Pubdate: Wed, 29 May 2002
Source: Commercial Appeal (TN)
Copyright: 2002 The Commercial Appeal
Contact:  http://www.gomemphis.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95
Author: Bartholomew Sullivan

BUDGET SLASH SPELLS END OF 'BLACK EYE' DRUG FORCE

MARION, Ark. - Calling it an embarrassment and a "black eye,'' the 
Crittenden County Quorum Court debated disbanding the county's drug 
task force Tuesday, then voted instead to cut off more than half its 
annual budget.

The 10-0 vote will have the practical effect of ending the sheriff's 
department's controversial interstate interdiction effort by the end 
of June.

The sheriff's drug task force is separate from one operated by the 
West Memphis Police Department. The FBI is investigating both to see 
if officers have been skimming some of the money confiscated from 
vehicles they stop on the Crittenden County interstates.

Three West Memphis police officers were fired last year for violating 
policies regarding seized cash, including two who were caught in FBI 
stings. No one has been charged, and U.S. Atty. H. E. 'Bud' Cummins 
has declined comment on the ongoing probe.

Sheriff Dick Busby said shortly after Tuesday's vote that he assumed 
the county's program would end without the continued funding for 
deputies' salaries. "I don't think they'll work for nothing,'' he 
said.

The overall Crittenden County drug interdiction effort, including the 
West Memphis Police Department's caseload, has resulted in cash 
seizures of more than $5.4 million in the past 2d years, or slightly 
more than half of all the cash seized statewide during that period.

Crittenden County government received $551,211 in drug forfeiture 
money last year, records show.

On a motion from Justice of the Peace Vickie Robertson, whose 
position is equivalent to a county commissioner's, the Quorum Court 
voted to cut appropriated funds for the task force from $488,811 to 
$210,000 for the fiscal year that's already nearly half over.

County Treasurer Larry Miller said the vote effectively "eliminates 
the program . . . eliminates the jobs.'' Miller said he would talk to 
Busby to make necessary adjustments to pay vacation hours and other 
expenses before the program shuts down.

The sheriff's drug task force is overseen by a supervising sheriff's 
deputy while two deputies work the interstate. Another deputy 
associated with the interdiction programrecently left the department 
for another job.

The compromise motion Tuesday passed following a debate on a motion 
by Justice Vera Simonetti to disband the task force "as of today.''

Simonetti said newspaper stories about the federal probe reflected 
badly on local law enforcement.

"I don't want to be a party to it,'' she said. "This is unfair to the 
people of this county. It's embarrassing.''

Justice L. D. Callan agreed. "We are getting an awful bad black eye,'' he said.

Although Simonetti's motion got the required second from Robertson, 
it was later withdrawn in favor of the funding cut-off. A formal 
ordinance for what Miller called "an appropriation amendment in 
reverse'' will be considered at the June meeting.

Justice Jim Turner said that he had been disappointed with the task 
force's compliance with requests from the Quorum Court for reports of 
confiscated cash and property.

Pros. Atty. Brent Davis in Jonesboro said he wasn't familiar with the 
court's vote Tuesday and declined comment on its financial impact.
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