Pubdate: Sun, 07 Oct 2001 Source: Flint Journal (MI) Copyright: 2001 Flint Journal Contact: http://www.flintjournal.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/836 SHERIFF'S DRUG UNIT SCORES POINTS WITH ITS SKEPTICS It's hard to evaluate how superior Genesee County Sheriff Robert J. Pickell has been in the war against drugs, but his department's record to date certainly gives him the upper hand in the political and public relations battles. It's been less than a year since he pulled sheriff personnel from the Flint Area Narcotics Group - FANG - to form his own unit, and the record he touts has won the respect of skeptics. The new unit has seized drugs on which he places sales value of $639,760, and has confiscated cash, vehicles and firearms from suspected dealers. It is hard to argue against results, and Pickell seems to be producing them, although FANG continues to make cases, too. The appealing part of Pickell's drug position from the beginning was the promise to put in the extra work it takes to make cases against high-level suppliers, as opposed to street dealers, whose more open activities make them simple targets. Pickell had faulted FANG, a drug- focused consortium of local police departments run by state police, for taking the easy route. Pickell views FANG as encumbered by bureaucracy, necessitated by the involvement of multiple units. A troubling situation results - two competing drug-fighting units covering the same territory, when one, it seems, is called for. Pickell says they do not compete, but cooperate, yet it is hard so see how that could be so. The local drug enforcement front seems to be a turf war in a textbook sense. FANG officers are unhappy with the situation, no doubt, as they feel they've been given a bum rap, while Pickell picks up accolades from the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, to whom he gave a report last week. All involved need to know that what really matters is not assignment of credit or blame, but a crushing of the drug trade at the highest levels, and that means well outside of Flint. Success on that front should be the benchmark by which both units are judged and supported. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth