Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jan 2002
Source: Spokesman-Review (WA)
Copyright: 2002 The Spokesman-Review
Contact:  http://www.spokesmanreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/417
Author: Angie Gaddy

COPS BRUSH UP ON DRUG TRICKS

Seminar Teaches Officers How To Stay One Step Ahead Of Smugglers

WORLEY, Idaho -- Drug smugglers, beware: police know your tactics.

They know about hiding drugs in fuel tanks, airbags and dashboards. About 
smells that mask drugs' scents and signs that mean they'll need a search 
warrant for a car.

More than 85 North Idaho law enforcement officers from state, local and 
tribal agencies have spent three days in a classroom and hands-on training 
at the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Casino.

The seminar, paid for by a U.S. Department of Justice grant, helps on- 
the-street deputies and undercover drug agents keep abreast of criminal 
activities.

"The drug traffickers' goal is to always stay one step above law 
enforcement," said John Parmann, police training specialist with the Idaho 
Peace Officer Standards and Training Office. "We want to stay in front of 
them."

One way is to continue to have regional training conferences like Desert 
Snow, which continues today at the casino's events center.

Desert Snow, the name of the Arizona company run by husband-and-wife team, 
Joe and Cindy David, trains thousands of officers around the world in 
stopping major drug traffickers.

The company and conference are named after the location of the couple's 
home -- the desert -- and the street name for cocaine -- snow.

The demand is so great for the free conference that Parmann had to turn 
away dozens of officers. One officer called from as far away as Juneau, Alaska.

The key to the conference, designed by Joe David, an on-the-street cop from 
a California law enforcement agency, gives officers the opportunity to test 
their knowledge with hands-on experience.

David said he can't name his agency because his business is not connected 
with it, and his other employer asked that he not use their name for 
liability issues.

On Tuesday, teams of police moved from station to station with clipboards 
in hand -- looking at pickups, sport utility vehicles and sedans -- to mark 
signs that may make them suspicious during a traffic stop.

"We're looking for things that are not consistent with the motoring 
public," Joe David said, standing in the middle of the conference hall as 
officers studied the cars.

David declined to say what those signs were.

"We don't want to educate the bad guys," he said, smiling.

The conference is designed to help on-the-street patrol officers, who often 
make traffic stops, look for evidence that signals more serious criminal 
activity -- from drugs to explosives.

Idaho and the Inland Northwest have seen an explosion in the use of 
methamphetamine, an illegal, but easy to manufacture stimulant.

Most of the region's methamphetamine comes from homemade, or "Beavis and 
Butthead" labs, but there are increasing amounts of imported meth coming 
through central Washington.

The skills the officers learn will apply not only to major drug smugglers 
but to simple marijuana possession, Parmann said.

And officers expect arrest numbers to increase, since local officers have 
been exposed to changing -- and sometimes extravagant -- techniques used by 
criminals.

"They can conceal drugs in about any place," Parmann said. "The better we 
get, the better they must get."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens