The State - News from Sept. 18, 1988

Berkeley officials are considering deploying drug-sniffing dogs in public parks and imposing curfews for youngsters as old as 18 as part of a new campaign against crack cocaine dealing--a trade that police say has virtually destroyed some neighborhoods. Mayor Loni Hancock said she will soon recommend an increase in police foot patrols and ask the City Council to provide police with special radio frequencies to prevent drug dealers from eavesdropping on their conversations. Hancock said she also hopes to involve police, prosecutors, probation officers and the courts in a system to stop the stream of first-time drug offenders who are back on the streets soon after their arrests. “We have to have diversion programs and counseling,” Hancock said.