That could be the theme for Marysville Police Department’s NITE squad. The officers make life uncomfortable for drug users and dealers. A large majority of crimes in town happen because of drug addiction. The officers put relentless pressure on them to leave town.

A recent 2 1/2-hour ride-along on a Thursday night showed that to be true. In that short time:

•Dozens of drug needles were found in a vehicle impounded on 88th because someone was selling drugs out of it.

•A man was arrested after a chase near the movie theaters because of car prowls, probably to get items to sell for drugs.

•Police told five women and a man at a known drug house that their neighbors are complaining, and it’s time for them to get out of town.

•Police talked to a group drinking beer who said they were ready to take things into their own hands because of a drug house next door.

•A woman arrested on a domestic violence warrant was searched at the jail, and drug paraphernalia found hidden in her bra.

Police also mentioned other recent cases:

•Earlier that day they caught a prolific car thief after a two-hour chase with a tracking dog.

•The day before, a mom with heroin in her purse was at a middle school. When confronted by police because of a warrant, she tossed the purse to her kids and told them to take it and run home. Police struggled with the mom and kids right in front of students arriving for school.

•Earlier that week a man with a hand partially blown off from fireworks was able to break free from his handcuffs, kick out a window in a patrol car and assault an officer.

A little after 8 p.m.

Sgt. Joby Johnson and Officer Chris Farley searched a car in the impound lot. A judge signed a warrant because police suspected drugs were being sold out of it.

“It was nonstop action,” Johnson said.

Farley found lots of needles. Officer Michael Young joined them and found heroin in a metal Snickers container. They found a drug ledger, a digital scale and other drug paraphernalia.

“We’ll make it tough for you in Marysville,” Johnson said. Even if police find just a piece of foil, “We’ll take your car, and you’ll have to pay for towing.”

Anything to make it tough on them. “We’ll make any impact we can,” Johnson said.

8:20 p.m.

Young runs to his car and speeds down State Avenue toward the movie theaters, weaving in and out of traffic. He arrives to see a suspect face down on the ground being cuffed. The man had tried to car prowl two vehicles. When officers arrived he was chased through a nearby store, but then apprehended as police and their vehicles had him surrounded. Young said he was likely prowling for drug money.

8:40 p.m.

Young drives by a known drug house. Lights are out. It is pitch black. There are a dozen cars parked on the lawn and driveway. Nothing to respond to so he can only drive on.

8:45 p.m.

Young drives to another known drug house where a woman was in the road in her bare feet. She lies about not staying there, even though police had seen her two days earlier. Officers call for others in the house to come out. Slowly they do, one my one. Police have them sit on the steps, and talking to them catch them in one lie after another.

Police explain that the man, in his 50s, is a longtime drug dealer. The women, in their 20s, are his “harem” who steal things in exchange for drugs. Police say the man once sold drugs to a 13-year-old. “That’s rude” to bring that up, the druggie said.

One of the women has a 12-year-old kid. “How’d you like it if he sold drugs to your kid?” an officer asked.

Weeping, she said she just wanted to go home to Kitsap County.

“We don’t want you here,” Officer James Tolbert said. He then went off on a diatribe he hoped they would understand.

“You don’t like having to sleep with your stuff wrapped around you because you’re afraid it’s going to be stolen,” he said. “So how do you think these neighbors feel? When you steal from the neighbors they complain. Then the mayor sends five guys dressed in black here, and we make it your problem.”

Almost on cue, a neighbor came up. He planned to tell the druggies, “We don’t want you here.” He said the night before he watched them sell drugs on their front porch.

“He was fed up,” Tolbert said.

Police explained to all of them that the water there was just shut off, and that the city, under a new law, would soon be boarding up the house.

About 9:15 p.m.

Young drives by a drug house where police had been earlier. Neighbors were congregated in the street, drinking beer. “What can we do?” one asked. “What do you want to do, shoot them?” an officer responded. “Yea,” was the answer.

The neighbor said the “tweakers” were going to nearby houses asking for water because theirs had been turned off. One homeowner allowed them to do it, figuring they would just steal it anyway.

Police told the neighbors not to be vigilantes, but to call them, and the tweakers would be arrested for trespassing.

9:30 p.m.

Young drives by another known drug house. Again, all lights in the house are out, and 10 cars are parked in the street. Nothing to respond to so he just has to drive by.

9:35 p.m.

Young spots a young woman and two young men walking in the street. He checks their identification and finds a warrant was issued for the woman in a domestic violence case. She apparently missed a court date. Her boyfriend said he would be by later to bail her out.

Young took her to jail, and in the elevator she thanked him for being so nice. He thanked her for being nice, too.

As he was leaving the jail he got called back. “They must have found something,” Young said.

They had. As she was searched, the female custody officer found heroin paraphernalia in her bra.

Young, obviously disappointed, said to the suspect, “You lied to me about being clean for a month.”

10:15 p.m.

Back in the office, Young writes a report on the arrest. He was going to follow up on a controlled buy, but it didn’t go off. “Doper time,” he called it.

“There’s no loyalty among them” (drug users).

Young explained that the drug world is full of lies, lies and more lies. He said he does feel sorry for some of them, but it’s their choice.

He said he likes to go after the dealers. Any little thing to pester them, give them a bad time, so they will leave.

He said drug users often get started using painkillers. Oxycontin is so expensive, and heroin is so cheap. Users think they need it to feel better. Many try treatment, but for some it doesn’t stick.

He said they steal to feed their addiction. Some steal from stores, return the stuff for gift cards, then sell those cards for 70 cents on the dollar.

Young said heroin doesn’t discriminate by wealth, sex, nationality, religion… It crosses all boundaries.

10:30 p.m.

Team members said it actually was a slow night. It is a lot worse when it’s hot, they said.

“Pouring down rain is the only thing that seems to hamper activity,” Johnson said.

He said neighbors are loving that drug houses are being boarded up. They come up and “want to hug” us, he said.

He appreciates the camaraderie of the team. They have each other’s backs.

“I love the job. I love what we do,” Johnson said.

Chief praises team

Police Chief Rick Smith credits the NITE team with being one of the reasons crime is down around 20 percent the past few years.

“They have no tolerance. Their advice is to change your ways or get out of town,” Smith said.

The NITE team works with patrol officers and the Regional Property Crimes Unit to build cases. MPD hires police who want to make things happen and have tough skin. “You can’t take things personally out there,” Smith said.

As for what’s next, the chief said the community needs to work together on the addiction piece. “Get to the root of it,” he said of the drug issue.

He said many groups are working independently, but a focused effort needs to be made. He said it can’t be done just by public agencies. Private businesses involving social services need to be involved. “We need to find the right formula to address the issue,” Smith said.

What’s NITE?

N Neighborhood Livability Issues

I Intelligence/Surveillance/Investigations

T Target/Arrest Offenders

E Education

NITE statistics

Seized 6,433 grams of heroin valued at $643,300.

Seized 2,305 grams of meth valued at $138,300.

Seized 2,491 pills and 20 grams of cocaine.

Also arrested 242 people on warrants, recovered 17 stolen vehicles, made recoveries on 15 stolen property cases and served 162 warrants.