, fear and anger. I too feel that way at times but realize I must stick with the facts and add to the solutions. Within the past month I have met with residents, a school board member and have spoken with the police Chief several times regarding the drug epidemic. Yes, it is an epidemic. Brentwood, and the South Hills, is not in a bubble and immune to drugs and crime. If you thought that Brentwood would not be affected by it in some way you should probably enlighten yourself to what is going on all over the state. We are not immune to it. Below I have attached some information links with facts that were provided to me because I requested them. You will see the blue areas on one of the maps are the big drug dealing areas. Notice that Brentwood is NOT blue. We are red because we do, unfortunately, have drug users. Now what we are doing on the Borough level to combat drugs?( 1) Several members of The Police Department have been teamed up with the Attorney Generals Narcotics Task force in this area to combat drug dealers. It is a special task force specifically designed to monitor and act on drug related activity.( 2) The Chief voluntarily invited the employee assigned to the drug portion of the Allegheny Health Department out to review Brownsville Road to create a plan to keep the walking portion of our District safe.( 3) I was told we are also going to partner with the City of Pittsburgh for Crime reductions strategies.( 4) The Chief mentioned to me a website called Crime Watch PA that he would like the Borough to subscribe too. I am hoping that he does bring it to Council for review as I will vote yes to it. It is an App designed to immediately report suspicious drug activity and crime or tips without having to call 911 or going to the police station. Reporting incidents, tips and drug related activity is so important. After an arrest is made, or drug related situation occur, the individual is now in the hands of the court system and / or social / human services. Our police department has no control of that person’ s outcome. The Police follow instructions as per
documentation and appearance at the hearings as required. The outcome is ultimately up to the court systems. Sometimes, yes it does appear maybe nothing happened to the criminal, however they may be facing a judicial system and hearings that can sometimes take time to happen. The police also just cannot walk into someone’ s home and arrest them because they think they are selling drugs. So what can we do to help combat this? Don’ t put up with it if you see or hear something! Make it YOUR business. Start fighting back as a Community. Step up and report crime, tips or any other information you have. Report it often if you must. If you are getting no results, reach out to the police chief and follow up. It is apparent that so few residents actually report things. Report it to the police. Report it to the School Official. Whichever is needed. You cannot be afraid. These are OUR children. This is OUR Community. We operate as a team. Speaking up is so important. Simply informing me, a teacher, or Facebook is not the best way. I know that the school has tried to have parents come in with speakers from the FBI and other sources to educate and talk about drugs, yet parental attendance is always so minimal. Get INVOLVED and show up if the School or Borough should offer a program for education, awareness etc. Be a realist that this dragon can bite anyone at anytime and this drug dragon creates crime and kills. It knows no boundaries. Know the drugs that are out there, what they look like, what someone looks like when they are high or using. Know who your kids are hanging out with and what they are doing. Knowledge is always power. Power in numbers makes a difference. I recommend the FBI’ s video“ Chasing the Dragon” for any parent and adolescent to watch. I am working on more from education and solutions on my end for the Community. Thank you.
http:// www. alleghenycountyanalytics. us /…/ opiate-related-ov …/ http:// www. overdosefreepa. pitt. edu / charts /#
Ms. Stephanie Fox Member, Brentwood Borough Council
“ For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people ' s love and concern for each other” rentwood
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