Expanded Operation Granite Hammer Anti-Drug Funding Approved

CONCORD, NH – State representatives and Senators today approved $1.5 million in grant funding for specialized police actions promoting heroin and opioid enforcement measures that have plagued the state of New Hampshire.

Operation Granite Hammer was a joint effort started last year between state police and Manchester Police to crack down on drug dealers. The program started with a small grant to pay for increased cost of staffing the extra efforts. Law enforcement officials and most politicians believed the effort was a success based on the 12 to 15 arrest sweeps conducted by Queen City police: more than 90 arrests and nearly 25,000 doses of heroin taken off the streets of the state’s largest city. Some libertarians – including decriminalization and legalization supporters – believed that money should be spent in other ways or not at all.

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The original provisions to expand the program to the entire state were rejected recently due to amendments not connected to the grant funding being added to the bills. 

However, leaders on both sides of the aisle called for a joint-session to continue debating the issue in an effort to get the grants approved, with a number of local and regional politicians calling for the funds to be approved, which happened on June 16, 2016. 

At the same time, a number of Granite State politicians have come up with their own plans to fight the heroin crisis. Officials in Washington have also acted, approving about $1 billion in new funding. 

Reaction

Politicians from both side of the aisle quickly commended today’s vote in press statements.

“The expansion of Granite Hammer is essential to supporting local communities as they continue to combat the fentanyl, heroin & opiate epidemic,” said Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas, who is also running for the Republican nomination. “This program has saved lives in Manchester and it is sending a loud and clear message that New Hampshire law enforcement agencies will have the resources to crack down on drug dealers.”

Colin Van Ostern, a Democrat running for governor who also serves on the Executive Council, applauded the vote as a step in the right direction.

“We cannot cut any corners or leave any stone unturned in the fight against the heroin and opioid epidemic,” he said. New Hampshire law enforcement must have the resources they need to fight this crisis and the expansion of Operation Granite Hammer is an important step in the right direction.”

Chris Sununu, another Executive Councilor, and a Republican candidate for governor agreed.

"I want to congratulate the House and Senate on its approval of funding for Operation Granite Hammer – an important program that has helped to provide local communities across New Hampshire with the resources they need to effectively combat the drug epidemic,” he said. “Addressing complex issues like this crisis requires bold, collaborative leadership and today, in passing this bill, the House and Senate expressed just that.”

Senate Minority Leader Jeff Woodburn, D-Dalton, said that the vote "righted a wrong" and added, "Combating the heroin and opioid crisis requires us to work together and I thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for coming together across party lines to take action on the Granite Hammer legislation, something that was originally proposed in Governor Hassan’s legislative package last fall."

NH Patch will update this post as more information and reaction becomes available.