Class of 15-18 Week 8

Class of 15-18 Week #8

Week #8, Drug Enforcement
Class began with a presentation by Deputy Sheriff Shaun Cahill; he briefed the class on operations at the Barnstable County Jail in preparation for the class visit on 5/15. He commented that about 85 percent of the inmates are in jail for drug or alcohol-related charges. The jail is a "direct supervision" facility, meaning that clients are under observation 24 hours a day. He was followed by Massachusetts State Trooper Scott McCabe, who is assigned to the Cape Cod Drug Task Force. Sgt. McCabe commented that a few years ago, pills--oxycontin, for example--were the primary street drug of choice. These days it's cocaine and heroin, and he went on to show the class how dealers package the drugs for distribution or how they hide them--for example, inside repurposed Coke cans. Even white-haired Grannies are in the "business." Sgt. McCabe always talks about the case of an elderly woman who was known to be a dealer, but when the Task Force initially searched her home, no drugs were found. Closer inspection of unused electrical outlets revealed a secret hiding place built into the wall behind the outlets, where officers found a large amount of cocaine and an equally large amount of cash.

Next week's class: K-9 Demonstration with Officer Matt O'Brien and Koda.
The Jail tour will be Tuesday, May 15th, at 6 p.m.

Contributing Editor, Donna Leiss