Pubdate: Tue, 29 May 2012
Source: Columbian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2012 The Columbian Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.columbian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92

IN OUR VIEW: MINOR CHANGE IN TASK FORCE

Skamania County cuts involvement, but outstanding work will continue

Clark-Skamania drug task force loses detective, gets new name

he Clark-Skamania Drug Task Force is losing half its name. Skamania
County is pulling out of the task force. At first glance, that might
appear to be a drastic blow in the regional war against illegal drugs.

For sure, this change doesn't help. But we're drawn to three
observations about the news that appeared in Friday's Columbian.First,
the staffing reduction is not that severe. The Skamania County
Sheriff's Department decided it couldn't afford to keep its one
detective on the task force. But that still leaves the overall
operation - now known as the Clark-Vancouver Regional Drug Task Force
- - with eight sworn officers: Cmdr. Mike Cooke of the Clark County
Sheriff's Office (who supervises the unit), two sergeants and five
detectives. Also still on board are two financial investigators and
two secretaries.

The task force now will concentrate more on Clark County, but that had
pretty much been the case anyway because of the larger population base
here. Remember, too, that the regional task force consistently works
across numerous jurisdictional lines, and that record of cooperation
is commendable. Thus, Skamania County will still be kept in the loop
of regional efforts.

Second, this change is understandable as law enforcement agencies are
forced to do more with less during the economic ravages of the Great
Recession and the dreadfully slow recovery.

Skamania is not alone on the fiscal-austerity path. Consider what
happened in Josephine County (Grants Pass, Ore.), which, like
Skamania, depends on federal subsidies for timber counties. After
voters rejected a $12 million levy, the Josephine County Sheriff's
Office recently cut major crimes detectives positions, as well as the
records department. About 60 jail inmates will be released, leaving
just 30 inmates.

So, for Skamania County to decide to no longer contribute a detective
to the regional drug task force is no surprise in the harsh economic
realities of 2012.

Third, the news about the not-so-major change in staffing produces
another opportunity for citizens to notice and appreciate the
outstanding work of the Clark-Vancouver Regional Drug Task Force. Many
of its triumphs have required massive coordination of additional
staffing from numerous local and regional law enforcement agencies. No
better example exists than last year's Operation Gang Green, the
largest drug bust in Clark County history.

In just one day - Oct. 13, 2011 - 300 officers from 16 agencies
arrested 49 people, seized 6,800 marijuana plants and raided 56 local
sites.

This was all accomplished with no injuries reported during the
quick-hitting operation and no children referred to Child Protective
Services as a result of the raids. And it wasn't something thrown
together on the fly. Operation Gang Green was the result of two years
of intelligence work. It required a special mobile booking station and
special court dockets arranged to process the parade of suspects.
Other non-law enforcement agencies such as Clark Public Utilities also
had to be brought into the operation, all under strict confidentiality
standards.

Clark County would be a better place if Operation Gang Green were not
necessary. But that's unrealistic, and Clark County definitely is a
better place because the huge drug bust was so powerfully planned and
executed.

Congratulations to the Clark-Vancouver Regional Drug Task Force for
its continuing superb performances.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt