Pubdate: Thu, 06 Jun 2002 Source: Messenger-Inquirer (KY) Copyright: 2002 Messenger-Inquirer Contact: http://www.messenger-inquirer.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1285 AGENCIES' COOPERATION CRUCIAL IN METH FIGHT For the better part of three years, the Daviess County Sheriff's Department has been out in the lead in the fight against methamphetamine. The department works multiple cases on a daily basis, and Sheriff Keith Cain, Lt. Jeff Jones, Detective Sgt. Jim Acquisto and others give their time to speaking about the drug's devastation to just about any group who will listen. Invariably, one of the first things they'll say is that their work is far from a solo act. While law enforcement is often known for its turf battles, the cooperation among agencies in the fight against meth is both unparalleled and inspiring. Law enforcement agencies drew a couple of quick conclusions after it became clear meth was descending upon the region: This was an epidemic like none seen with any other drug; and city or county lines weren't going to serve as some sort of imaginary boundary for the problem. Cain continually notes that meth is a concern for all of western Kentucky, and it will take all of this region's law enforcement resources -- and the help of its residents -- to combat the problem. Throughout the region, the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force has fostered a cooperation among law enforcement agencies in 10 western Kentucky counties. In Daviess County, partnerships have been formed between the sheriff's department, Owensboro Police Department and the Kentucky State Police. The local judicial and prevention communities are also working with law enforcement in a number of ways. Retailers have joined in to monitor the sale of the products used to make meth. And the U.S. attorney's office has lent a hand through increased federal prosecutions. The sheriff's department has even solicited the help of the Kentucky National Guard, which has provided a number of guardsmen to aid in surveillance. The troops not only help keep on eye on potential meth-making operations, they watch over large tanks of anhydrous ammonia -- the primary ingredient that makes meth both quick and cheap to produce. Involving the military in police matters can be a risky proposition, but the partnership has proven to be nothing but a positive. The two biggest deterrents to the fight against meth have been lack of money and manpower. Staking out a meth lab can take days, even weeks, because of the clandestine nature of the operations. The sheriff's department, or any other local agency, simply doesn't have enough manpower to dedicate to proper surveillance. "We certainly would not be able to man the surveillances that we have without their (the National Guard's) assistance," Cain said. The meth epidemic in western Kentucky has grown far too large for any one agency to handle. Admittedly, the cooperation of the last few years has hardly slowed the spread of the drug. But it's scary to think where we'd be if there weren't such a commitment among local law enforcement. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth