The City of Bethel is organizing to combat a growing heroin problem. Tuesday night the Bethel City Council directed the city manager and her team to develop an action plan and partner with community leaders to take on illicit narcotics.
City Council Member Byron Maczynski, who recently received a death threat for publicly talking about Bethel’s heroin issue, brought forward the initiative.
“Sometimes it’s too late but it’s not late for a lot of people out there. We can really help these people,” Maczynski said. “I hope the community can come together. It’s sad and we need to do something.”
The action memorandum asks the city manager, and top staff like the police and fire chief, to work with local and regional players to develop a comprehensive community plan. It mentions anonymous reporting systems, teaching people to identify those who need help and how to find it. It cites support groups, which Maczynski plans to begin this week.
Doreen O’Brien, who runs the pre-maternal home for expectant mothers, has seen the effect on families. She told the council that responsibility goes beyond the community’s organizations.
“But it’s also our community and it’s up to us to police the playgrounds and to police the places around town. If we don’t have enough cops, then hire them, bring in the FBI, bring in special agents. We count. We hear about the big cities where ‘police lives count,’ ‘these lives count.’ Our lives count too,” O’Brien said.
Councilman Mark Springer said Bethel is dealing with a criminal enterprise stretching far past the city limits. To be effective, he says the city should connect with law enforcement at all levels.
“We would be happy to see as much law enforcement pressure brought to bear against people who are importing narcotics into Bethel and selling them here,” Springer said. “As I said before, it’s criminal conspiracy and organized crime in no uncertain terms.”
