Groups propose using old PD for at-risk youth

By ROB LARSON
Daily Press Staff Writer
Coming together for the same purpose, the Artesia Drug and Crime Coalition (ADCC), the Artesia Community Policing Unit and the Milestone Wellness Center provided a presentation to the Artesia City Council Tuesday to request the use of the APD’s former police station for the proposed 7024U Project, an outreach program geared toward at-risk youth.
According to Sarah Mitchell of the ADCC, by using the former police station – located at 702 W. Chisum Ave. – as their hub, the 7024U wishes to take at-risk youth and give them “the necessary tools to become productive members of the community and society through prevention, intervention and treatment services.” … For the rest of the story, subscribe in print and on the web.
Mitchell told the council the need for such a program arose as a result of newly discovered statistics based on teens living in Eddy County. As Mitchell’s stats showed, Eddy County is first in the nation in terms of inhalants, methamphetamine, heroin and ecstasy use and prescription drug abuse, second in drinking and driving among teens and drug-induced deaths, fifth in cocaine use, fourth in attempted suicide, and fifth in suicides.
Following the presentation of the shocking figures, Cpl. Esteban Sepulveda discussed gang prevalence, both on a national and local scale.