Guinta seeks action after multiple drug raids

YOUR COMMENTS

The voices of UnionLeader.com readers: To join UnionLeader.com's discussion of the news, use the form below.

NOTE: If you have read this article before, you may not be seeing the newest comments. Press F5. Or click "Refresh" or "Reload" at the top of this page while holding down Ctrl. All approved postings will appear. (Another option for Firefox users is the Clear Cache add-on.)

I would like to thank D.M.of Hampton and Marc of Derry for the funny comments( the lines were out the door and Pizza and coke meant something else at 3 Cousins). It really is too bad that the only photos on the news or in the paper were of 3 helpless women. If they worked at the bar they were probably coerced into selling. Perhaps coerced isn't the correct word(maybe persuaded or propositioned).
- Mel, Manchester, NH

Play with fire, your gonna get burned. Kudos to MPD, and all the agencies who helped. Keep up the good work, and maybe soon these streets will be spotless.
- Jean, Manchester

Manchester is too afraid of loosing tax revue to close these clubs down.
The mayor & his cronies need to put the public first for once.
- Steven B, Manchester

I just moved here in August, any reason to move? This might be one, but no matter where you move to, there is always some sort of crime going on. Moved here from MA to get away from the violence that was escalating,just to have a better life for my kids. Then all this happens, on my daughters 7th birthday none the less. Thank god she isn't aware of what went on. Now, I don't even let them out of my sight. Not a way to live. MPD did an awesome job, but too bad it wasn't done years ago. Crime begets crime and it's only going to spread, if not in that area, it will spread to other parts of the city. How will it be stopped then? Was there ever an officer on duty when the bar is open? That may be one way to curb this activity.
- D.J., manchester

you got the right street but the wrong bars, why dont you head on over to the two bars down the street. They are ALOT worse than cousins ever was!!
- concerned citizen, Manchester

hey julie from manchester, I was not saying that all the people i said cheers to were on the pool team, some were regulars, some worked there, some were pool players. Inly was cheering the ones that i know andere friends with.I know there are morepeple than that that are regulars and on the pool team, i just dont really know them . I am not arguing with you i believe we both want cousins to remain open. I know that the owners of cousins have done alot to get the problem people out of there, and the drug dealers out. But like a former bar owner wrote earlier you can not just look at someone and say i dont like the way you look, get out!! They would have a discrimination lawsuit on their hands!!
- T.B., Manchester

Its interesting to see the way two different groups of druggies are treated in Manchester. Here, the MPD went in heavy and broke up a neighborhood pizza joint. The only ones arrested were lower-income people.

But another group smokes dope in public and even sells it every afternoon on Elm St, but they are all "clean-cut white kids" who seem to mostly be computer bums. The police just drive by and smile at their crimes. Why the double standard??
- Jon, Manchester

Scott -

You are an idiot. Are you a Free Stater?
- Debra, Manchester

Great job MPD. The citizens need to feel safe again. Crush the gangs and drug dealers. Whatever it takes!
- Bob, Boscawen,NH

Except for the tiny little "Police" tag, they are dressed more like Bin Laden's boys than Americans. This is what happens when the police all live far away in cozy little towns and don't care about Manchester. They let the garbage accumulate for years until a commando raid is the only alternative.
- Scott, Manchester

Congrats Mayor and cheif Mara. You have put a stop to part of the supply in Manchester for the amount of time it takes to drive to Mass to meet a supplier, buy what you need, and drive back up!! I'm sure the cost of the whole investigation and raids was alot more costly than a car ride to Mass and the price of cocaine. CONGRATS!!!
- Eric- Lost Patron, Manch Vegas

When is our government going to learn that WE HAVE LOST THE WAR ON DRUGS!! Do you realize how much it costs to house an inmate? How much it cost to exacute one of these raids? And the time it takes to process the evidence? And then theres the sheriffs time to transport from jail to court, and not to mention the cost it takes to pay all the confidential informants who are the one of the real reasons that these people have been taken off the streets.We need to start building drug rehabs instead of more prisons, jails and halfway houses and inforcing manditory drug rehab!
I mean we throw people that have never even been on probation befor in prison for driving after habitual offender. Lets try and fix these people instead of throwing them away because when they max out they are released with no "Leash", and back they go. You wanna be a hero Mayor Guinta or Mara, you wanna rise to the occation? Im calling you out! I'm pulling your card! Stop throwing them, us away and start trying to FIX them, us. I say us not because I have a drug problem but because unlike you and most cops and authority figuers I dont think I am better than other people espcialy the ones that are weak.
- BAMBOO, Manchester

I do not condone the sales or use of cocaine, but the fact that raids such as these and stiff penalties have not stopped the drug trade suggests that a market analysis should be done.

When dealers are busted and their drugs are seized, supply is temporarily reduced. As a result, the market price goes up. Since the market price goes up, it provides a financial incentive for dealers from other areas to move into the area to fill the demand that the busted dealers had been supplying. When the supply is greater than the demand, prices go down, reducing the incentive for more dealers to move into an area. I believe that it would be in a city's best interest to target only dealers who use violence because eliminating non-violent dealers will increase the number of violent dealers in the city. No matter how much money is spent on shutting down dealers, there will always be someone looking to profit from the sales of illegal drugs. The more profitable a trade is, the more likely someone will choose to engage in it. If prohibited drugs were legalized, businesses could sell them just like they sell alcohol, tobacco and coffee. During alcohol prohibition, violence was rampant because it was a profitable trade and those participating in it couldn't call the police because someone was trying to steal their booze. Their only option was to deal with it themselves, often with violence. Now that alcohol is legal, we don't see suppliers holding up their competition's trucks or doing drive-by shootings at their competition's stores or homes. Instead they compete by trying to produce a better quality product for a lower price. The reason that there is as much violence associated with illegal drugs as we have is because they are illegal. Before they were prohibited by the government, Americans could go to their local apothecary and buy cocaine, morphine and other drugs without Federal or State prohibitions. The drug trade didn't start having problems with violence until the government passed laws prohibiting the sales of those drugs in the free market. When something gets scarce, whether due to rarity or regulation, the price goes up. When a market becomes very profitable, people who love money will get involved in it. If it's illegal, people who love money and have no regard for the law get involved in it. There is a problem, but it was caused by the government because men in power wanted to increase the scope of their power, and used fear tactics to fool the people into subjugation by making them think that objects are to be feared and that expanding government's control over our lives would make them safer.
- Tim, Somersworth

Too bad three shootings/killings in NH on the same news day stole your headline Mr. Mayor. Score three for the bad guys, one for the good guys. Burr - The temp on the HIPPO Quality of Life thermometer is dropping quick.
- Mike, Allenstown

Cheryl was never on a team. league of pool as well as at least one other person mentioned in names of pool players.
There will still be pool tournaments most likely at 3-Cousins when they re-open eventually.
Touchy people!
- Julie, Manchester

Whine, whine whine. Camo plate carriers are the cheapest, and people would whine that they looked like stormtroopers if they wore black. The balaclava (baklava is a Greek dessert, idiots) is to prevent blood from getting in their face. You know, infectious diseases? They wear goggles for that reason too.

Whine, whine, whine.
- David Goss, Manchester

Hey JULIE of Manchester, I was talking about the pool players that play out of cousins and are regulars at cousins. Not all pool players!!
- T.B., Manchester

Hey TB of Manchester! You forgot a few people..... there are pool tables in other clubs and bars.
Some people are clearly upset about this but the gear the raiders wore, and even the time it took for all of this raid to take affect is something that most everyone knew was going to happen. Yes, even the people who worked there and the people who patronized the place. I myself would never have thought it would happen with people dressed the way they were but it happened that way and I'm sure there were reasons for it.
Why would anyone bash the MPD for doing what the tax payer's money demands them to do?
This will all be a memory after a while and 3 Cousins will be back after the liquor license is back. We'll still be able to get food, a beer and see people we know.
- Julie, Manchester

Thanks MPD for risking your life for us everyday!! My son thinks he might want to be a police officer when he grows up, scares the crap out of me...I say criminal law but NOT a cop...I'd never sleep.
- Melissa, Manchester

Now that cousins in probably going to be shut down, I would like to make the last toast to all the pool players and regulars!!!
CHEERS!!!
Cheryl, Mark, Al. F, Alex, chris, Caroline, Bobby, Heather, Sandra, luis, edwin, tracey, amy, willie, papo, john, al. p, april, Jessica, Janice, Rick, ed, elizabeth, rose, al, roger, paul, stacey, debbie, bunnie, wayne, andy, pauleen, bobby W, Mark, Leona, scottie, betsy, angel, booger, and chooch!!!
BOTTOMS UP!!!!
- T.B., Manchester

This is exactly why I moved away from manchester. I think it's interesting that this happened the same day that 4 people were murdered in manchester. some were a couple blocks away. Could there be a connection? If not were the police over stretched that day? It looks like Josh Williams and Knuckles the dog were the only ones on duty at 12:20 AM.
How did manchester have it's deadliest days that I have ever seen the same day that the city had this raid planned? What is going on here? Are we ready for a camera on every block? What will stop this crap?
- Rob, Concord

As usual, A Wood is one of the first ignorant commentors. Grow up. Also, who cares what uniforms SWAT members where? Is that all you people have to worry about? How about the fact that they could have been killed several times in the past week? God forbid you concern yourselves with a petty thing like that.
- Joe, Manchester

good job manchester police now lets shut them down and how about burn the building down also get rid of the drug dealers also
- jim, manchester

I lost a good friend and his family lost a great son, father,nephew. The night John Denoncourt was killed in cold blood and his murderer was convicted, That alone should have enough to close down!
- gwen, manchester

my opinion is that people who are NITPICKING about what the police are wearing should really not bother to comment. Who cares? really? I am not the least bit threatened by a swat team in camo going after drug dealers two blocks from my home.. I am just glad they got some of them... small potatoes perhaps but at least it is momentum in the right direction.
- Dan, Manchester

I wish we had three or more of these busts a week. It's great that we have these people off the street. It's a drop in the bucket.
- Brent, Manchester

Great job MPD! These PD critics below really don't have a clue!
- Jim, Manchester

How frightening, police dressed in military uniforms hiding their identities. Is this America or Iran? The militarization of the police is extremely scary, we need peace officers, not military commandos doing this kind of stuff.
- Jeremy, Concord

As a former Bar Owner here in the city of Manchester. I can tell you that it is not easy to get the bad element out.
You cant just look at someone and say I will not serve you because of the way you look or I think you may be selling drugs.
Last thing I need is a lawsuit for discrimination.
Now the Police tell me it's up to me to turn things around?
They tell me I can't allow smoking inside anymore, so the customers go outside on the "City Sidewalk" and start talking to loud. Neighbors call the police, the police come and say their going to fine me if these people don't keep it down. How? I've asked them to please be quiet, I can't put my hand over their mouth. My front door go's right to the "Public Sidewalk" I've asked them to leave (hurting me) they just go out front where I can't do anything.
"TRUE STORY" Guy pulls into my parking lot, hits another car, he gets out, is DRUNK from ANOTHER bar, we call police, they show, they tell me there is nothing they can do because it is on private property.
And MPD tells me I've got to change my ways?
- Jason, Manchester

It took the the MPD, the Nashua PD, NH State Atty., NH Probation office, FBI,DEA, Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms, Liquor Commission & of course immigration for this to go forward? At what cost to seize a lb. of cocaine? $60K? Didn't shut anything down. It will all continue. This blasphemy should have been shut down before it progressed to this. 30 yrs. ago I could walk these streets in any part of the city @ 10yrs.old. Now I won't let my 14 yr. old walk them
- Dan Paul, Manchester

The last time I was up in that neck of the woods was when Gosselin Pharmacy was in business. That whole area has gone downhill in the last 20 years. Seems like by default is a place where people go to cause trouble. Maybe since they closed the Zoo it's the cheapest you can go and hang around since most people would get run out of the west side.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

How about the Mayor shutting down his favorite watering holes? How about shutting down the ukranian club. I wonder what goes on in that club? But wait, that would mean the mayor's friends wouldn't have a place to drink.
- Mike, Manchester

I use to go to 3 cousins. I'm not very proud of that but i cleaned myself up and have been claean for 3 years. But i do have to say the owners of 3 cousins have done ALOT to get the problem people out of there. The night time bartender and the bouncer (at least when i was there) are two of the nicest, hard working people you would want to know. As for the women arrested they are nice people also, just have bad problems. Everyone goes thru rough times. As far as the drug problem goes I can tell you that these women arrested are not something to get all excited about, They are small potatoes in the drug world in manchester!!!! BELIEVE ME!!!!
- Stacey, Manchester

Ed Bedford, so now instead of the masks being biohazard gear (as Sally suggested) they're to conceal the officers' identities? And when the supposed undercover officer who I assumed gathered the evidence to justify the raid shows up to testify in court (the whole "face one's accuser" bit, you know), do you think he might be recognized there? If they didn't want to be seen, why stage the operation as a PR event "calculated to draw a crowd of neighborhood residents"?

Ed, I think police blue BDUs would be appropriate for raid settings. Unless of course, they're getting ready to take down Bambi and Thumper out in the woods. Hmm, even the last game warden I saw wasn't wearing woodland BDUs.

Mack, Manchester, I don't know if Lyndeborough officers have BDUs; I've only seen them on duty in their standard uniforms. Not sure where you're getting the Abercrombie and Aeropostle thing, unless you're trying to suggest that blue BDUs cost more than woodland. Last time I priced them, they were the same. As for "professional khakis and collared shirts", when I was in, we had them (specifically, blues for me, since I was USAF). Have all the services abandoned non-field uniforms now? I've been out quite a while.

I never claimed that police on raids shouldn't wear appropriate clothing. I only wondered if woodland pattern in a city was appropriate, and why they need lycra balaclavas. Police officer and soldier should be very different jobs, and it disturbs me to see police officers dressing up like anonymous soldiers.
- Carl Bussjaeger, Lyndeborough

....and now the Drug Dealers are going to make a stand. Everyone know this was a media play. The dealers know this too and they also know that Manchester doesn't have the force to back it up and make it permanant. The reply from the dealers is already 1 dead in the street and another possible shooting by the school. Makes you wonder if the dead people are the ones that helped the police. Pretty scary thought isn't it? It's a shame to think that possibly doing you civic duty to help protect your neighborhood could be turned into a "Mayoral Media Picture Day" and get the good people of Manchester hurt or even worse.
- Michael, Manchester

They are wearing woodland cammies because, most likely, when they asked for new ones, they were told to pound sand. Typical response when Cops need the tools to do the job. The public wants a Mercedes for a Kia payment.

Obviously, an urban environment would be best suited for black or Urban MARPAT, however, most likely, the Manchester ERT was told, here... these woodlands are your call-out gear, enjoy!

Regardless if they were wearing Halloween costumes, or the best cammies money can buy, simultaneous raids with no reported injuries, that's what counts. The Manch ERT are a great group of guys and they are squared away. Nice work boys. Good guys won again.

Virtus Sub Incendia, 1*
- Seth T, Portsmouth

No, Jim. Just wondering how thick the underbrush is inside 3 Cousins... I said nothing about the vests.
- Lynn, Manchester

I agree with the other posters that the police's getup is ridiculous. The sole purpose of the camo gear is to look military...something that we DO NOT want. The military outlook of some police is disgusting and dangerous. Look up "the militarization of our police" on youtube for more.

Furthermore, only thugs cover their faces.
- CDR, Lebanon

To Carl In Lyndeborough,

Apparently you didn't read the entire article. It clearly states that there were several raids conducted throughout the city. Which means the tactical team was used more than once. How many tactical teams do you see across the country outfitted in Abercrombie or Aeropostle to conduct a tactical operation? I know things are a little slow in Lyndeborough and maybe the Wranglers and flanel shirts are common attire, but try and educate yourself as to why these officers are dressed to encouter mutiple situations. Maybe you should suggest the military go to professional khakis and collared shirts for a much more kinder gentler way of handling these scenarios...
- Mack, Manchester

Lynn,

They are swat police officers, would you prefer them not to have kevlar either?
- Jim, Sutton

Singapore has no drug problem .


Narcotics laws established by the Misuse of Drugs Act are very strict.

* Anyone caught with more than or equal to 15 g (0.5 ounces) of heroin, 28 g (1 ounce) of morphine or 480 g (17 ounces) of cannabis faces mandatory capital punishment, as they are deemed to be trafficking in these substances. The stated quantities are the net weight of the substances after they have been isolated by laboratory analysis. Between 1991 and 2004, 400 people were hanged in Singapore, mostly for drug trafficking, the highest per-capita execution rate in the world.
- Brian, Farmington

They dress that way because some might do undercover work and do not want to be recognized, and do you suggest they buy uniforms to dress according the raid setting?
- Ed, Bedford

Sally, Manchester, I was thinking more along the lines of police uniforms.

Try the academy for a day? Actually, I went the full course; Honor Graduate, even.

If these guys need BDUs, blue BDUs are readily available. Woodland pattern is silly for operational city wear. And surgical gloves and masks are better biohazard protection than lycra balaclavas.
- Carl Bussjaeger, Lyndeborough

Darn, now I'm going to have to find another place to get my, ah, pizza (thats the ticket).....

kudos and great duds to MPD
- Dale A., Manchester

This raid was in the center of Manchester, right? So... why the camo gear?
- Lynn, Manchester

I agree with one poster.. The owners of this establishment have made great strides over the years to eliminate people from the bar that associate themselves with the drug ring in the area, whether they work there or are a customer.. The owners and other people that work there are good people. They have cleaned up Three Cousins a great deal over the last couple years.. It is unfortunate that a couple people have done this, and those people should be punished severely. But I know one thing.. It is not Three Cousins that is the problem.. It is the neighborhood. It is the drug ring. And closing Three Cousins will not make an ounce of difference in keeping drugs off the streets.
- Concerned and Sympathetic Patron, Manchester, NH

So Robert, if we see a Mexican, or a Cuban in your neighboorhood, we should call you right?
- BH, Goffstown

I wonder if they'll make the duty cops at stop and shop come outside the store and deal with the rotten ellement of unsupervised minors that harrass the customers. This is the next generation of criminals in the making that could be prevented if these officers would get off their butts and take a walk through the parking lot of stop and shop on valley st. every so often!
That's not to mention the stolen shopping carts that just walk away by themselves driving up grocery prices for the rest of us!
- A citizen, Manchester, NH

Wow - talk about taking reality and putting it in a blender.

One handful taking the ingredients of "the police don't do anything," the other handful that when the police do try to, they're doing it wrong.

So which one of you is explaining how to do it right? Will it be the one that says there should be one cop assigned to every person in the city so when a call is made, the response is immediate? Or is that the one who knows there are so many cops on duty and so many calls to handle.

Charlie there makes a point - maybe lousy pizza is an indicator. Certain pizza joints, especially those that deliver, have been and are a major part of the drug distribution network - everywhere; big towns and small. Doesn't apply to every pizza place, of course. Clientele is an indicator, as are those doing the delivery. This isn't new news.

Guess the point is that it is a blender, with so many mixed together problems going on, all the time. And law enforcement is demanded to constantly keep the ingredients separated out and respond to each and every one. It's simple math, not physics.

The PR message being sent yesterday was clear enough - please help us figure out what the ingredients are, and in what proportion; we want to do better and do our best. And if people aren't talking because they're afraid, we need to get past that.

Although as many aren't talking because they want their particular vice left alone. Well it's not that simple, because it's all in the blender.

The final point is maybe the most vivid. If it's gotten to where police must wear assault gear, etc., to confront the problems of American neighborhoods - then that's what it has come down to.

I'd just as soon each officer remain alive and well, so they can respond to the next call. Including the calls when people want them to be there - meaning when it's their problem, not just somebody else's.
- RP, New Boston

I think this was a great step, but did the politicians consider the saftey issues of doing a raid in the middle of the day, or just their own political careers. You never know when someone may resist arrest and put the public in danger, but to plan a raid so that the public is around is irresponsible, and dangerous. The closed sign on the door would have told the neighborhood enough about the action that was taken and endangered less people!
- AG, Manchester

This is an excellent job. Sounds like a success. Glad to hear that SOME officers in the state perform above and beyond their expected duties of officers. Keep up the good work.
- Ted, Manchester

Tarr, thanks for injecting racism into the discussion. You feel the need to make that "Little Havana" crack even though the suspects in this case are anglo.

No wonder you got crushed when you ran for alderman and state rep.
- Rich, Manchester

This is all well and good but if the city was actually on their game they would have known how long this was going on. If anything they should not be getting good press because if the MPD was doing their job they would have shut it down YEARS ago.
- Bill, Manchester

There must have been something about that thousandth phone call that tipped the police off to 3 cousins.
- Matt, Manchester

Good job on the arrests.

But regarding the absurd tactical uniforms? Yeah, I'm not laughing with you, I'm laughing at you.
- Rich, Manchester

That place has been a known drug den for years. Apparently MPD and city officials needed a little good press so they decided this was a good time to conduct a raid- are elections coming around or something?
- Kate, Manchester

Residents of Manchester need to put pressure on our law makers and court system to make the punishment harder. These people are making tens of thousands of dollars selling drugs and they only get a minor fine, and are released on "good behavior for a year" Give me a break. The judges need to wake up and realize they are causing this problem.
- Jim G., Manchester

Carl Bussjaeger, Lyndeborough do you want the police department to raid these places in shorts and Tee-va's? Think about it. They don't want chemicals on their bodies. They don't want disease infected people spitting on them. The fatigues are comfortable and thats what they train in. They have many pockets for items needed on the job. Maybe you should go to the police academy for a day and actually see what goes on before you write. You might not be allowed there though, seeing how you probably have a criminal record. More than likely are unemployed, and are bitter about everything in life. Get a job, learn the facts, and respect people who are working hard to protect us.
- Sally, Manchester

Should have happened at least ten years ago.
- Floyd, Manchester

"but community members need to speak up to effect change".
Chief Mara,
Why don't you live in Manchester?
ALK
- ALK, Manchester

I thought Cocaine made you not want to eat. Guess I was wrong.
- james, manchester

Someone must have been embarassed into finally taking action on that hell-hole called 3 cousins. It has been going on there for probably 10 years.

I lived a few blocks from there at one time. I used to call the police somewhat regularly and just like A Wood said, good luck. Regardless of the propaganda you read, MPD doesn't really want to take any action. First they will come up with every excuse not to take your call (go visit your local substation that is never open), then they prefer to show up to calls after all of the danger is gone and just fill out reports. I understand they can't be everywhere, but what percentage of calls do they do any more than take a report?
- JAC, Manchester

I suppose this would be good news if one were fooled by theater. Carl was right with his side point; the police know this won't accomplish anything lasting but sending out the paramilitary cops tricks the local residents into thinking something meaningful is being done. Even the comments I've read so far seem to agree that this won't change much.

Growing up in Detroit and having lived in other large cities around the country where the violence surrounding drug sales is much worse than it is here in Manchester, I've noticed that the problem only gets worse after raids like these. And it will get worse here over time, as I'm sure many of the residents in Manchester have noticed over the past few years.

Maybe it's time for a different approach.
- Mike Tiner, Manchester

I hear the lines were out the door at 3 Cousins...
- DM, Hampton

Guinta and Chief Mirror are jokes. How much did this publicity stunt by the So We Attract Attention Team cost? They should put that money into real cops not kinda cops and media stunts.
- Dallas, Manchester

Good for the residents that now have some peace and quiet.
Residents usally don't speak up because they are afraid of what would happen to them or their families. Its a code of silence out of fear. Charlestown, MA had a problem with this.
- Frank, Londonderry

This is an article that you want to start your day to, great job on the bust.
- Jerry Thomas, Manchester

Hey A Wood try listening to the MPD radio scanner online sometime at night, after 5pm, and you will absolutely see that they are a lot more than part time, and that they are extremely busy. Maybe your call of a barking dog is just not that important, or maybe you could fix the problem yourself instead of whining about it!
- Bob, Manchester, NH

I love that Guinta said "If you are dealing drugs out of your bar, we are going to shut you down." I guess anyone dealing on the streets are fine in his eyes, because they cant or wont stop these activities. Ridiculous!
- Rob, Portsmouth

Hey Tonya,you sound like a Nazi propaganda writer. I am the only one here creeped-out by this keep an eye on your neighbors thing? Sowing the seeds of mistrust is one of the first things the dictators despots etc perpetrate. Drugs are bad, but where does it end? Beautiful quiet neighborhoods where the people are so busy keeping an eye out and speed dialing the police? That is no my america. What is suspicious to me may not be to someone else. Report Crime? absolutely! I worked in that area for 25 years till 2007, it's not that bad. and rick, the pizza sucked! sandwiches ok tho.
- charlie, manchester

Thanks MPD for getting more "trash off the streets" of the Eastside.
And now I hear a person was killed in that area over night.
Glad to call the Westside my home.
- Stewart Griffins, West Manchester

Good job MPD.

But why the jungle fatigues?

These are hefty female druggies. Not the Viet Cong.
- Bill Howard, Exeter

And you might want to check that oregano jar a little more closely.
- Marc, Derry

I guess ordering pizza and coke meant something different at 3 Cousins.
- Marc, Derry

Looks like the Mayor decided to show up for a day's work and make good on one of his campaign promises - lowering crime. The only problem is that now there are reports from WMUR there was a possibly related shooting death in the neighborhood after this happened. However, that shooting is not to be confused with another non-fatal shooting in Manchester. No, that shooting was just the normal everyday kind of thing around here.
- Robert, Manchester

The Manchester Police Dept. does an outstanding job. Keep up the good work. It's not easy and the people of Manchester appreciate the hard work of our law enforcement officers.
- JJ, Manchester

ohhh my my my Karma has made her sweep.....Good for you MPD
- Stacey, Derry NH

This is respect earning, city improving, and all around great police work. Thanks to Chief Mara and all involved.
- Peter Sorrentino, Manchester

Good job MPD! It's good to know that you are out there watching. I think Mara would have a better understanding if he lived in the city so he could feel and see what residents do when the lights go out. This is a club that should have been shut down many years ago!!!
- K, Manchester

About time MPD got these low-lifes off the streets. I love the photo of "poor" Heather Monnroy, crying as she is led of of her dump of a restaurant. "Oh, my life is sooo hard" it appears she's thinking, or "why me". Well, if you associate with drug dealers and drug addicts, you go to jail. An idiot can figure that out! Time to close this drug den for good!
- James Cruzak, Manchester, NH

If the Chief lived in the city, he wouldn't need to take a walk in the neighborhoods with people who do to see what is going on. This 9 to 5 crap is for the birds. We have a part time police chief and a part time police force. We deserve better than that.

As for calling the MPD - that's funny.

If they answer the phone, and that's a big IF, you get sent to someones voice mail. If it is after 6 PM, chances are pretty good if they answer the phone, again a big IF, you'll get told "There isn't an officer available right now"

The best way to find a cop in this city is to find a construction site. Between 9 and 5 that is.
- A Wood, Manchester

Just a side issue, but why do police wear masks and woodland camouflage to raid a restaurant? And if the situation was dangerous enough that they needed combat helmets, why was it "calculated to draw a crowd"?
- Carl Bussjaeger, Lyndeborough

Great effort on the part of the mayor and the mpd. It is a sign of a great shift happening, for the better of the community on the east side. Everyone deserves to feel safe in the area they can afford to live in.
- molly K, bedford

Captain Reilly is right on. The apathy of the immediate community is evident. Unfortunately, I'm sure the "crowd" watched in amusement, rather than concern.

Even the children who pass through my neighborhood from the schools on Weston and Jewett, walking home to that area, exhibit the same disregard/disrespect of the community. They live what they learn. It's a shame and a direct reflection on their parents accetpance of anti-social behavior.
- Tim, Manchester

Oh really Tonya? What do you expect people to say? The only time something like this gets done is when a Senator, and an Alderman walk through a neighborhood with the Police Chief, (who was obviously embarrassed by the condition of the area). The majority of these people are scared... They aren't going to say anything! They have good reason to be, and I don't blame them...They aren't stupid...they know that this is all for show. When they call the cops, and they don't come.. Or maybe they get there an hour after the fact...there's a problem! The cops know what's going on over there, and has been going on for years! 3 cousins has always been a big problem...NOW they decide to do something about it.. and YOU are going to explain to people, why they shouldn't post negative comments..... You should remember something...they live in the neighborhood....they've seen the big promises before.... They know what smoke and mirrors look like.... They aren't the ones who are trying to protect an image.....They just want to be safe....and if the police chief has to have a senator, and an alderman point out the problem areas of his own city...maybe it's time to get a new Police Chief
- Dave D., Manchester

It seems like 3 Cousins Pizza has been there quite a while and has devolved into a front for multiple nefarious activities. Therefore, I have only one question: Was their Pizza any good?
- Rick Olson, Manchester

Much ado about little. As long as there is the profit, and people want money, there will be someone to replace these losers. That's the way of the world. So don't break an arm patting yourselves on the back.
- Fred, Manchester

As co-captain of Neighbors 2 Neighbors watch group for the Spruce Street area, we will continue to monitor and report any activity not related to our neighborhoods well being. As a watch group, we often at various times of the day/night do walking patrols and monitor areas where activity has been reported. The area of Three Cousins is known to many as 'Little Mexico' or 'Little Havanna'. Let's continue to work with our law enforcement agencies and lets make our neighborhoods safe again. If you don't know of the neighborhood watch group in your area, you can do a search on the MPD website or contact MPD Community Policing Unit for more information. Our group is always looking for more members or information on activity in your area. No personal information is shared and all information given is kept confidential. Thanks goes to all the men and women working together to keep our families and streets safe.
- Robert M Tarr, Manchester

People within that neighborhood need to be on alert, reporting crimes or suspicious behavior is the first step. Help get the trash off Manchester streets!!
- Deirdre, Manchester, NH

I live in this neighbor hood and I have seen nothing but craziness all summer from drug dealing to Hookers, woman and men drunk urinating outside. Dealing drugs outside that place all hours of the day. I can't believe the noise and the traffic have calmed down significantly tonight!! It's amazing. I hope and pray that the liquor liecense insnt restored because it will only start all over again. Now they'll be moving down the street to the Davigon Club or Rocko's down the road. But, I feel alittle safer now about even walking to the store. Its pretty quiet out there

TONIGHT!! God Bless and Thank you to Dave Mara and MPD, The NHSP, DEA, FRANK GUINTA AND ANYONE ELES WHO HELPED PUT A LID ON THIS ON GOING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN PROBLEM AND AN EYE SORE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YEARS AND YEARS. 15 PLUS YEARS I MIGHT ADD!!ILL FEEL SAFER ABOUT THE CHILLDREN OF MY FRIENDS NEIGHBORS!! God Bless!! Silver street resident!!
- RMD, Manchester NH

Great job MPD! To everyone who writes in negative comments like the previous article please be advised that there are THOUSANDS of Manchester residents and maybe 30 Police Officers in Manchester at any given time. I'm going to go with the majority on this one and say that if we want our city to be restored and we want our neighborhoods safe that residents really need to take some part in it. Get to know your neighbors, report illegal and/or suspicious activity, and report crimes!
- Tonya Ferrara, Manchester NH