Pubdate: Wed, 15 May 2002
Source: Montgomery Advertiser (AL)
Copyright: 2002sThe Advertiser Co.
Contact:  http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1088
Author: Neil Probst

REWARD OFFERED IN DRUG WAR

The Montgomery Police Department wants help in battling drug trafficking in 
the city.

Starting Monday, Mayor Bobby Bright has authorized the city to offer a 
standing $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction 
of any major drug dealer in Montgomery.

"If you look at a large majority of the murders, assaults, thefts and other 
crimes like that, you find that the underlying cause is going to be 
drug-related," said Lt. Huey Thornton, spokesman for the Montgomery Police 
Department.

Along with offering the monetary award, the department requests active 
involvement from interested participants, who will serve with undercover 
narcotics detectives.

Still, Thornton said participating in a drug deal is a last resort and that 
informants already have safely aided the department.

"Any time we deal with informants, it's a controlled situation," he said.

He also added that if a participant becomes uncomfortable, he or she is 
always free to choose not to participate.

In Montgomery last year, the Police Department dealt with hundreds of drug 
cases.

The department recorded totals of 131 reports of felony distribution of 
controlled substances, 216 reports of felony possession, and 267 reports of 
misdemeanor possession.

The most abundantly used controlled substance, according to the 
department's annual report, is marijuana, followed by crack cocaine.

Anyone interested in taking part in the program should contact the 
department's Narcotics Bureau at 241-4700.

The department's detective division commander will determine if a case is 
large enough to merit the presentation of a reward.
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