By JIMMY LAWTON

North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg Police Chief Andrew Kennedy says drugs continue to plague the community and in turn drive up the number of other crimes, but his department has been successfully quelling the storm.

Just three months into 2019 the department has made 31 drug-related arrests, more than a dozen meth labs and executed nine narcotics-related search warrants.

Ogdensburg police were also busy in 2018 when the department made 690 arrests opened 367 investigations, busted 49 meth labs and executed 47 search warrants.

The department also responded to 666 domestic incidents, issued 709 uniform traffic tickets and 422 parking tickets in 2018.

The drug crisis has been raging for years now in St. Lawrence County, impacting nearly every facet of life. Needle drug use has raised concerns about a rise in hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases. Thefts, drug-related crimes, robberies and even shootings seem to be more frequent in communities throughout the county. And family care has see a sharp rise in need for foster parents as drug-related crimes cause children to be separated from parents.

Kennedy acknowledges addiction is a big part of the problem and he has been involved with an ongoing effort by St. Lawrence County Public Health Department’s Drug and Opioid Task Force, which is seeking to raise awareness and improve services to aid those struggling with addiction.

Rise of Meth

Kennedy said Ogdensburg has been a hotbed for meth in recent years. He attributes the ease of accessing the materials needed to make meth and the ease at which it can be made as the reason it has become a drug of choice.

“Ogdensburg and other area communities have all been hit with the opioid crisis. In addition our area has seen a sharp increase of methamphetamine manufacture and use over the past several years,” he said.

“Once people in our area learned how to manufacture methamphetamine, word spread quickly which resulted in a sharp increase in lab activity and an increase in users fueled by addiction. The Ogdensburg Police Department has had success locating, investigating and dismantling some of these labs. The success we have had has been the result of the hard work and diligent efforts of our officers and through the excellent collaboration with our local, state and federal partners.”

Drugs beget crime

Kennedy says Ogdensburg is also seeing a rise in other areas, including shootings, which he attributes to the drug crisis.

“Any increase in narcotics-related activity has a correlation to increases in these types of crimes,” he said.

But Kennedy said his department has a very proactive approach to fighting crime.

“Our department has always had a very proactive investigations unit. All successes are the result of the great working relationship between our patrol and investigative staff, combined with the excellent assistance that we have from our local, state and federal partners. Positive results come from everyone working together as a team,” he said.

K-9 and community

Key in the fight against drug crisis is the department’s K-9 unit.

“Our K-9 Program was started by Detective Sergeant Mark Kearns when he was a patrol officer. Mark worked hard to develop a successful program here, and after his K-9 Kodiak retired, Patrolman Ryan Polniak and his K-9 Partner Schuyler have picked up where they left off. The K-9 Program has become an excellent tool here in the city and is invaluable in our efforts to investigate drug related activity,” he said.

Chief Kennedy also praises Ogdensburg citizens for aiding local police. He says the community plays a key role in fighting crime.

The department has one chief, one investigations lieutenant, four patrol sergeants, one detective sergeant, three detectives, 17 road patrolmen, one juvenile officer, four dispatchers and one administrative aid as well as several part-time positions.