Posted July 23rd, 2011 by hiwayhowie
THE FAILED DRUG WAR
Re “Happy 40th, Drug War” ( Guest comment, by Jay Bergstrom, July 7 ):
Speaking as a retired detective, I heartily agree with the anti-prohibition views of Jay Bergstrom.
When I first strapped on a badge and gun, my task was simple: protecting the weak from the strong—public safety. When the War on Drugs ramped up, the personal safety of citizens in their own homes became important. We became like parents. “Now Charlie, if you don’t take the cocaine out of your nose I am going to tell your father … I mean the judge.” Politicians thought the government could fix stupid via the police. Oops.
I look forward to the day my profession returns to a task we are good at: public safety. Got a drug problem, Charlie? See a doctor. I got better things to do than chase you.
Howard Wooldridge
Springville, Calif.
Posted June 19th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
ILLEGAL DRUGS BENEFIT DEA
Dear Editor:
As a retired detective I thank you for the excellent op-ed on drug prohibition/war on drugs ( “Who thinks Aspen’s just like Pakistan? The DEA, of course,” Andy Stone, June 8, 2011, The Aspen Times ).
Yes, the DEA is mostly concerned about losing their paycheck. They know better than anyone that police efforts are equal to a mosquito on the butt of an elephant.
Most street cops privately agree that we should treat marijuana like beer. Their command officers, however, know that without prohibition, our profession will lose about $12 billion in good overtime and job security. Thus, they blackmail politicians to keep the money rolling in by threatening them with loss of political support.
It is a sad picture indeed.
Howard Wooldridge
Posted May 8th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
PURSUIT OF DRUG USERS WASTES POLICE RESOURCES
Speaking as a retired detective, I don’t care whether drug courts are effective. My problem is that either way, you will have my profession wasting precious police time chasing the Charlie Sheens and Willie Nelsons of Georgia. As the Thin Blue Line gets thinner, and pedophiles are thick in the chat rooms trying to meet teens in real life, chasing drug users is simply insane.
Who still believes that the government can fix stupid? Families should look after loved ones with a drug issue.
Howard Wooldridge, Albany
Posted May 6th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
BLAME DRUG PROHIBITION
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, and The Dallas Morning News don’t have a clue on how to solve the horror and misery that is Mexico today.
They naively believe that tougher penalties will have an impact? Please. As a retired detective, I know that drug dealers accept, as a condition of employment, death and long prison terms.
Drug prohibition is the cause of all the beheadings. To end Mexico’s death and misery, we need to repeal our drug prohibition just like we did in 1933. As women and children are shot dead every day in Mexico, it is immoral for our country to continue this failed, trillion-dollar modern prohibition.
Howard Wooldridge, Dallas
Posted March 30th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
As a retired police detective, I can say with some authority that the government can not fix stupid. Yet, after 40 years of failed drug war/drug prohibition policy, you still believe that the police can fix personal stupidity, via Sen. Carter’s bill.
Show me the evidence please.
Yes, people are hurt and killed by taking too many pills like Oxicodone. Many more are hurt and killed by cigarettes and booze.
Should we track and restrict their sales as well? Allow an adult to only buy one bottle of whiskey a week? Where do you nanny-staters wish to draw the line?
HOWARD WOOLDRIDGE
Albany
Posted March 19th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
Speaking as a retired police officer, I heartily agree with Ms. Smith’s op-ed on the relative risks of using marijuana. As a cop, I was dispatched to zero, nada, no calls generated by the use of marijuana. Pot prohibition generated several shootings and one murder, along with assorted robberies.
As we consider legalization, keep in mind that every hour a detective flies around in a helicopter equals one less hour to catch a pedophile in an Internet chat room.
Every hour road officers search a car for a baggy equals less time and attention for the deadly drunk driver. Mothers Against Drunk Driving was founded because of alcohol use.
The number of people hurt by stoned drivers is still so small, no one has started an organization
Posted March 4th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
Drug War Folly
As a police detective, I learned that every drug dealer ever arrested was replaced within days. What Chief Justice Hunstein meant about “always having criminals” was that drug dealers are created by the job opportunity when a current dealer is arrested.
Many dealers now come from Mexico and other countries. Thus the supply is endless. Since dealers accept as a condition of employment possible death and long prison terms, nothing the courts can do will deter their actions.
Drug prohibition is the basic problem, same as it was in 1933. We need to abandon the concept that the government can fix stupid. My colleagues should not be going into homes to stop adults from putting something in their bodies. That task is best left for family and friends.
Howard Wooldridge
Albany
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