The Feb. 17 editorial, “New anti-drug leader, new chief must not disappoint,” should be a reminder to all police, judges, and elected public officials on all levels of government to be 100 percent committed to eradicating the illegal-drug trade in Butler County.

Safe neighborhoods should be the goal everywhere in the county.

Illegal drugs damage or destroy lives and are the basis for so many crimes — stabbings, shootings, murders, burglaries, thefts, to name but a few.

Crime related to drugs costs communities, law-abiding people and businesses millions of dollars.

Butler County is fortunate that former Butler Police Chief Tim Fennell has become the new leader of the county’s Drug Task Force. He is an honest, tough, expert law enforcement officer.

Patrick Cannon, who has retired as Drug Task Force leader, deserves praise for his efforts over the years in fighting the county’s illegal-drug problem.

County residents have less to fear because of Cannon’s work.

Signs should be erected on all roads leading into Butler County and its municipalities carrying the message “Zero Tolerance to Illegal Drugs.”