War On Drugs? Or War On People?

Peter Christ spent 20 years as a captain on the police force in suburban Buffalo, N.Y. A founding member of LEAP, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Christ is a strong advocate of ending drug prohibition in America. Filmed at Colby College on April 3, 2007 in Room 122, Diamond Building.

From the beginning, he believed “the drug war can never be won and it is doing more harm than good.” After retiring in 1989, Peter began speaking out publicly against that War. In 1993, he became one of the first members of “ReconsiDer”, one of the original forums on drug policy, involving speakers from many diverse backgrounds.

Peter then originated the idea of creating LEAP, a drug policy reform group of current and former members of law enforcement modeled on “Vietnam Veterans Against the War“. In 2002, after four years of Peter’s preparation, LEAP finally emerged as a viable international nonprofit educational organization.

Peter speaks of the Drug War’s impact on: police/community relations; the safety of law enforcement officers and suspects; police corruption and misconduct; and the financial and human costs associated with current drug policies. These issues include the effect of drug prohibition on the judiciary, sentencing issues, prison populations and minority communities, as well as the usefulness of drug education programs in reducing drug abuse.