STERLING - From a secure location, an undercover officer peered through binoculars, looking for movement at a house on a busy Sterling street, well known to police. Dressed in torn blue jeans, the Black Hawk Area Drug Task Force officer barked his observations into a pair of cell phones, one in each hand. On the other end were police from Sterling, Rock Falls, the Whiteside County Sheriff's Department and the Illinois State Police - a total of 17 officers - taking part in a joint drug operation. [continues 602 words]
Drug abuse has reached "epidemic proportions" in Sterling and Rock Falls - splitting families, disrupting public safety, straining government resources and hurting the bottom line of area businesses, Whiteside County's top prosecutor warned in his annual report to the county board. The most common drug police encounter is cocaine, in both its powder and "crack" forms, and the substance's effects are devastating the community, Whiteside County State's Attorney Gary Spencer said in an "editorial comment" attached to his report, which will be reviewed at Wednesday's board meeting. [continues 944 words]
