Members of the Kanawha County Commission voted to support the county school board's drug testing policy even though the decision might land them in court. County Commissioners Kent Carper, Dave Hardy and Hoppy Shores also voted to investigate expanding their own drug testing policy to include more county employees. The action came at a regular meeting of the County Commission on Thursday. Members of the American Federation of Teachers have challenged the school board's widespread drug testing policy in court. County officials decided to back the school board because they fear, if the school board's policy is found unconstitutional, it will radically affect the county's policy, as well. [continues 432 words]
Saving Money Cannot Be Done By Risking The Public's Safety New projections show that West Virginia's prison population is increasing and a new penitentiary will be needed sooner rather than later. At a cost of $200 million to build. A summit on public safety earlier this month suggested that a special commission be assembled for the purpose of keeping more people out of prison. That is a worthy goal. Every state program should be careful with its resources, But the people assigned to this task force must bear in mind that the primary goal of the corrections system is to protect the public's safety. [continues 210 words]
The Kanawha County Commission may join forces with the county school system in a legal fray and begin drug testing more, if not most, of its employees. Its president, Kent Carper, wants the commission to expand its random drug-testing policy to include employees who handle money and records or deal with the public. This could include accountants, clerical workers and housing inspectors. The commission already randomly tests "safety sensitive" county employees who operate vehicles and equipment or have firearms. Those categories include about 170 of its 417 employees. [continues 719 words]
Union Files Suit In Kanawha Circuit Court CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County school board members decided to enter a long legal battle over employee drug testing because of several high-profile drug incidents and their own political calculations, according to interviews with board members who support the policy. The board decided last week to go ahead with its plan to randomly drug test teachers and other school employees despite warnings of a nasty, costly series of legal actions that started today. [continues 1516 words]
Members Anticipate Long Battle, But Believe Victory Could Change National Thinking CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Kanawha County school board realizes it may be headed for a costly legal battle over teacher drug testing, but it hopes to emerge with a victory that could change legal thinking around the country. The five-member board on Thursday evening decided to go ahead with plans to randomly drug test teachers. Both supporters and opponents of the plan to drug test nearly a quarter of school employees a year starting in January expect the program to be promptly halted by a judge. [continues 435 words]
KEYSER - Student athletes and others who participate in certain extracurricular activities in Mineral County may be subject to random drug testing if the Mineral County Board of Education approves a policy they are currently considering. The members are currently examining several policies that have been implemented by other counties in West Virginia, and after a lengthy discussion Tuesday evening directed Superintendent Skip Hackworth to draft a proposed policy for their consideration. Among the items they are considering are allowing parents to "opt in" their students for drug testing even if they are not currently playing sports, and extending the drug testing policy to include any students participating in extra-curricular activities in which they might be involved in interscholastic competition. [continues 652 words]
Students Warned To Be Wary Of Drugs And Those Who Sell Them MONONGAH - Some special visitors came to Monongah Elementary Tuesday to encourage students to stay off drugs. West Virginia State Police Trooper John McDougal, Marion County Sheriff's Deputy Sgt. Todd Cole and Fairmont Police Cpl. Donnie Neal, the city DARE officer, spoke to students Tuesday afternoon. It's all part of this week's drug-awareness activities. This week is red-ribbon drug awareness week. Activities are held all week long in schools all over Marion County and the state to warn children of the dangers of drug abuse. [continues 160 words]
With this policy, the Kanawha County school board is declaring a warrant against every employee in the county school system as having probable cause for drug use. In the heart of the state born out of a war fought for state and civil rights, the Kanawha County Board of Education ironically seeks to strip its employees of fundamental rights afforded in the West Virginia Constitution: "The rights of the citizens to be secure in their houses, persons, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. No warrant shall issue except upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to be searched, or the person or thing to be seized." (Article 3, section 6) [continues 548 words]
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Over objections that it could damage teacher moral and drag the county into a costly legal battle, the Kanawha County school board has voted to randomly test teachers for drugs. In the 4-1 vote, the board looked to the corporate world and decided its pre-employment drug screenings and its suspicion-based testing for all employees was not enough. Board member Bill Raglin said he didn't understand why the education community "thinks they're so different" from companies that currently test employees at random like his former employer, the Bayer plant in Institute. [continues 262 words]
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County has received money from the federal government to start a drug court. A $334,480 grant was issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, according to a news release Wednesday from the Kanawha County Commission. The drug court will offer rehabilitative, counseling and job placement services for adult nonviolent offenders facing drug-related charges. "I am excited to take the lead on this program as Chief Judge for Kanawha County and start a new program that will assist nonviolent offenders with rehabilitation and becoming productive citizens, while keeping them out of the overpopulated regional jail," said Chief Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey Walker. [continues 135 words]
The new random drug testing program for Cabell County schools is supported by most students. The program was implemented for the 2008-2009 school year. Students who participate in athletics or purchase a parking pass at Cabell Midland and Huntington high schools will be subject to random drug testing throughout the year. All parents of Cabell County high school students may volunteer their child to be drug tested for $27. "The feedback's all been positive, we really haven't had any students complain at all," Administrative Assistant for Secondary Education, Todd Alexander, said. According to Alexander, the policy was implemented due to drug problems in Cabell County. [continues 429 words]
Editor: Your editorial "Overcrowded Prison System" (July 8) prompts, once again, a call for common sense: repeal drug prohibition. Ironically, it appeared on the same page as Charley Reese's column (http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese384.html) headlined "Legal System Is Perverted." Though the case he cited was not related to drug policy, Mr. Reese is, nevertheless, a most articulate and outspoken opponent of our nation's drug polices - policies which foster international crime cartels, street gangs, narco-terrorism, use by minors, clandestine meth labs, police corruption, overburdened courts, and of course, explosive growth in prison populations by inmates who are neither violent nor thieving. And, to put it lightly, the "War on Drugs" has perverted our legal system. [continues 308 words]
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Debate over drug testing students is vigorous as more county school systems in West Virginia consider the possibility. Franklin Crabtree believes random drug tests might discourage a high school student from participation in sports or other after-school activities, which could hurt their chances of getting into college. Jack Wiseman says students should face consequences when they break the rules. Anti-drug testing advocates like Crabtree, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia, say drug testing high school students poses plenty of pitfalls that area educators should consider. [continues 982 words]
Thanks for publishing the thoughtful letter "Drug war only compounds problem" on July 26. If all types of recreational drugs were re-legalized and sold in regulated, controlled and taxed business establishments for pennies per dose, our overall crime rate would decline dramatically, and our public safety would increase substantially. And, I believe that our overall hard drug usage rates would decline substantially. That's because drug dealers as we know them today would disappear for economic reasons. The first time almost all drug users use a particular drug, they don't buy it; either a friend or drug dealer gives it to them. [continues 51 words]
CHARLESTON -- "Pocket parolees," inmates left behind prison bars for various reasons after ordered released, potentially could cost West Virginia more than $2 million annually, lawmakers learned Monday. Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein acknowledged, when quizzed Monday by Sen. Shirley Love, D-Fayette, that a major problem has been the failure to provide the parole board with a home plan when an inmate becomes eligible for discharge. Rubenstein said a new policy has been imposed mandating that inmates come equipped with a home plan before a parole board considers releasing them. [continues 308 words]
Zero tolerance is part of the problem. Illegal drug users are often reluctant to seek medical attention in the event of an overdose for fear of being charged with a crime. Attempting to save the life of a friend could result in a murder charge. Overzealous drug war enforcement results in easily preventable deaths. Rehabilitation also is confounded. I think it's safe to say that turnout at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings would be rather low if alcoholism were a crime pursued with zero tolerance zeal. Eliminating the penalties associated with illicit drug use would encourage the type of honest discussion necessary to facilitate rehabilitation and save lives. Robert Sharpe Policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, DC [end]
An effort to hold dealers accountable when the illicit drugs they peddle contributes to a death was on display this week in a Cabell County case. Michelle Georgette Byars appeared in federal court this week, accused of distributing heroin leading to death. A grand jury charged her with the crime in connection with the death of her ex-husband, Patrick L. Byars, who died Sept. 23, 2007. Patrick Byars' death was among 12 deaths in Cabell County that authorities have linked to heroin since April 2007. Ten of the deaths had occurred in a few-month period starting last September. [continues 126 words]
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County school board members will seek public comment before voting on a tougher drug policy that would apply to nearly all school system employees and include random testing. "We want to be careful to do this one like we do every other one," said board member Pete Thaw. "If we fall, let's fall on merits, not technicalities." The board had unanimously passed a weaker version of the drug-testing policy earlier this year. It calls for all school system job candidates to be subject to pre-employment testing and all employees to be subject to tests for cause, when substances turn up missing, when fitness is an issue and when those on leave return to duty. [continues 410 words]
Huntington officials and West Virginia State Police continue to investigate. HUNTINGTON -- Huntington Police say the HPD Drug Unit, DEA, and West Virginia State Police were conducting a drug investigation in the 3100 block of Fifth Avenue Friday. During the investigation officers stopped a 2008 Chevy Trail Blazer driven by Christopher Lee Ratliff of Scott Depot. Police were trying to detain Ratliff when he swallowed a baggy containing suspected heroine. Ratliff immediately suffered medical distress. Upon arrival, EMS rendered aid and transported Ratliff to St. Mary's Hospital. Ratliff died a short time after his arrival. The body will be taken to the State Medical Examiner's Office. The autopsy will include toxicology testing. Officials are continuing to investigate. [end]
HUNTINGTON -- A Scott Depot man died Friday night after ingesting what was suspected to be heroin during a traffic stop. Christopher Lee Ratliff, 32, died at St. Mary's Medical Center Friday night, after he swallowed the substance while Huntington Police were in the process of arresting him, according to a release from the Huntington Police Department. Investigators with the HPD Drug Unit, Drug Enforcement Administration and the West Virginia State Police were conducting a drug investigation in the 3100 block of 5th Avenue when they stopped a 2008 Chevy Trail Blazer occupied by Ratliff. Officers were attempting to detain him when he ingested a package of suspected heroin and immediately suffered medical distress. [continues 51 words]
POINT PLEASANT - During the summer months, many gardeners are usually out tending to their gardens of vegetables or flowers. The same probably can be said about another type of crop, but this one is considered illegal - marijuana. Last week, members of the Mason County Sheriff's Department went out looking for marijuana in different areas of the county. Most of the concentration was in the Bend Area, Sheriff Scott Simms said. "We were targeting the smaller groves," Simms said. "These plants are the ones that get back into the communities and to our children." [continues 275 words]
WHEELING - If you have concerns about dilapidated buildings or drug houses in East Wheeling, members of the Holy Ground Taskforce for Hopeful City want you to help identify these properties. "We want people to come to this meeting to tell us what buildings they believe to be drug houses so we can get the police to investigate those places, and get the buildings torn down," said taskforce member Melvin Williams. Taskforce members want East Wheeling residents to express their concerns about problem buildings during an open house event at the Church of God and Saints in Christ at 12th and Byron streets from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday. [continues 291 words]
PRINCETON - When members of two Princeton neighborhoods became convinced this spring that drug dealers were living and working next door, they called the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force. For weeks, officers with the undercover unit and other Mercer County law enforcement agencies kept their eyes on the Old Beckley Road and Lower Bell Street houses in question, stopping motorists as they left and tracing potential drug-trafficking patterns. In early April, they arrested two suspects accused of a variety of drug and weapons charges. [continues 1499 words]
HUNTINGTON -- Milton Creagh found out in 1993 that telling kids to say no to drugs wasn't enough. That year, national studies showed that 77 percent of illegal drugs were used by people in the workforce, and three-quarters of those people worked full-time. What that means, Creagh told students, parents and community members during four talks Friday throughout Cabell County, is that the adults are the problem. "Some of the kids I met today (at Cabell Midland, Huntington High and Huntington Middle) have the biggest drug problems, and they've never touched the stuff," Creagh said during his final message given at City Hall on Friday night. "It's their mommy and daddy getting high." [continues 343 words]
FAIRMONT -- Undercover officers with the Three Rivers Drug Task Force seized pipes, bowls, water bongs and other items "designed to be used primarily for smoking drugs" from a Fairmont tobacco store on Tuesday, city police said. In executing a search warrant at the Smoker Friendly Store at 915 Country Club Road, the officers seized "over 75 marijuana bowls or pipes, approximately 18 water bongs, sets of digital scales, screens, rolling papers and other items," Fairmont Police Chief Mark Hayes said. "No one has been charged at this time, but arrest warrants will be obtained as the investigation continues," the chief said in a statement issued Wednesday. [continues 201 words]
30 'Violent Offenders' May Return to Wheeling WHEELING -- A decision that could result in the release of thousands of convicted crack cocaine dealers has Kevin Gessler and members of the Association of Chiefs of Police seeking the aid of U.S. Attorney Michael B. Mukasey. Ohio County Sheriff Tom Burgoyne, however, said the decision may result in more equitable sentences for drug convictions. Wheeling police Chief Gessler said Thursday at least three convicted crack dealers from Wheeling have been released. He believes they already may be returning to the area as a result of a decision by the U.S. Sentencing Commission. [continues 355 words]
William F. Buckley Jr., Nov. 24, 1925, to Feb. 27, 2008, conservative guru. A perfect example of an aristocrat. He spoke and wrote and no one knew exactly what he was talking about. Because no one could understand Buckley, the nation of conservatism has been infiltrated by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Neal Boortz, Pat Buchanan and Sean Hannity -- a rogue gallery of conservative advocates who didn't understand Buckley anymore than he understood himself. The reason I state the above: The fellows mentioned practice nothing but sensational journalism in the name of conservatism, because talk radio -- 3,000 stations -- control the airwaves. [continues 65 words]
New Drug Safer For Addiction Treatment Mental health centers across West Virginia are promoting a new treatment for painkiller addiction. The treatment program - an alternative to methadone clinics - includes counseling and the use of a relatively new medicine called Suboxone. "It prevents somebody from getting high when using an opiate drug," said Genise Lalos, director of addiction services with the Prestera Center. "It blocks the high. This is the gold standard for treating opiate addiction." Last week, Prestera and three other nonprofit behavioral health centers - Seneca Health Services of Summersville, Valley Health of Huntington and West Brook Health Centers of Parkersburg - received a $360,000 grant to promote the new treatment program over the next two years. The organizations serve 40 of West Virginia's 55 counties. [continues 795 words]
Keyser, W.Va. - Local merchants have reported that they have received telephone solicitations in the past week by an organization claiming to be collecting funds for programs such as D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) for the Keyser and surrounding areas. According to Deputy Craig A. Fraley, who is a Mineral County D.A.R.E. instructor, at this time there are no organizations or funds coming into this county for the D.A.R.E. program. All funding for the D.A.R.E. program comes from the Mineral County Board of Education or the Mineral County Drug Task Force. [continues 99 words]
The Kanawha County school board is considering a crackdown on student drug use, including the possibility of more dog patrols in schools and even student drug testing. "I think it's a bigger problem than it needs to be," member Becky Jordon said. "Our goal needs to be (for drugs to be) nonexistent. The drugs are what bring guns into our schools. I think the board needs to take a stricter stance on this." Board member Pete Thaw said, "We have a serious drug problem (in our schools)." [continues 521 words]
I read with interest the comments of Gen. Barry McCaffrey, a paid adviser to CRC Health Group, which operates a methadone clinic in Huntington, and of CRC CEO Barry Karlin published in The Herald-Dispatch on Feb. 15 urging West Virginia lawmakers to embrace methadone clinics. The information supplied is not balanced or complete. Methadone maintenance was described as being a safe and efficacious method for treatment of opioid addiction. McCaffrey stated that methadone programs "... can get many people addicted to maintain sobriety." [continues 413 words]
We do not believe that illegal drugs are a major concern in Ohio County public schools -- but even small quantities of them used and/or sold by a handful of students are not acceptable. The school system's "zero tolerance" policy for drugs is wise and, we believe, applauded by most students, parents and the public in general. Some school officials want to provide one more deterrent for students tempted to take illegal drugs to school. Their idea, particularly at Wheeling Park High School, is to have law enforcement officers go through schools periodically with drug-detecting dogs. [continues 233 words]
Law enforcement officials in and near Mansfield, Ohio, are involved in a nightmare -- one that they helped create for more than two dozen innocent people. Some of them have spent time in prison for crimes they did not commit. In 2005, police enlisted small-time drug dealer Jerrell Bray as an informant. Based in part on his tips, they arrested 26 people, charging them with drug offenses. Bray's testimony was important in convicting some of them, including a Mansfield mother who spent 16 months in prison. [continues 130 words]
WHEELING - Drug dogs soon may be walking the halls of Ohio County Schools - but not before the school system looks into the matter extensively. During a work session held by the Ohio County Board of Education on Monday, Superintendent Lawrence Miller announced the school system is in the information-gathering stage of developing a policy that would permit drug dogs to search schools. "I thought today's meeting was an excellent opportunity for colleagues, board members and the general public to interact on this very important subject," Miller said. "One of our roles as educators is to do everything we possibly can to protect our children on a daily basis. I will work through the policy, and then we will be ready to move and that will be with cooperation with the justice system as well as local law enforcement." [continues 510 words]
The Putnam County school board needs to educate itself on the downside of student drug testing. Drug testing may also compel marijuana users to switch to harder drugs to avoid testing positive. This is one of the reasons the American Academy of Pediatrics opposes student drug testing. Despite a short-lived high, marijuana is the only illegal drug that stays in the human body long enough to make urinalysis a deterrent. Marijuana's organic metabolites are fat-soluble and can linger for days. More dangerous synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and prescription narcotics are water-soluble and exit the body quickly. If you think drug users don't know this, think again. Anyone capable of running an Internet search can find out how to thwart a drug test. [continues 70 words]
Beckley Police Officers Will Now Be Subject To Random Drug Testing, Even After They Are Hired. Beckley Common Council unanimously approved the new drug testing policy for the police department during Tuesday night's meeting. The policy will go into effect as soon as Police Chief Tim Deems distributes the policy to employees, which he said would be done immediately. Deems said only new hires underwent drug testing in the past. Now, all officers, regardless of their tenure, will be randomly selected for testing. Civilian employees working in "sensitive" positions at the police department, namely the detective bureau and narcotics unit, can also be tested. [continues 190 words]
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Following the lead of neighboring Kanawha County, Putnam County School Board is inching closer to instituting a volunteer drug testing program for middle and high school students throughout the county. Sara Whitney, the facilitator for the Drug Endangered Children's Task Force for Putnam County, said. "Monday, we proposed to the School Board a program called IDEA, Independent Drug-free Education and Awareness. It is a voluntary random drug testing service that parents can sign their children up for through their child's school. [continues 432 words]
Cases investigated by Beckley police involving 49 people, 25 of them facing drug charges, are expected to be presented to a Raleigh County grand jury this coming week. "This sends a message that we're tough on crime and on drug crime," Police Chief Tim Deems said. "Our guys are doing a great job. I would put our detectives up against anyone." Even more city drug suspects are facing federal indictments, and there are several other cases narcotics investigators continue to actively work, Detective Sgt. Jason McDaniel said. [continues 481 words]
But Kanawha's New Venture Must Prove Effective And Inexpensive KANAWHA Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey Walker is heading efforts to establish a drug court by July 1. Such a court would handle adults charged with non-violent drug crimes. In his State of the State speech, Gov. Joe Manchin said he wanted $2.5 million to start eight new drug courts, including one in Kanawha County. The state has two other drug courts in Cabell and Wayne counties. Certainly, housing drug addicts in jail without treatment is expensive and unproductive. [continues 262 words]
Judge Says Program Provides Treatment To Addicts Instead Of Jail Time A team of eight people headed by Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey Walker hopes to establish by July 1 the county's first drug court, which will divert non-violent adult drug criminals into supervision and rehabilitation instead of prison. The participants began training last October and attended additional sessions this week in Morgantown to learn the benefits of drug courts and the logistics of creating the program here. Judge Bailey Walker said a drug court could provide help for addicted criminals through treatment programs instead of jail time. But she said it could also make an impact on public safety and help reign in the soaring cost of incarceration. [continues 619 words]
A new drug testing policy for Kanawha County Schools employees should be in effect in the next 30 days, said Kanawha County Schools attorney Jim Withrow. School board members unanimously passed a final version of the policy at a board meeting Monday night, but not before board member Pete Thaw tried to amend it. He wanted to include principals, vice principals, the superintendent, aides, teachers and board members as safety sensitive employees. His motion failed 4 to 1. Under the current policy, safety sensitive employees include anyone who operates dangerous machinery, anyone who operates a county-owned vehicle, anyone whose job duties include administering medication to students, anyone who drives his or her own vehicle on school business on a routine or regular basis, and any other person who volunteers to be subject to the policy. [continues 750 words]
Dozens of Kanawha County school employees have spoken out against a proposed drug policy, even as the school system appears ready to back off random drug testing for faculty and administrators. Board members are set to vote Dec. 13 on the proposed policy that would drug test employees in safety sensitive positions, such as principals, counselors, coaches, teachers and child care workers. The proposed policy does not include random drug testing because some education officials were concerned about becoming the first school board in the state to enforce such measures, said Jim Withrow, general counsel for Kanawha County Schools. An adviser earlier had said the school system should brace for winding up in court as a test case over the policy. [continues 1025 words]
I'm writing about the Daily Mail's Oct. 19 thoughtful editorial, "Just say no to drug testing." As the parent of a 16-year-old, the ideal is that my son will never use any illegal drugs. However, if he does use an illegal drug, I would hope it is marijuana and only marijuana. Drug testing discourages this, because marijuana is fat-soluble. As a result, marijuana stays in a person's system for up to several weeks. On the other hand, drugs like meth, cocaine and heroin exit the body within a few days because they are water-soluble. [continues 59 words]
This is in response to the Daily Mail's Oct. 19 editorial "Just say no to drug testing." Bravo for sanity. Beyond the fiscal and legal aspects of inflicting drug testing against those once "presumed innocent until proven guilty," there is another aspect of the debate that needs to be considered. Simply put: If you can't tell who the drug users are without testing their waste fluids, then exactly what sort of "problem" are they? Brian C. Bennett North Garden, Va. [end]
Kanawha County school board members are still trying to decide whether to institute a random drug testing provision for teachers and administrators, facing the likelihood that the school system would wind up in court over doing so. Howard Seufer, a Charleston lawyer, told board members about the legal aspects of drug testing public employees, which all school service personnel are considered. He spoke at a meeting Wednesday night. There are five different types of drug tests, Seufer said. The first is legally compelled testing. That means employers are required by federal law to drug test employees in certain fields of work. For example, all bus drivers are required by law to be drug tested. [continues 603 words]
KANAWHA County school board member Pete Thaw wants to institute random drug testing for teachers and administrators. Here we go again. The board should not bother testing teachers and administrators unless there is some cause to think it is necessary. The county now gives drug tests to school bus drivers and other employees involved directly with the safety of children. This protects students from harm and likely protects the county from lawsuits. The courts have upheld the testing of bus drivers and others in safety-sensitive positions. [continues 214 words]
Heroin use is escalating among an already growing addiction to drugs in Huntington. Genise Lalos, director of addiction services for the Prestera Center in Huntington, said she has noticed a major increase in treatment of individuals using opiates, which also includes drugs like oxycontin and methadone, among others. "In 2001, we saw only 51 cases of heroin use," Lalos said. "In 2005, that number rose up to 249 cases." Lalos also has noticed more young people seeking treatment for opiate abuse. [continues 237 words]
Custodian Roland Cook used to find empty bleach bottles piled high in the Dumpster outside Anne Bailey Elementary School in St. Albans. He'd think to himself, "Someone's been doing some seriously cleaning." More than likely, someone was cooking meth. Cook said he'd frequently discover all sorts of meth-making materials - - Coleman fuel cans, cold tablet packets and bottles of brake fluid and toilet bowl cleaner - after hauling the day's trash out to the school Dumpster. At the time, Cook didn't think much of these findings. He had no idea what meth was. [continues 648 words]
The Charleston Police Department has received a pair of grants to help curb gang and drug activity. At a City Council meeting on Monday, the funds for an anti-gang grant from the state Division of Criminal Justice and a U.S Department of Justice grant aimed at deterring methamphetamine production were discussed. The anti-gang grant, which totals $77,392, will provide funds for travel, training and overtime for the city's Gang Task Force. The task force is made up of two police officers that cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to get gangs off the streets. [continues 328 words]
Agencies Must Not Obtain A Warrant Before Putting A Wire On An Informant. BUCKHANNON -- The State Supreme Court earlier this year ruled that law enforcement agencies would have to obtain a warrant before placing a wire on informants. After a recent special legislative session, Governor Joe Manchin signed a bill that eased some of those restrictions but it is still keeping many departments hand-cuffed when it comes to surveillance. When the court made its ruling, it said that if you wanted to place a wire on an informant and send him into a suspect's home, you first had to get a warrant to do so. But only five circuit court judges in the state were authorized to grant those warrants. [continues 118 words]
Inside West Virginia
