Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 Source: Messenger-Inquirer (KY) Copyright: 2003 Messenger-Inquirer Contact: http://www.messenger-inquirer.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1285 JOINT DRUG TASK FORCE OFFERS INTRIGUING POSSIBILITIES Among the many positives to arise from last year's study circles forums on law enforcement is an increased effort to improve collaboration between the Daviess County Sheriff's Department and the Owensboro Police Department. Representatives from both departments are part of a 15-person task force considering a number of ideas, including a compatible 911 dispatch system and programs to make neighborhoods safer. Of all the ideas being studied, however, the one that makes the most sense - -- and offers the most intriguing possibilities -- is that of a local drug task force. The need for such a group clearly exists. The burgeoning drug problem locally has been well documented, and despite their best efforts, law enforcement officials admit they are basically treading water in the fight. Officers from the sheriff's department and OPD often share information about drug cases, and this type of cooperation has increased since John Kazlauskas took over as the city's police chief. Yet their cooperation can't match what a joint city-county drug task force would provide in terms of maximizing the limited resources and manpower available. One need only look to surrounding counties to see the impact that the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force has had in combating the drug problem. That multicounty agency conducts independent investigations and provides support to local agencies, particularly in their efforts to stop the production and distribution of methamphetamine. Daviess County, however, doesn't have a multicounty or multiagency drug task force. Its impact on the streets, however, would be just one benefit of the drug task force. The benefits would extend to breaking down barriers that have long existed not only in law enforcement, but throughout government agencies. Without placing blame on any individual or group, it's fair to say that turf protection and issues of control are the primary reasons collaboration hasn't always been where it should be. If a drug task force, which would likely be a relatively small operation, is successful, it could serve as the foundation for more ambitious collaborations down the road. Though money is certainly a major barrier, other issues holding up consolidated 911 -- power and control -- are not unlike those that would be addressed, and likely resolved, through a joint drug task force. The more those territorial lines are erased, the easier it will become to centralize emergency dispatch services and do some of the other cooperative efforts that have been discussed. That would seem to accomplish the primary goal of study circles -- bringing the public and law enforcement together in a partnership to ensure a stronger community. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens