Amid a series of muggings and sexual assaults in downtown Madison this year, police have continued to make street-level drug dealing a top enforcement priority.
Madison Police Department Sgt. Chris Boyd oversaw the arrest of several suspected dealers last month outside Riley's. She said street-level drug activity has been happening for years in some of downtown's busiest areas.
""People can exchange drugs on State Street and it doesn't get noticed because there are so many people,"" Boyd said.
According to a report by the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force, the percentage of drug charges out of all general charges has increased by over 10 percent since 2004.
Boyd said recent downtown burglaries are a direct result of addicts looking to fund their habits. Although there is limited evidence of a connection between laptop theft and drug use, a husband and wife addicted to heroin robbed nine different banks earlier this year to pay for their craving before finally being arrested.
Although crack is the most common hard drug sold on Madison streets, heroin is also appearing with increasing regularity. Central District Police Commander Mary Schauf, who oversees downtown operations, pointed to the highly addictive drug as a cause for concern.
""It's a scary thing to have heroin making a comeback on the streets mainly because an overdose can easily cause death,"" she said.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said police have been making extra efforts in the past few weeks to prevent downtown drug dealing.
""It's not really a new problem,"" Verveer said. ""It's just always there.""
Verveer said he was especially concerned about Madison's homeless, who are often addicted to crack, heroin or both and are easy targets for sellers.
""Low level street transactions of drugs such as crack cocaine are not uncommon,"" he said. ""Many apartments on West Gilman are known to house congregations of drug dealers.""
George Twigg, spokesperson for the Mayor, says that the city takes the drug problem very seriously. However, the city and the police have continued to concentrate their efforts on the supply side of the issue, rarely working with the addicts create demand.
""The police view it as part of their priority to take care of the problem,"" Twigg said. ""The mayor is concerned with prevention and the law enforcement aspect.""
He added that earlier this year the mayor created a joint anti-gang taskforce between the city and the county.
A homeless man in downtown Madison, who preferred to be called ""Joe,"" said he is solicited all the time for drugs. He is 37 years old and has been homeless in Madison on and off for 10 years.
""I'm a recovering cocaine addict,"" Joe said. ""I was an addict for quite a few years and I've been recovering for about five months.""
Joe said he never robbed or stole for his habit, but he also said that it isn't unheard of. As a result, police and city officials often view Madison's poorest citizens with suspicion.
""Most homeless people are either drug addicts or alcoholics,"" Joe said.
