December 5, 2008 Sen. Leahy holds hearing on rural crime in Vermont Play video

(Anya Huneke, NECN: Rutland, VT) - For the second time this year, Vermont senator and judiciary committee chairman Patrick Leahy held a hearing in his home state. The topic was “Community-based solutions to drug-related crime in rural America”-- and Leahy was looking to St. Albans for a sense of the problem, and potential remedies.

Eight months after leading a U.S. senate judiciary committee field hearing on drugs and crime in Rutland, Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy did the same thing in St. Albans.

Leahy "Small towns and cities are not immune... these are not Norman Rockwell paintings..."

Another Vermont community struggling with a serious and growing problem.

Gary Taylor\St. Albans Police Chief "The proliferation of drug use and the related violent crime has challenged the quality of life in our community and nearly overwhelmed our law enforcement resources.

In front of a large crowd Friday .. Six panelists - including a pediatrician, a substance abuse specialist, the police chief, and the mayor - described to Leahy the challenges they face-- waging a daily battle against violence .. Gang-like activity .. And drug abuse.

Dr. Fred Holmes\Pediatrician, Youth Advocate "We are woefully ill-equipped to address this problem. We are practicing what I call "whack-a-mole" health care. We are constantly chasing our tails... playing catch up..."

"The hearing was held in St. Albans because this is a prime example of a community

in trouble. Over the past seven years .. the city has seen an 87-percent increase in property crimes... a 125-percent increase in assaults and robberies... and a 186-percent increase in drug investigations and search warrants."

Martin Manahan\St. Albans Mayor "We do not have a monopoly on drug crimes... however .. we are one of the few communities that are acknowledging the issue and facing it head on."

One by one .. The panelists asked Leahy for help-- each one acknowledging the solution must be community-based... But saying support from the top is critical.

Peter "We're not asking for the federal government to rescue us... we simply want you to help us rescue ourselves."

Which means, in part, restoring funding to the 'Cops' and 'Byrne' grant programs, for example, which support local law enforcement.

Tom Tremblay "Those funds have been cut short through the years- and we really need to make sure that's supported so we can do the type of drug enforcement in Vermont we want to."

Sen. Leahy says he will take Friday’s testimony with him to Washington...

Leahy "These are things the new administration will hear…I've found in my years in the Senate, that carries far more weight than anything else."

And will work hard on strategies for Vermont- and rural states like it - fighting to preserve their quality of life.