Pubdate: Sat, 27 Oct 2001
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer (OH)
Copyright: 2001 The Cincinnati Enquirer
Contact:  http://enquirer.com/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/86
Author: Sheila McLaughlin

DRUG TASK FORCE WANTS RAISE

Warren Asked For $246K

LEBANON - A year after wrangling with commissioners for operating funds, 
the Warren County Drug Task Force has asked the county to nearly triple its 
contribution for next year.

Saying the task force has made significant progress in an effort to shut 
down mid- and upper-level drug dealers, commander John Burke has asked for 
$245,975 to keep existing agents on the payroll.

He said he would like more consistent funding rather than relying on 
fund-raising efforts each year to keep the task force afloat.

"I feel we have been very effective with the amount of personnel in the 
time we're talking about," Mr. Burke said. "I think it can easily continue, 
but we have to be able to have adequate personnel and funding."

He submitted a summary of task force activities to commissioners this week 
to back up his point.

Commissioner Mike Kilburn said he hasn't reviewed the report, but he doubts 
the county will pay what Mr. Burke wants.

Last year, commissioners rejected Mr. Burke's request for nearly $400,000 
to fund the entire operation through 2001, saying communities that benefit 
should contribute. The county ul timately paid $98,000 to match the money 
Mr. Burke raised from local governments.

"My position and I think the board's position is that if all the 
communities share in this effort, then they've got some ownership in the 
drug task force program," Mr. Kilburn said. "The communities didn't like 
the idea because it was more cost on them. But (this) is more cost on us."

This year's funding combination allowed the hiring of two full-time 
investigators and a clerk. In addition, Warren County Sheriff Tom Ariss 
donated a deputy for two years. Mr. Burke, whose $58,000 salary is paid 
annually through a grant, secured another grant to pay for a fourth 
detective through Dec. 31,.

So far, the four agents have secured felony indictments against 98 people, 
Mr. Burke said.

The task force also completed several major investigations that shut down 
methamphetamine labs and long-time cocaine or marijuana trafficking 
operations in Franklin, Lebanon, South Lebanon and Deerfield Township, Mr. 
Burke noted.

Most of the activity occurred since June when the task force staff began 
operating at full strength, he said.

That staffing level has allowed the task force to wage an attack on drug 
traffickers in Warren County, said Prosecutor Tim Oliver, a member of the 
task force's policy board.

Before Mr. Burke's hiring in late 1999, the drug squad used officers on 
loan from local police agencies for specific operations and had a history 
of arresting low-level dealers and users.
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MAP posted-by: Lou King