Pubdate: Mon, 01 May 2000
Source: Gazette, The (US IA)
Copyright: 2000 Gazette Communications, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Contact:  P.O. Box 511, Cedar Rapids IA 52406
Fax: (319) 398-5846
Website: http://www.gazetteonline.com/
Author: Cindy Hadish

NEW HOT LINE HELPS MARION FIGHT DRUGS

MARION -- A drug hot line is Marion's latest tool in the fight against 
illegal drugs.

Police Chief Harry Daugherty said a detective will also soon be hired to 
focus specifically on illegal drug activity in this city of 25,000.

"All he'll do is Marion narcotics work, 40 hours a week," Daugherty said of 
the detective who will start work in July if the city receives a federal 
COPS grant.

If the grant -- which would cover 75 of the detective's salary for three 
years -- is not received, Marion will have money in its budget beginning 
April 2001 to promote an officer to detective and hire a new officer. 
Marion residents will receive a drug hot line card in their water bills 
beginning this month.

The whole city should be notified of the hot line via the bi-monthly water 
bills by July 1, said Capt. Bob Huffman, who has been working with 
Daugherty on the program.

Huffman noted that posters with the hot line number -- 373-3258 -- have 
already been delivered to local businesses and schools.

The hot line is now answered by two detectives during office hours and an 
answering machine after-hours. The phone line does not connect to police 
dispatchers, Daugherty noted, and tipsters can remain anonymous, if they 
wish. There is no caller ID on the line.

Anyone with information about drug dealing or suspicious activity is urged 
to call the hot line. No reward fund is currently available, but Daugherty 
said one is under study for the future.

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City have similar drug tip lines and the local 
Crimestoppers number, 1-800-CR-CRIME, is for tips on any illegal activity.

Like other communities, city leaders here are concerned about drugs like 
methamphetamine that have been proliferating the state.

Marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine are the top three drug problems in 
the city, Daugherty said.

Already, one suspected methamphetamine lab was discovered, before it began 
operating, as well as a car with a suspected meth lab inside.

Daugherty made the fight against drugs his number one priority when he took 
the reins of the 37-member department in 1996. The City Council has also 
made drug-fighting a priority.

The hot line and narcotics detective add to a K-9 unit, HEAT (High-risk 
Entry and Arrest Team) and officer assigned to the Drug Enforcement 
Administration (DEA) in Marion.

The department's dog is trained to sniff out drugs, while HEAT members 
control the scene and make arrests when drug warrants are served.

While the DEA officer has been working on drug tips in Marion, he also does 
work outside the city, Daugherty noted.

Having a detective, and a hot line, assigned specifically for Marion drug 
tips should at least put a dent in illegal drug activity in Marion, he said.

"If we make one drug bust and take someone away who's pushing drugs in the 
schools, it will be well worth the time and effort," Daugherty said.
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