GANG SCUM IN KINGSTON

When criminals decide to attack each other in our neighborhoods, everyone suffers. What happened Wednesday on Cedar Street should have been in a TV drama only. With one young man dead, four in custody and another on the run, you'd think we were living in the Bronx. Well, surprize! You're in Kingston.

Problem is, you cant make this a case of failure on the Police force, the Administration or the neighbors. I wish it were that simple. You see, scum like this live in cities, small towns and rural homes across the state. Gangs thrive during times of severe hardship, and this is definitely a time of hardship.

The victim, Charles King of Henry Street, was no angel himself. Guns, drugs, violence and prostitution are a fact of life for many in our urban stressed neighborhoods, however, an execution of this sort has no place in our city.

The Freeman and Record have done a good job of reporting the details of the murder, but the citizens of Kingston have to figure out what more we can do to discourage the gang mentality of our local youth. Because URGENT has it's limits and the taxpayers scream that they can no-longer afford to fund additional law enforcement or intervention services. So what do we do? Fingerprint everyone who enters the city? Hell, we cant even deal with the undocumented residents in our multi-family dwellings.

Two of the three youth involved in the murder, were from our midtown west area. If convicted, they'll have their whole lives thrown away as a result of getting involved with gangs and their dealings. What a waste. And where the frak are their parents?

There are numerous accounts of local residents claiming they see illegal actions occur on the streets infront of their homes daily, but wont report the actions because of retaliation. Will this spur more action from the residents or push them to ignore the issue even further? I'm just saying, this retaliatory hit on the streets of Kingston will have more of an affect on our quality of life than you may initially expect.

My thanks goes to KPD, UC Sheriff, URGENT and the District Attorney for swift action in these tough times. Now how can we insure that this wont happen again?

URGENT NABS TWO MORE SCUM

It's unfortunate that it takes so long to make a good case when getting scum off the streets. But if that's what it takes, I say keep up the good work.

URGENT nabbed two dealers Friday evening up in Saugerties. Confiscating over 12K of cocaine. The two are from out of the Hudson Valley; the Bronx and Schenectady. Typical right?
This trash comes into our neighborhoods, sells their death and then goes along their merry way back to their source for more. Just look at the reports in the paper, you'll see the city address listed daily.

It took several months for URGENT to buy enough to secure a watertight case against the two. How many more are still out there?
I guess it's just another example of how some of our tax dollars are actually working. And to think Newburgh is laying off half their police officers.

RJ's LOUNGE: U.R.G.E.N.T. STRIKES AGAIN

Something that was pretty much assumed by everyone throughout the City of Kingston, drugs were being sold out of RJs Lounge on Thomas Street. No, say it isn’t so!

Located a stone’s throw from the Darmstadt Homeless Shelter, the pub, a typical speak-easy seedy gin-joint, was the scene of an URGENT raid last Friday. The raid yielded just what they were looking for.

Ronny Johnson, was busted on drug charges after the raid uncovered coke and paraphernalia used to package and sell it.

After undercover officers made several drug purchases at the bar, police raided it on Friday and found more than 2 ounces of cocaine, cutting agents, packaging material, scales and $5,000 cash.

After their successful catch from Wednesday, in Ulster, I’d say URGENT was on a winning streak this week. Unfortunately, the strong demand for illegal street drugs and the continual downturn in the local economy will keep the steady flow of willing drug dealers coming to the area.

To some, the risk is worth the reward, to buyers, the addiction goes untreated. That’s why we have URGENT.

POLICE ACADEMY DRUG BUST

OK, I know that many of you read the papers about the Police Academy student who allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover cop? What is happening here?

Delvon Wiggins. At the ripe old age of 22 is now in custody for drug sales and possession. This is a student in UCCC enrolled in the Police Academy.

Is this a cry for help? Could he really be that stupid?

Wiggins was pulled from training and arrested by his instructors and narcotics police Friday afternoon. I’m sure the arrest caused a spectacle at the campus. Think of the chatter in the classrooms this week when everyone digests this story.

Now, as a twenty-something, what do you suppose these students will think of the irony within the criminal law courses at Ulster? Think back…you know its going to be the source of this semester’s jokes.

The Daily F states: After making the transaction and learning that the suspect was enrolled in the police academy, URGENT accelerated its investigation, authorities said. Wiggins was indicted by an Ulster County grand jury Thursday, and arrested at 1:55 p.m. the following day.

Can I suggest looking further for answers? Like where are his parents? Didn’t they ask where did Jr get all his money? Did they think his weekend lawn mowing job paid for the new car?

Note: This isn’t fair to the rest of the students taking the course. The public will have the same initial reaction that I did. But it may linger. We do need to respect our new recruits as much as we depend on them.

It’s comforting to know… Wiggins was enrolled in the early phase of academy training and had not been hired by any police agency yet.

Thank goodness for small favors.

URGENT SWEEPS UP AFTER A FAILED SYSTEM

URGENT: The Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team had another great sweep in the City of Kingston! Mind you, these were only street dealers, but the delivery boys will take notice and have to find fresh faces to distribute their goods.

The Daily Freeman notes that this round-up resulted from seven months of investigating leads and following the trouble traffic. These youngsters are actually in “gangs”…can you imagine? Ranging from 17 to 28 years old, you know who dropped the ball.

Your son steps out at 11pm to meet his friends and you’re too busy to know what they’re up to? Junior doesn’t have a job, but just flashed his new watch and grill. (bling teeth).

There’s something wrong with this picture. Who are their parents, why is dad missing? Why aren’t they in bed?

With generations living in stressed neighborhoods and families never building a work ethic, why would you expect better? Why? Because we have a social system that is supposed to catch those who fall between the cracks before it comes to this.

More than we would like, fall through those cracks and we see our kids working the streets, selling drugs, guns or themselves.

In the paper, Tim Matthews was quoted “We continue to go after these dealers because that is where a lot of violence and robberies stem from." For us tax payers, we feel better when the quality-of-life issues are attended to. But these would be the 11th and 12th grade students who show signs of needing help during the day, yet go out to rough-it-up after dark.

Did you ever think it might be time to put the absent parents in the cell with the kids?