Pubdate: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV) Copyright: 2002 Charleston Daily Mail Contact: http://www.dailymail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76 Tucker LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DIFFICULT ENOUGH WITHOUT SILLY RIVALRIES Jurisdictional jealousies among law enforcement agencies are the stuff of detective novels and, too often, daily newspapers. These disputes undercut the purpose for the existence of all these agencies -- public safety. Kanawha County residents expect Kanawha County Sheriff Dave Tucker to cooperate with the county's Metro Drug Unit. It's as simple as that. Three months ago, U.S. Attorney Kasey Warner cited serious problems with the unit, saying a lack of coordination by one agency was compromising officers' safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts. It's Tucker's agency that hasn't been cooperating. "Even without a joint task force in place, operating in a concurrent jurisdiction without coordinating with all respective jurisdictions is highly improper, stupid, inefficient, lacking in professional courtesy and extremely dangerous," Warner wrote. "Lack of coordination leads to duplication of effort, premature termination of ongoing investigations and totally unacceptable danger to working undercover officers and informants." Law enforcement efforts in Kanawha County are unfortunately fragmented from the get-go -- too many little municipalities. The Metro Drug Unit is an effort to overcome that fragmentation to produce the best results possible. The unit now consists of officers from federal agencies and eight municipal police forces. Participation triggers federal funds. But Tucker pulled his officer from the unit in May, costing the department federal funds as well as its share of property confiscated in drug raids. Tucker's department says deputies have been very effective on their turf, making 22 drug-related arrests and uncovering seven meth labs. Maybe so, but it is irresponsible for Tucker to have his deputies go their own way and run their own show when that undercuts other agencies' efforts, puts people in danger, and endangers prosecutions. Taxpayers have a right to expect all the agencies they fund -- the city police departments, the sheriff's department, the State Police, the FBI, the ATF and everybody else -- to work together. The task is difficult enough without the distraction and danger posed by unprofessional rivalries. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D