Sometimes, McDonald said, a patrol unit is just two minutes away from criminal activity. Nearby patrols have responded to burglaries in progress, robberies, assaults and other incidents and officers have made arrests.

“We have made significant arrests but we have to be constantly updated,” McDonald said. “We have several narcotics investigations going on.”

Later, McDonald said his officers know those in the drug community but the dealers also know the local police who cannot work undercover for that reason. Calling on someone from another department or agency doesn’t work either, he added, because strangers are suspect.

However, the department is working with several other agencies to track the source of the drugs to attack the problem from that end. He declined to name the agencies to protect the ongoing investigations.

He said the department has worked for more than a year to clean up the 400 block of Loop Street that had been plagued for years with drug activity and violence. He said arrests plus evictions by the Lawrence County Housing Authority have significantly resolved the problems.

Councilman Ralph Chiappetta said the two best tools citizens can use to help police are, “a phone and a camera. Get a photo of the car and the license plate.”

Councilman John Todorich suggested a citizens group organize to walk neighborhoods to help police. “You need more eyes and ears out there.”

McDonald said such groups may help if they provide police with information but he cautioned against encouraging vigilantes.