Whenever something goes wrong on campus, the University Police is around to make sure everyone is safe and everything can go back to normal. While students expect UP to keep them safe, it is important to note that officers also take part in resolving non-violent crimes across campus. Another type of on-campus crime that UP works against on a constant basis are drug crimes, more specifically, the trafficking and sale of dangerous drugs.

For drug-related investigations, UP works with the Oswego County Drug Task Force to make sure the job gets done. The Oswego County Drug Task Force is made up of investigators from the District Attorney’s office, local and state police and officers from the Border Patrol. UP is authorized to make violation arrests, as well as misdemeanor and felony arrests, all drug charges, whether they be on or off campus, are forwarded to the Oswego State Office of Code and Conduct.

UP works to make sure that Oswego State is a campus free of illegal substances. Last year, UP made 40 drug-related arrests.

The most common thing to be confiscated is marijuana, but it is not unusual for prescription drugs such as Adderall and Xanax to also be found. Other things found on campus are small amounts of cocaine, concentrated cannabis and  hallucinogens. UP also confiscates drug-related paraphernalia such as bongs, needles and money.

The drugs and money confiscated by UP can be valued at thousands of dollars. Even though UP makes multitudes of drug-related arrest per year, the arrests rarely, if ever, get violent.

“People are usually not happy to be arrested,” said University Police Chief John Rossi. “But we treat all people equally and with respect.”

Whether the arrest be on campus by the UP or off campus by the Oswego County Drug Task Force, much of the same result can be seen. The Oswego County Drug Task Force looks to keep drugs out of Oswego County. According to the Oswego County Drug Task Force Facebook page, its mission is to “protect and serve the citizens of Oswego County and to ultimately enhance their quality of life.”  It goes on to say that it plans to do this by enforcing laws to pursue all drug traffickers and their organizations.

The Oswego County Drug Task Force uses its Facebook page to share articles reporting on some of the arrest they make around Oswego County involving drug charges. These articles include a mug shot of the culprit, what kind of drugs were involved in the case and what kind of charges were filed against the felons.

Photo by Samantha Flavell | The Oswegonian