Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Elaine Becker shares the zero tolerance policy for opioid dealers and users held by her predecessor, and now Indiana State Attorney General, Curtis Hill.
During a press conference on Wednesday, she stated, “We have always been aggressive, and we will continue to be aggressive, because it takes patience and it does take sacrifice in order to conduct these investigations. It takes time, sometimes weeks, sometimes months in order to make sure we’re coming after the right person. We can’t make mistakes in this.”
Becker said she will target dealers to bring this number down.
“Now, to the dealer – We are coming after you. You are done preying on our vulnerable populations, our neighbors, our families, our associates, the people who help us." Becker said, "Level 2 felony - Dealing in a Narcotic Drug which is one of the higher penalties that can occur for dealing in heroin, has a penalty of up to 30 years in prison, and I will not hesitate to seek that kind of a sentence if you deserve it.”
There have been 19 overdose deaths in the county this year. Eight were heroin related. Becker urged users to seek help or face the consequences of forced rehabilitation. She also asked them to turn dealers in.
“We have the ability to do this, if you are willing and have the ability to do this with us.”
Also like her predecessor Hill, Becker opposes needle exchange programs. Some counties use these to slow the spread of infectious diseases, including Hepatitis C. But Becker said Elkhart County doesn’t have that problem.
She said, “If they start considering it, I will oppose it, unless I am shown data that shows we have an issue in the spreading of needle-borne diseases and if that happens, I’m the first to step back and say ok, ‘we need to take care of our population on that level.”
Becker said she supports the pharmaceutical board’s state and federal efforts to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions.