Pubdate: Tue, 22 Feb 2005
Source: Times Daily (Florence, AL)
Copyright: 2005 Times Daily
Contact:  http://www.timesdaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1641
Author: Russ Corey
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

COLBERT, LAUDERDALE SHERIFFS GET $50,000 TO COMBAT METH

MUSCLE SHOALS -- Sheriffs in Colbert and Lauderdale counties received 
financial assistance Monday in their fight against methamphetamine. Colbert 
County Sheriff Ronnie May and Lauderdale County Sheriff Ronnie Willis each 
left U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer's office at Northwest-Shoals Community College 
with $50,000 checks.

There is no matching money involved in the award. The sheriffs said they 
plan to use the money for items such as night vision goggles, protective 
suits, surveillance equipment and training for their officers. May said the 
meth problem in Colbert County is not as bad as it is in some Alabama 
counties. He said the county's drug task force has been fairly successful 
in following leads and making cases on meth producers. "Meth and crack 
cocaine are the two primary narcotics we keep hearing about in the Shoals 
area," May said.

May said he would use the money to purchase items that are needed in the 
course of a narcotics investigation, such as surveillance equipment, 
digital cameras, digital recording devices, protective masks and clothing. 
May said he wants to replace older equipment and purchase additional items 
so they would be available to every officer.

Cramer said Jackson County was one of the first Alabama counties to have an 
influx of crystal meth. He said meth producers like isolated, rural 
settings to set up their clandestine laboratories.

Cramer said the money given to the two departments Monday was made 
available through the Community Oriented Policing Services program. He 
hopes that additional money will eventually be available through a new 
piece of legislation dubbed the Combat Meth Act, which would provide law 
enforcement and prosecutors with additional resources. "Methamphetamine has 
become one of the biggest drug threats in the state of Alabama," Cramer 
said in a news release. "The gaining popularity of methamphetamine abuse in 
small towns and communities is directly responsible for the increase in 
thefts, violent assaults, burglaries, child abuse and neglect." Willis said 
he would use his grant money to purchase surveillance equipment, including 
night vision goggles and video equipment that would operate in the dark. He 
said the department does not have that type of equipment at its disposal. 
Willis said meth activity has been increasing in Lauderdale County. 
"Everybody's going to it because it's a cheaper drug," Willis said. "Maybe 
we can get a hold on it before it gets too big."

Cramer said fighting methamphetamine and dealing with the effects of its 
abuse, especially the effect on the children of meth addicts, will be 
costly. "We've never faced a drug issue this scary," Cramer said. Colbert 
County District Attorney Bryce Graham Jr. said his office will vigorously 
prosecute cases involving methamphetamine possession and production.

"There will not be much sympathy coming from the DA's office in these 
cases," Graham said.
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