The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office had reported the arrest of a Liverpool man following a traffic stop where deputies discovered 16 packets of heroin on him.

The sheriff’s office reports on at about 1:20 p.m. on Monday, a sheriff’s deputy assigned to the “No Empty Chair” campaign, a teen driving safety education and enforcement campaign funded by the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, observed a Chevy pickup truck speeding through a school zone on Old Court Street.

As the deputy proceeded to stop the pickup truck, the driver continued northbound on Old Court Street where he failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection with Route 298. The driver, who eventually stopped, was identified as Jamie Wilkins, 47, of Liverpool. Subsequent investigation revealed that Wilkins was in possession of 16 packets of heroin. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and was issued traffic tickets for speeding in a school zone and for failing to stop for a stop sign.

Deputies say Monday was the first day to the week long campaign, which began with targeting speeders in school zones. On Tuesday, the focus is on use of seat belts and child restraints. Wednesday, its cell phone use and texting while driving. Thursday’s target is operation safe stop and Friday’s target is underage drinking and impaired driving.

Each year, thousands of high school students across New York State look forward to attending their prom and graduation ceremony. For parents, siblings, educators and the community, these memorable moments become meaningless when a teen dies in a car crash. Regrettably, this scenario happens all too often and law enforcement is tasked with making the difficult “knock on the door”. In an effort to reduce these tragedies, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office continues to participate in the multi-agency traffic safety campaign “No Empty Chair”.

The “No Empty Chair” symbolizes the missing high school senior on graduation day.