By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
August 10, 2011

Twenty pounds of narcotics. Forty-eight firearms. More than $10,000 in cash.

These are only some of the items recovered during Kansas City Police Department’s three-day violent crime initiative Aug. 3-5.

Nearly 200 law enforcement officers participated in the initiative and executed 50 search warrants the highest to date.

The goal of the program is to better address violent crime in the community and those harboring violent offenders, said Major Jan Zimmerman, head of KCPD narcotics and vice.

In addition to serving search warrants and recovering illegal items, officers also canvased the area searching for individuals with information on cold case homicides, she said.

Now in its fourth year, the violent crime initiative is the most successful to date, Zimmerman said.

“A number of drug houses were impacted,” said Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters-Baker. “Neighbors feel safe again. That’s what we’re looking for is a safe community again.”

At one house in the 3700 block of Woodland, officers retrieved 640 cell phones. At another home, officers recovered $1,500 in counterfeit bills.

Law enforcement cleared 133 warrants, made 71 arrests and posted and closed five drug houses.

Of the drugs recovered, K2 (synthetic marijuana) was the most prevalent.

“It is very dangerous,” said Tim Witcig, supervisor of the Metro Meth Squad. “It’s having a detrimental effect on kids.”

According to the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), K2 is more potent than regular marijuana and is causing a number of emergency room visits. Side effects can include rapid heart rates, elevated blood pressure, severe agitation, vomiting and anxiety, CADCA said. K2 is also not regulated and can contain toxic chemicals.

A 3 gram bag of K2 sells between $25 and $35 on the street, Witcig said.