Pubdate: Wed, 09 Oct 2002
Source: Brewton Standard, The (AL)
Copyright: 2002 Brewton Standard
Contact:  http://www.brewtonstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1694
Author: Robert Blankenship, Managing Editor

TASK FORCE GRANT KEEPS AGENCY GOING

Escambia County officials charged with the task of fighting illegal drug 
activity received some good news this week as a grant was awarded that 
allows for the continuation of the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force.

Confirmation was sent to the Escambia County Commission from the Alabama 
Department of Economic and Community Affairs that a $210,000 grant would be 
awarded for the Drug Task Force program. Matching funds totalling $70,000 
has been committed by local agencies.

The grant application was submitted in July. Each year, the task force must 
reapply for the grant in order to maintain operations.

DTF Commander Keith Hutchins said the grant is all-important in the 
continued operations of the agency.

"This grant is very important. It helps pay for utilities, training, 
salaries and allows us to have a department within the county that works 
solely on drugs for another year," Hutchins said.

The task force is a combined effort of the Escambia County Sheriff's 
Office, district attorney's office, Brewton Police Department, East Brewton 
Police Department, Flomaton Police Department and the Atmore Police 
Department. Each of these organizations provide 25 percent of the salaries 
for the agents. The cooperation between them creates a single, 
multi-jurisdictional unit dedicated to the enforcement of drug laws and the 
investigation of other drug-related violent crime in Escambia County.

Hutchins said the department has had success in combating drugs.

"Having an agency working solely on drugs is a big advantage," he said. "We 
feel like we have had a lot of success."

Despite that success, Hutchins said there is still a lot of work to do.

"Drugs continue to be a growing problem. Meth labs continue to grow and 
there are growing concerns over prescription drug crimes and 'doctor 
shoppers.' With this grant, we will be able to continue our investigations 
and hopefully get these drugs off the streets," he said.

The grant will be funneled through the Escambia County Commission who 
administers the task force's funding.

"The drug task force allows us to have more officers involved in 
enforcement of drug laws and it enhances our capabilities to fight illegal 
drug activity. Without this grant, we would not have a drug task force and 
without them we would be at a great disadvantage," said Larry White, 
chairman of the Escambia County Commission.

Governor Don Seigelman, who notified White on the approval of the grant, 
said the program makes clear law enforcement's commitment to battling drugs.

"The continuation of this program sends a strong message that trafficking, 
distribution and use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated," Siegelman 
said. "I commend the work of law enforcement officers in Escambia County 
and I am pleased to support their efforts."

Over the past year, the drug task force has made 161 felony drug arrests: 
62 for crack cocaine; 54 for marijuana; 18 for crystal methamphetamine; 
three for powder cocaine and 24 other cases such as prescription and 
mushrooms. The force has seized 43 firearms.

The grant will help fund the investigation and prosecution of drug 
offenders, seizure of money and property used in drug-related crimes and 
surveillance of gangs that distribute crack cocaine, marijuana and other 
illegal drugs. The task force also trains law enforcement officers in areas 
of drug abuse and work with local agencies as often as possible.

"We try to share what knowledge we have with other officers and they help 
us. In fact, a lot of our cases come from officers on patrol. They get to 
see a lot of things that we don't. We work together and try to keep 
everyone involved," Hutchins said.

In addition to making arrests and seizing drugs, the task force also works 
to prevent drug use by hosting programs in local schools, churches and 
other organizations.

The 21st Judicial Drug Task Force is comprised of the following law 
enforcement agencies: Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Atmore Police 
Department, East Brewton Police Department, Brewton Police Department, 
Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County District Attorney's Office and 
the Escambia County Commission.

The task force receives 75 percent of its funding from a grant funded by 
the Bureau of Justice Affairs Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. 
The remainder of the funding is provided by the ECSO, BPD, APD and the 
district attorney's office.
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