Pubdate: Wed, 06 Mar 2002 Source: Hays Daily News, The (KS) Copyright: 2002 Hays Daily News Contact: http://www.dailynews.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1756 Author: Jan Katz Ackerman CITIES, COUNTIES FORM DRUG TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE COLBY - A group of cities and counties intent on fighting drug trafficking in northwest Kansas have banded together and reactivated the Quad-County Task Force. The task force is comprised of Thomas, Sherman, Logan, Gove and Wallace counties along with the city police departments of Oakley, Colby and Goodland. Originally formed in 1991, the force is funded by a federal grant designed to enable a multijurisdictional approach to drug enforcement. It disbanded in 1996 due to limited financial resources. The task force was reactivated in 2000 through funding from a second grant. One of the first priorities of the new task force was to hire a coordinator. Doug Murphy, a 27-year law enforcement veteran, assumed that duty in October 2000. "The task force is important because drug traffickers know no jurisdictional boundaries. The small agencies commonly found in northwest Kansas have limited resources, and by working together they are able to share resources and information in order to better investigate and combat drug trafficking and manufacturing," Murphy said. The task force, based in Colby, is managed by a board comprised of law enforcement agency heads from each member city and county. It is under the supervision of Thomas County Undersheriff Mike Baughn. The board includes Tom Jones, Thomas County; Doug Whitson, Sherman County; Allan Weber, Gove County; Pat Parson, Logan County; Larry Townsend, Wallace County; Randy Jones, Colby; Danny Shanks, Oakley; and Ray Smee, Goodland. "To date, a number of undercover operations have been conducted in the task force's catchment area, which have resulted in numerous search warrants being executed and numerous persons being arrested and charged with violations of the Kansas Controlled Substances Act," Murphy said. "In addition, there are ongoing investigations being conducted with future arrests and search warrants expected." He said there has been a dramatic increase in the number of methemphetamine labs in northwest Kansas. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation recently received a grant that enabled it to assign a full-time undercover narcotics agent to northwest Kansas. That person will work closely with the task force and other agencies. "While the Kansas Highway Patrol and Thomas County Sheriff's Office has been successful in highway interdictions, which have resulted in the seizure of large amounts of drugs, cash and vehicles used to transport drugs across the country, the Quad-County Task Force focuses on the local dealers and manufacturers," Murphy explained. "As a result, the task force is not able to seize the large amounts of drugs or cash. However, the force's efforts result in a more immediate impact on the local drug problem," he said. The task force is funded by a four-year grant requiring a local match from member agencies, usually part of their annual budgets. Each year, the local match increases. Seized assets are another source of funding, but those are never certain, Murphy said. "As a result, task forces such as Quad-County have to seek out alternative funding sources - such as contributions from area businesses and persons who wish to help combat the detrimental effect of drug abuse in their communities - to continue with their drug enforcement efforts," he said. Murphy maintains that task forces simply are another weapon in the war against drugs, and he hopes residents agree. "Drug enforcement on the local level is important in providing healthy communities, because drug abuse results in higher insurance premiums and decreased productivity for businesses whose employees are affected by drug abuse. Additionally, personal income that would normally be used to purchase goods and services from local merchants is, instead, spent on drugs to maintain the abuser's habit. "Local taxpayers are additionally affected through higher taxes to fund treatment, welfare and other social programs to help the abuser and his or her family due to the lack of personal funds. And, more seriously, the children and dependents of local drug abusers suffer both academically and socially from the drug abuse of their parents or, even more importantly, usually see drug abuse as an acceptable behavior because of their exposure to it through their parents and, as a result, become abusers themselves," he said. Anyone with information about drug dealers or manufacturers within the task force area can call the same number or local authorities. Those with information that would assist law enforcement outside the area can call the KBI at (800) KSCRIME or a local agency. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh