Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jul 2004
Source: Kingman Daily Miner (AZ)
Copyright: 2004 Kingman Daily Miner
Contact:  http://www.kingmandailyminer.com/
Address: 3015 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, Arizona 86401
Fax: (928) 753-5661
Author: Caleb Soptelean
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

HIGH WHERE IT'S DRY

KINGMAN -- Kingman Police saw a 35.7 percent increase in the number of 
drug-related arrests in the first six months of 2004 compared to the same 
period last year.

There were 299 drug-related arrests in Kingman during the first six months 
of 2003, and 406 drug-related arrests through June 30, 2004. "Officers are 
encountering it (drug-related crimes) more in other types of situations," 
Kingman Police Chief Bob DeVries said. "They may be heightened to watch for 
narcotics," he said of the department's regular beat officers.

DeVries has been on the job a little over a year now after moving from 
Holland, Mich.

Kingman Police put a "flex" team on the street in mid-May in response to a 
concern expressed by residents at two recent town halls. The availability 
of drugs and its accompanying problems were major concerns raised at those 
meetings, he said.

The flex team, which consisted of four officers, was charged with working 
on street-level narcotics enforcement. It was in operation for six to seven 
weeks.

There is a "fair amount" of drug trafficking going through Kingman because 
of the north-south and east-west routes of U.S. Highway 93 and Interstate 
40, he said.

"They (flex team) were beginning to make some significant impacts," DeVries 
said. However, the team was disbanded until further notice due to staff 
shortages, i.e. vacancies and injuries.

DeVries describes the flex team as a "very viable weapon." He hopes to be 
able to put it back into use some time in the future.

When asked how bad the drug problem is in Kingman, DeVries said, "It's very 
difficult to compare it to other communities. I wouldn't say it's more 
severe than other communities. We're seeing more awareness of the problem 
in the community."

DeVries said Kingman Police are looking at creating a community-wide 
methamphetamine awareness.

"It's not just a law enforcement problem," he said. "It's a community 
problem. We need everybody to come to the table with the resources they 
have available."

Asked what percentage of its resources his department is using to fight 
drugs, DeVries said it's difficult to answer. "Indirectly, 100 percent (of 
our) thrust is focused on drugs and property crimes."

DeVries has emphasized continuing the community-policing model that was 
begun by his predecessor, Larry Butler. Community policing involves 
assigning a group of officers to work a specific community.

Unfortunately, DeVries said he's not aware of any "success" stories when it 
comes to fighting drugs. "There's not one that jumps right out," he said. 
"We're looking at anything and everything and trying to piece one together 
that works for Kingman."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager