Amid opioid crisis, Philly suburb seeks to 'push out the pusher'

New police campaign targets drug dealers in Bucks County

Signs like those shown above are part of a new campaign to encourage Bucks County residents to provide information on drug dealers to police.
Newtown Township Police Department/Courtesy

Officials and residents from Bucks County hope to put drug dealers in the hot seat with signs that urge everyone to "push out the pusher."

Bucks County Crime Stoppers made the signs available upon request through its website this week.

The campaign is the latest to be launched in response to the opioid crisis.

A member of Bucks County Crime Stoppers, Melanie Bidlingmaier, told 6ABC on Monday that the signs are in demand.

"The reaction has been great," she said. "Once someone puts it up, a couple days later, I'm getting an email from their next door neighbor, 'I would like a yard sign.'"

Bucks County District Attorney told the station that he'd like the signs to pepper the county.

"I want the community to say we're sick and tired of it and we're not going to take it anymore," Weintraub said.

The signs will be handed out during various National Night Out events in Bucks County, according to 6ABC.

Tipsters with information on an alleged drug dealer can call 215-345-3784 or text the word "BUCKSDRUGTIPS" to TIP411. Tips can also be emailed to drugtips@co.bucks.pa.us.

If the information leads to an arrest and a conviction, tips can lead to an award up to $5,000, officials say.

Philadelphia led the state in opioid deaths last year with 906, while Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware counties were also among the areas hit hardest in 2016, state numbers show.