Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Police records show a decrease in drug arrests in the community

By Clarence Cromwell

A drug survey and a crusade by a small group of parents have drawn heightened attention to drug use at Los Gatos High School and in the community.

Nevertheless, drug arrests are declining here, Los Gatos police say.

"Overall, we're running 20 percent below what we did last year," Los Gatos Police Capt. Duino Giordano said.

The total number of arrests for drug-related offenses this year (through the end of May) is about 20 percent lower than the number of arrests by the same period last year. Last year's 91 arrests dwindled to 73 arrests this year. The numbers include both felonies and misdemeanors.

For the month of May, police actually made more arrests--19 this year, compared to 13 last year. But the total for the year remains lower than last year.

The greatest reduction comes as a decrease in felony drug arrests, down 40 percent, from 42 last year to 25 this year. Giordano attributed the decrease in drug arrests to the general decrease of all types of crimes.

When asked about the high school drug survey, Giordano said, "More people may be using drugs, but that doesn't mean more people are being arrested for it."

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