Operation: Clean Sweep

Over the course of five months, 60 drug dealers have been removed from the streets of the Hill District. Police began Operation: Clean Sweep in November of 2011. The police removed over $100,000 in drugs and seized more than $83,000. The drug problem had been going on for over 5 years. Police were mainly focused on arresting the "high-level targets" such as Howard Horsley. Horsley had also been teaching the trade to his son who was considered a "midlevel dealer". Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and many local residents had strong feelings about the situation. Many residents don't feel that the problem will be fixed. "They go to jail, they get back out and they're involved in the same activity again" said Chief Harper.

We feel that the police are doing the right thing. However, they need to find a way to get these people off the streets for good. This is a growing problem and something needs to be done to stop it. Many neighborhoods are being destroed by drug trafficking. Police did step in, but they could have done something sooner.