Pubdate: Tue, 06 Nov 2001 Source: Flint Journal (MI) Copyright: 2001 Flint Journal Contact: http://www.flintjournal.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/836 RIFT BETWEEN DRUG UNITS MAY REQUIRE A REFEREE The drug war in Genesee County has developed into a public relations battle between Sheriff Robert J. Pickell and the Flint Area Narcotics Group over whether the sheriff's new drug team is a help or hindrance in combating narcotics trafficking. The best answer is that it's too early to tell, but eventually the public needs to know for sure so our leaders can make the best use of law enforcement resources. That would require independent analysis, which likely will be hard to come by in this political atmosphere. Pickell has much riding on his decision to withdraw his department's participation in FANG, the long-established, state-police-led consortium of local police agencies. In the year's first nine months, his four-member unit has bagged 16 upper-level drug dealers and seized $639,000 in narcotics. The much-larger FANG in the same period has arrested 24 of the bigger dealers and confiscated $2.6 million in illegal drugs. The only conclusion to be drawn from the numbers is that both agencies have been bad news for the bad guys, as arrests are more than double those in roughly the same period last year. Does that mean the competition has been good? FANG's leadership implies no, complaining of a difficult working relationship between the two units. The sheriff counters that his bureaucratic-free machine is doing the job he promised in bringing down the big-time dealers. The public could tolerate this tit-for-tat spat if all that was at stake were bruised egos. But who knows where this rift will lead? What happens next year if both compete for the same federal/state grant money that funds drug enforcement agencies? Will it be survival of the fittest? Perhaps it would be best if the county's wiser heads involved themselves in this matter before it becomes a mess. County Board Chairman Richard A. Hammel seemed to be hinting at that when he suggested the county and FANG leaders meet to discuss sharing information and coordinating drug-fighting resources. Amen to that. An honest broker is needed and the sooner the better. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth