Hubbard city, township join forces to fight drugs

By LINDA M. LINONIS

linonis@vindy.com

hubbard

A proactive approach to combating a common problem, illegal drug activity, has led to the recent formation of the Hubbard Narcotics Unit, a cooperative effort between the city and township police departments.

“This is overdue,” said Chief Todd Coonce of the township department.

“We have common problems,” Coonce added.

Though a mutual aid agreement has been in effect for the two departments for years, the narcotics unit is a more formal collaboration.

City Chief Martin Kanetsky and Coonce agree that finding the manpower to staff the narcotics unit was a concern.

The city force has 13 full-time officers, including the chief. There are seven full-time and 12 part-time in the township, including the chief.

Two officers are assigned to the narcotics unit: Patrolman Ronald Fusco of the township and Patrolman Mike Pieton of the city. They work regular shifts and some are dedicated specifically to the unit.

The two worked on developing the unit’s operational goals, which are “decreasing the availability of drugs” and “increasing the number of arrests, drug seizures, property seizures and prosecutions.” The unit already has generated 36 cases and numerous arrests.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.