Northland Coalition

PRESS RELEASE taken fron http://kcpdchief.blogspot.com/2012/01/police-bust-northland-businesses.html:

Kansas City Police and other law enforcement agencies busted two Northland businesses today for selling synthetic narcotics.

Officers with the Synthetic Drug Task Force served search warrants at Discount Smokes at 2518 NE Vivion Road and the Shell Station at Vivion and Antioch roads. They arrested store employees and recovered synthetic drugs such as “plant food,” “syn,” “K2,” and “bath salts.”

Police recovered approximately 1,100 grams of suspected synthetic drugs, several thousand dollars worth of drug paraphernalia and a loaded firearm. Four people were arrested and face multiple charges for the sale of controlled substances.

“These stores and their management had been warned multiple times,” KCPD Captain Chelly Pfeifer said. “They were presented with letters from the Clay County prosecutor outlining that the substances were illegal.”

Kansas City Police have been investigating the stores targeted in today’s search warrants for as long as 10 months.

Missouri legislators banned synthetic narcotics in August 2010. The drugs have been found to be chemically similar to marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and other illegal substances. They cause significant physical harm and psychosis that can lead to injury or suicide.

The multi-jurisdictional Synthetic Drug Task Force convened in November 2011 to combat the continuing sales of illegal synthetic drugs. The Task Force includes the Kansas City, Gladstone and North Kansas City police departments; Platte and Clay County sheriff’s departments; the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office; and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Captain Chelly Pfeifer is president of the Northland Coalition – an organization dedicated to creating healthy and drug-free communities. The Coalition heard from a woman whose son nearly died from using synthetic drugs and still suffers significant physical problems. Talking to teenagers involved in the Northland Coalition, she learned many knew other teens who used the drugs and knew where to get them.

“I said, ‘We have to do something,’” she said. “… Our kids are getting involved in this stuff. They have the notion if it’s sold in a gas station, it’s OK. It’s ‘herbal.’ But it has devastating effects.”

Sergeant Brad Dumit of KCPD’s Vice Section said he wanted today’s actions against the stores selling the synthetic drugs to convey it will not be tolerated.

“We want to send the message that selling these things is illegal,” he said. “It’s illegal to possess it, distribute it and sell it.”

Capt. Pfeifer said the efforts of the Synthetic Drug Task Force will be ongoing.

See the news coverage from the busts:

KCTV5

KMBC

Fox 4

Members of Youth With Vision (YWV) hosted a luncheon Oct. 28 for legislators and community leaders. The informational meeting provided an opportunity for YWV members to present data on issues they have deemed priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

The luncheon was held in the community room of Zona Rosa, 8600 Dixson Ave., Kansas City, Mo. The theme of the event was “Show Me Prevention,” conveying the need for preventative efforts to be community-led and statewide.

The meeting opened with an interactive quiz between the young people and attendees regarding the legislative issues YWV has set as their priorities for the year. A question and answer period then preceded the luncheon.

The Youth With Vision 2012 legislative priorities include prohibiting passage of medicinal marijuana legislation in the state of Missouri, prohibiting the addition of stimulants to alcoholic beverages such as energy drinks containing alcohol, restricting alcohol in the Capitol building during office hours, mandating pseudoephedrine be available only by prescription, and the passage of a statewide clean air law.

Those attending the event included: Rep. T.J. Berry, Mo. House Dist. 35, Rep. Ronald Schieber, Mo. House Dist. 32, and Rep. Bob Nance, Mo. House Dist. 36, Clay & Ray counties. Steve Hemphill from Senator Luann Ridgeway’s office attended to represent her. Ridgeway is from Mo. State Senate, Dist. 17.

Rep. Berry is working closely with YWV to encourage the passage of legislation that would restrict adding stimulants such as caffeine to packaged alcoholic beverages. Berry agreed to sponsor the bill and pre-filed it in Dec. 2010 for consideration in the 2012 legislative session. At the luncheon he indicated he would be calling on YWV members to testify before the House on the issue.

In addition to the legislators, several community leaders from the education, business, legal and law enforcement fields attended the luncheon.

The YWV members who hosted the event are students at Liberty, Kearney, Staley, Oak Park, North Platte, Excelsior Springs, North Kansas City and Winnetonka high schools.

Prescription drug disposal boxes have been installed at local police departments across the Northland (see locations below).  We know that in 2010, one in ten Missouri youth abused prescription drugs, so it is important to do as much as we can to make these kinds of substances less available.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, especially from the home medicine cabinet.  Proper disposal of medications has long been a difficult problem for Missourians. Flushing them pollutes the water supply. Throwing them in the trash makes them an easy target, not only for thieves, but for pets and wildlife. Also, due to regulations, pharmacists are not allowed to take medications back once they are dispensed.

Simply drop your unused or unwanted medications in the marked receptacle in the lobby and the police department will incinerate them per government recommendations. All drugs dropped in the boxes are completely anonymous.  The Northland Coalition is very thankful for the commitment and time of each of these local stations.

The six prescription drug drop boxes are located at:

Excelsior Springs Police Dept. Lobby
301 South Main, Excelsior Springs, Missouri 64024
(816)630-2000     Drop Off Hours: Open 24/7

 KCMO Police North Patrol Division Lobby
1001 N.W. Barry Road, Kansas City, MO 64155
(816)437-6200     Drop Off Hours- Open 24/7

KCMO Police Shoal Creek Patrol Division Lobby
6801 NE Pleasant Valley Rd, KC, MO 64119
(816)413-3400     Drop Off Hours: Open 24/7

 Liberty Police Department Lobby
101 E Kansas St, Liberty, MO 64068
(816)439.4716 Drop Off Hours: Open 24/7

North Kansas City Police Dept. Lobby
2020 Howell Street, North Kansas City, Missouri
(816)274-6013     Drop Off Hours: Open 24/7

 Smithville Police Dept. Lobby
107 West Main Street, Smithville, MO 64089
(816)532-0500     Drop Off Hours: M-F 8am-5pm

All drugs dropped in the boxes are completely anonymous. Simply drop your unused medications in the marked receptacle in the lobby and the police department will incinerate them per government recommendations. Funding and coordination for this project was provided by Tri-County Mental Health Services and the Northland Coalition.

Help promote these boxes by printing this flier.

More than 150 area high school students had the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills through workshops and group learning at the September 16, 2011 Northland Youth Leadership Summit. Students chose from five different workshops to attend during each of the sessions, and all students and their school sponsors participated in the Key Note presentations together. Speakers included Cara Filler, founder of the “Drive to Save Lives Tour,” Blair Kerkhoff, sports writer at the Kansas City Star, ThinkFirst, William Jewell College Tucker Leadership Lab, Amy Tuso, Liberty School District Prevention Coordinator, Coach Roger Stirtz, Liberty High School Basketball Coach, Al Babich, creator of “My Gray Matters,” Diane Beal, specialist with the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project, and TSgt. Jason Henke with the National Guard. The goal of the Norhtland Youth Leaderhip Summit was to arm youth with the tools to make a positive impact on their student body and in their community.