Passamaquoddies join online fight against drug use Tribal police set up Internet site to allow fear-free crime reporting

PLEASANT POINT – The Passamaquoddy Police Department has joined other Maine communities in going online to get tips about drugs, but unlike Brewer, Calais and Dover-Foxcroft, the agency has set up its own Web site.

Passamaquoddy police Cpl. Bob Fitzsimmons said the tribe has its own Web site and server and decided to broaden it to create a page for reporting crimes. The Web site is www.wabanaki.com.

Once on site, a user can click onto “Native Americans Against Drugs.”

Fitzsimmons said that once at the site a visitor may go to a page, fill out a form and submit it.

The corporal said he got the idea from a Bangor Daily News story about the anti-drug efforts of Brewer and Calais. “I want to give credit where credit is due. I thought it was a great idea,” he said.

Fitzsimmons said the tribal police created the site to allow people to provide tips without feeling the pressure of having to identify themselves. He also said people could use the site to report more than just drug traffickers and users. “It is not just for drug crimes, it’s for all crimes. But a lot of our crimes are based upon drug-related problems,” he said.

Last month, Calais and Brewer became the first communities in Maine and only two of a handful in New England to join the New York-based Dads and Mad Moms Against Drug Dealers, a program designed to forward public tips about drug dealing and related activity to law enforcement officials. DAMMADD also accepts anonymous tips.

Barnes said he viewed the new Passamaquoddy Web site as a useful tool for his department. “Our biggest issue is trying to get people to come forward. They are scared or intimidated or they fear retaliation. This is a way for them to help, knowing that they won’t have to worry about that. It will help us build cases against people. It is taking the fear factor away from it,” he said.