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CRYSTAL LAKE – The city's police chief wants to give some drug addicts a chance to participate in a countywide program aimed at helping them get clean, but he doesn't want to give up the right to arrest and prosecute them.
In May, a coalition of local agencies, including the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office, launched "A Way Out – McHenry County." The program offers substance abuse treatment at any time to anyone in McHenry County who wants to kick a habit of taking drugs.
Those who want to participate can walk into any of the participating police departments and tell the clerk they want to take part in "A Way Out – McHenry County."
A core tenant of the program allows drug users to turn over drugs or drug paraphernalia without fear of being arrested or charged for the drugs they give up.
Crystal Lake Police Chief James Black plans to ask the Crystal Lake City Council to approve an agreement that would allow the city's police department to participate in the program, but with some modifications.
“You will note in the program’s process stated above that individuals arriving at a participating agency with drugs or drug paraphernalia ‘will not be arrested or charged’ for the criminal offenses,” Black wrote in a memo to the City Council. “As part of our draft policy, I believed it was important not to issue such a mandatory order; instead, my intention is to allow our officers the discretion, with a police supervisor’s approval, to decide whether they should arrest based upon the quantity of drugs relinquished.
“I do not wish to waive our ability to charge and arrest any individual who possessed a quantity of illegal drugs typically associated with someone who may be dealing narcotics or possessing narcotics that one would not consider to be ‘personal use.’ “
So far, 19 local law enforcement agencies have signed on to participate in the program. They are Barrington Hills, Cary, Fox River Grove, Harvard, Hebron, Holiday Hills, Huntley, Island Lake, Johnsburg, Lake in the Hills, Lakemoor, Marengo, McCullom Lake, the McHenry County Sheriff's Office, McHenry, Prairie Grove, Richmond, Spring Grove and Wonder Lake, according to the county's website.
Black points out in his memo to the City Council that each agency was given the opportunity to draft policies “that would best suit their organizations.”
"The police department has researched the feasibility of participating in the program, and we have written a draft policy in compliance with our [Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc.] standards, and a memorandum of understanding," Black wrote. "State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally, the city's legal counsel and the city's insurance provider, IRMA, have reviewed our drafts. All parties declared the documents were in good order."
The City Council is expected to consider Black’s proposal at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 100 W. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake.
If you go
WHAT: Crystal Lake City Council meeting
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
WHERE: City Hall, 100 W. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake
INFORMATION: http://www.crystallake.org/home/showdocument?id=13768