TROY – Nearly 18 months after the city’s undercover drug unit was disbanded after conducting an illegal warrantless search of a drug house, the 131-member police department is preparing to reestablishment the squad to combat street-level drug use and gun-related violence.

The police force has been successful working in drug task forces with the FBI, DEA and State Police, but these joint efforts don’t necessarily deal with the low-level drug crimes that generate residents’ complaints and harm quality of life, Chief Brian Owens said Friday.

“Our plan is to restore the unit which will focus on illegal drugs and violent crimes. That’s going to give us the personnel and resources we need to investigate drug crimes in the neighborhoods,” Owens said.

The previous six-member unit – officially called the Firearms Interdiction and Narcotics Suppression Unit -- was disbanded by former Chief John Tedesco in June 2017 following the search at an Oakwood Avenue apartment where an informant said drugs were being dealt.

In October, retired Sgt. Ron Epstein pleaded guilty to official misconduct and retired Detective John A. Comitale Jr. pleaded guilty to attempted official misconduct for the incident. They received conditional discharges at sentencing, which means they will have clean records if they stay out of trouble.

The new unit will have about the same staffing levels as its predecessor – a sergeant and five officers. In the past, the unit had reported directly to the chief or deputy chief. Plans call for the unit to be overseen by either the captain commanding the detective bureau or the captain in charge of the community policing unit. Previously, Owens said the goal is to have more direct supervision over the drug unit.

“It never should have been eliminated. The city needs the guys out there. Unfortunately, the former chief eliminated the unit,” said Officer Nick Laviano, president of the Troy Police Benevolent Association, which represents the department’s patrol officers, sergeants and detectives.

Laviano said it will take time for the unit to build a base of confidential informants to help in fighting drug crimes and to secure tips on what’s happening.

The resurrected unit’s members will be selected in February and March when officers bid for their assignments for the next year under the union contract. Owens said in addition to increased oversight, the new unit members will receive increase training for their assignment.

The police department has seen an increase in locations of drug dealing around the city. DeWolf and Owens said that statistics show a drop in crime. They expressed concern over the increasing number of shots-fired reports. The drug unit in the past dealt with these reports that resulted in a reduction of cases.

"It's an important step. I'm interested in what there particulars are, I'm interest in seeing what this unit will do and what the oversight will look like," said Councilman David Bissember, who chairs the City Council's Public Safety Committee.