Pubdate: Tue, 02 Jul 2002 Source: Eastside Journal (WA) Copyright: 2000 Horvitz Newspapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.eastsidejournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/985 Author: Dean A. Radford Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids) WOUNDED DEPUTIES PART OF FOCUS ON LOCAL DRUG DEALERS MAPLE VALLEY -- The three detectives shot Sunday are part of the Sheriff's Office's drive to take the war on drugs into local neighborhoods. For years, deputies in a centralized drug unit went after big drug dealers who supply the crack cocaine, marijuana and other drugs that threaten a community's sense of security. But Sheriff Dave Reichert, after listening to public sentiment, decided last year the best way to rid neighborhoods of drugs is to target local dealers and their clients. Each precinct has five or six detectives who handle drug cases as part of a Neighborhood Drug Enforcement Team. Often, detectives are called in from other precincts for a major operation, according to Sgt. Greg Dymerski, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office. That was the case Sunday, when about 20 detectives served a search warrant at the home in the 24800 block of 208th Avenue Southeast where drug activity was suspected. The routine task turned deadly when a man was shot and three detectives were wounded. - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel