Albany County District Attorney David Soares is defending his remarks at a conference in Canada, saying that our drug laws do not work and are only supported because they provide lucrative jobs for law enforcement.

"The attempt to engage in cleaning the streets of Albany one twenty-dollar sale on the street at a time is a failed policy," Soares said.

Soares is under fire from law enforcement, city leaders, and now, the union who represents Albany's officers.

"These officers who go out and put their life on the line every day deserve more than what he said at that conference," said Albany Police Chief James Tuffey.

"Don't criticize the laws you were elected to enforce," Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings said. "Be aggressive and enforce the laws. That's what we expect from him."

"It's a kick right in the teeth for the men and women who are out there in this county and across the country fighting the war on drugs, who are fighting to give our citizens back their neighborhoods so they can enjoy them," said Chris Mesley, Albany Police Union President.

Soares is defending his comments from the International Drug Conference in Vancouver, as some in Albany call for his resignation.

"I'm hoping that some of the other law enforcement unions join us in asking Mr. Soares to take his career in another direction," Mesley said.

Soares says current laws target street-level dealers when they should go after the suppliers. And even after drawing harsh criticism, he is not apologizing for his opinion.

"I've been operating in a hostile work environment for the last year and a half, Soares said. "I'm not expecting a different environment when I return to Albany County."

Mesley says what Soares' comments really do is offer a safe harbor to drug dealers in Albany. Soares contends that is all current drug laws really do, is displace the crime, not reduce it.

Stay tuned to NEWS10 and wten.com for the latest on this developing story.