News
Law enforcement investigates Hamilton for narcotics transgressions
By Ilana Schwartz ’17
November 3, 2016
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On Tuesday afternoon, the Hamilton community received a message from Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Nancy Thompson, about the discovery of controlled substances in a student residence hall, which led to an investigation by the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team. The substances were found when an employee reported a broken window in Ferguson Residence Hall, which led to the finding of the narcotics. Director of Campus Safety Francis Manfredo confirmed that there were no outside informants involved in this discovery.
According to the New York State Government website, the Community Narcotics Enforcement Team “works to arrest narcotics traffickers, confiscate their drugs and seize their illegally acquired assets, and identify and apprehend violent, predatory and serial criminals.” This team is under the Bureau of Criminal Investigations within the New York State Police.
Details about the controlled substances found are part of law enforcement’s investigation and therefore cannot be provided by administrators. However, according to Officer Manfredo, the Campus Safety Policy and Procedure Manual requires the administration to report controlled substances, other than marijuana, to the authorities. According to the Illegal Drug Policy in Hamilton’s student handbook, “other controlled substances” include methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, cocaine base, PCP, LSD, fentanyl and fentanyl analogue. The degree of punishment for possession and sale, which is dependent upon the substance, amount of that substance, age of the purchaser and prior record, could range from a one year prison sentence up to a lifetime sentence. The handbook also states that “the College will offer no protection or immunity from prosecution by police agencies” and according to Officer Manfredo and Dean Thompson, the College intends to cooperate fully with the state’s investigation.
Although the College is not permitted to release information about a student’s disciplinary record, Dean Thompson explained “the student is entitled to due process” and the College’s judicial process will take the results of the police investigation into account.
Additionally, Officer Manfredo did confirm that there have been previous narcotics investigations at Hamilton, but he would not comment on the details or outcomes of these prior investigations.
Regarding the impact that this investigation will have on Hamilton’s campus, Dean Thompson said “the safety of our students is our primary concern, so I hope this situation will serve as a reminder, not only about the legal ramifications for drug use, but also the dangerous and quite possibly tragic consequences of using drugs.” She also claimed that Hamilton survey data indicates that the use of hard drugs is limited to a very small percentage of the campus, “but any use at all can have dire consequences for the individual and the community.”
As the drug policy states in the student handbook, “Hamilton is committed to the development and maintenance of a drug-free environment…and will not tolerate the unlawful possession, use, manufacture, distribution or dispensation of a controlled substance in or on property owned or controlled by Hamilton College.”