44°
PEEKSKILL -- A series of drug raids Wednesday morning led to the arrest of 21 people, the majority of which are city residents.
The raids were conducted at approximately 9 a.m. throughout the city. Peekskill Police Chief Eugene Tumolo said at a noon press conference at police headquarters that about 31 people were targeted and indicted in the operation and further arrests are likely in the coming days. A similar raid was conducted with Westchester County Department of Public Safety Tuesday evening that also yielded arrests.
The drug arrests were part of a year-long joint investigation between the city and state police and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety. Those arrested remain unnamed until the indictment is unsealed. Criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance were the most common charges listed, said Peekskill Police Lt. Eric Johansen.
ChiefTumolo said that while drug bust press conferences can seem redundant, their importance cannot be underestimated.
"We can never lose sight of the fact that drugs are an inherent evil in all communities," Tumolo said. "The ultimately lead to the denigration of the quality of life, the diminishment of opportunities for the most at-risk kids that are enticed into this, and of course the people who end up falling prey to becoming drug addicts themselves."
Westchester Public Safety Commissioner George Longworth said the multi-agency bust was an example of how the drug trade was being targeted.
"The message to those who engage in th activity of dealing drugs is that law enforcement is working collectively on all levels to combat it," Longworth said.
Operations like the one on Wednesday serves as a deterrent to other dealers in the area, Longworth said.
"The message is that there's nothing to say that we're not starting another operation tomorrow morning," Longworth said. "And by bringing in personnel that aren't Peekskill police officers that aren't known to the targets, that enhances it."
Tumolo said the city's drug prevention efforts have had noticeable impact on resident's lives.
"Peekskill's quality of life has improved so significantly over the years," Tumolo said. "It's not only visible on the stability of the streets and the quality of life that has been enhance but in the crime stats themselves."
Click here to follow Daily Voice Cortlandt and receive free news updates.
