 |
Sgt. Chris Goshorn pitched the idea of having a dedicated "Heroin Interdiction Team" in Fort Thomas to give extra patrols to areas highways where users traverse on their way to and from heroin transactions. Fort Thomas Councilman, Jeff Bezold, rode with Goshorn and documented his experience. |
By Jeff Bezold
It's hard to really get a grasp of the situation until you experience it. On Tuesday, March 8th, I was able to see firsthand how bad the heroin problem is and what and who it affects. What I saw was only stuff you see on television and movies.
When I first heard of Heroin Interdiction Team, started by Sgt.
Chris Goshorn of the Fort Thomas Police Department, I was curious. I was curious about a couple things: why the city was spending our resources on problems that happen in parking lots of other cities. Was there really that big of a heroin problem in Fort Thomas? If so, where?
I was aware of the car accident the happened on S. Fort Thomas Ave. last year, but was the incident cause enough to devote an entire team of officers to heroin? What I was mostly curious of was what is the effect this awful drug heroin (and opioids in general) is doing to our community and how we as a city could do our part in the fight.
After speaking with Chief
Mike Daly about doing a police ride along with Sgt. Goshorn we decided on a random Tuesday morning. This again sparked some interest, I was thinking the time would be a Friday or Saturday night during the peak "social time." To my surprise it was a weekday (any weekday) starting at roughly 9 a.m. to roughly 5 p.m.
The time spent with Sgt Goshorn (and team) was so incredibly shocking, eye opening, disturbing, upsetting, disgusting and SCARY. I felt I needed to get word out to the community ASAP. So here is a brief review of the day.
9:00 a.m. - arrive to the station to Sgt Goshon preparing his day
9:33 a.m. - we depart after a "pre game" discussion and instruction
9:44 a.m. - we arrive to our first stop at the shoulder of exit ramp to Memorial Parkway
9:50 a.m. - Sgt Goshorn takes off after a suspicious vehicle with a taillight out and drifting in and out of his lane. The stop was made just past the Southgate exit going southbound.
Summary of stop #1- 2 men, age range 40-50, brothers, stated they were coming from UC hospital and headed back to SE Ohio area. After a line of simple questions, Sgt. Goshorn realized the "patient" wasn't treated. The two men then admitted they were coming from the methadone clinic in Covington to receive treatment.
- the driver had a suspended license and no insurance
- the passenger had a bag of marijuana
- car impounded and due to ky state law both men were ticketed for their offenses and picked up by their father.
- no needles or heroin, but coming from treatment
SCARY NOTE - as Sgt. Goshorn was performing the stop, I looked over the guard rail and noticed a needle. It looked like it was a couple days old, but random.
10:45 a.m. - We pulled away from the stop and immediately noticed a vehicle that was drifting and didn't use a turn signal.
Summary #2 - One man coming from the methadone clinic. The good news he has been off opioids and now seeking treatment. He checked out to be in good standing, congratulated for kicking the opioids and sent on his way.
After this stop we turned around at the 275 bridge by the river and started north on 471, did the loop and came back south on 471. A call came across the radio
"any available units in the area, we have a caller stating they are following a vehicle that is driving erratically, speeding and moving across all three lanes of traffic."
At this point we hit the gas and the hunt was on. Quite frankly I was a little nervous.
Fortunately these guys work on a team and Officer Nick Hoffman was able to stop the vehicle in the emergency vehicle turn around area just before the 275 bridge by the river.
11:30 a.m.
Summary stop #3 - One girl late in her 20's from Batavia, was not opening her windows or doors. She was yelling at the officers and was very aggressive in her actions. Both officers were getting out their batons to break the windows. At this time she opened the door and was removed.
After many lies and excuses a female officer from Highland Heights came to assist. Here is what they found:
- One used needle she had "inserted" into a hiding place on/in her person
- One needle in the center console
- One half used pouch of powder heroin
- One very bad case of MRSA. Do you know what this is? If not look it up. Here's an actual picture of the MRSA infected arm with a tourniquet on. Yes, she was injecting heroin driving on 471/275 at 65 mph at 11:30 a.m.
This was one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen!
(WARNING, GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW)