Taunton Police: Drug dealing, habits result in violence, victimization

If anyone thinks drug abuse is a victimless crime theyre kidding themselves.

House and vehicle break-ins, home invasions, shoplifting and violent rip-offs are all collateral damage, so to speak, of todays drug trade, according to Taunton Police Chief Edward Walsh.

Its by now an age-old problem, he said, that addiction compels some people to resort to victimizing innocent people in order to satisfy their craving.

Despite tips from the public and the occasional cooperation of informants, statistics indicate that illicit drug activity in Taunton this year has been keeping pace with 2011.

Last year, police responded to 111 drug-related incidents in the Silver City, according to TPD data. Each of those incidents led to at least one arrest.

As of this past Thursday there were 24 recorded incidents in 2012, compared to 26 at the same juncture in 2011.

Walsh, a 24-year TPD veteran who became chief in 2010, said dealing pot has become more dangerous.

Theres more violence, especially, he said, when it comes to the marijuana trade.

Walsh says its not uncommon nowadays for pot dealers and their potential customers to violently rob each other of either cannabis or cash.

Part of the reason, he explained, is a lack of structure or hierarchy.

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Taunton Police: Drug dealing, habits result in violence, victimization