York cops display heroin at panel

Detectives with the York City Police Department's narcotics division showed a crowd of about 40 people raw and packaged heroin during a forum about the drug Wednesday night at city hall.

"It was just different seeing the actual drug," said Vickie Glatfelter of the York chapter of Not One More, a group that raises awareness about the dangers of heroin.

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The heroin on display was from previous criminal cases the city handles, and is usually kept by the city until those cases wrap up in court, said Detective First Class Andrew Shaffer.

Glatfelter said she had never seen what the drug looks like up close, and said other parents in attendance found it valuable to know what the glassine packages look like in case their children might be using.

The forum was run by Shaffer and two other narcotics detectives, Scott Nadzom and Bart Seelig. Police kept the meeting closed to the media.

The crowd was engaged throughout the night, said Alyssa Rohrbaugh, also of Not One More.

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It was important for residents to see how the police deal with the drug, and that they too know that the issue with heroin cannot be one that they arrest their way out of, Rohrbaugh said.

"These guys are viewed by the public as, 'you guys are the cops,'" Glatfelter continued. "I think it was important for (the police) to tell their side. It gave another perspective. They do have compassion, but they also have a job to do."