Should Drug-Free School Zones Be Shrunk?

BOSTON (CBS) - There is a move in Massachusetts to shrink the drug-free school zones from 1,000 feet to 100 feet.

That's what Governor Deval Patrick is proposing as he continues to wrestle with a $1.2 billion budget deficit.

Patrick said his proposal would save money by keeping lower-level drug offenders out of prison and free up space for violent criminals.

Northborough Police Chief Mark Leahy, president of the Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association, is against changing the law.

"I really think we need to be far less concerned about our drug dealers than we do about our kids, our schools and about the good, decent, hardworking people that don't want any of this in their neighborhoods," he told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Friday.

Leahy talks to WBZ NewsRadio 1030 producer Jon Maclean

Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis says he's encouraged by the proposal because it indicates that the governor is focusing on imprisoning violent offenders.

"I'm not here to protect the drug dealers, but I do have a very serious concern about violence in the state of Massachusetts and, quite frankly, we need to concentrate on people who are using firearms and weapons in the commission of crimes and prioritize those crimes."

Davis talks to WBZ NewsRadio 1030 producer Jon Maclean

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