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