Pubdate: Sun, 13 Oct 2002
Source: Johnson City Press (TN)
Copyright: 2002 Johnson City Press and Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1983
Author: Jim Wozniak

Part 2 Of 4 Related Articles

DEALERS, AGENTS PLAY ROLES OF COMPETITORS

One 1st Judicial District Drug Task Force agent compares his job of 
catching drug dealers to two competing businessmen.

"This is my job," said Sam Jones (not his real name). "That's the job they 
chose to do. Whoever does his job the best that day wins."

Jones, a police officer for six years, has worked on the drug trade in the 
1st Judicial District for the last four years. It's a lengthy tenure for an 
agent, but he enjoys the work and the extra territory he is able to cover.

If he returns to patrol duty for the Johnson City Police Department, Jones 
would be restricted to working a particular zone. But as an agent, he can 
work anywhere in Carter, Johnson, Unicoi or Washington counties. He also 
sees more of an impact through an arrest on a felony offense, such as a 
drug sale, than a misdemeanor offense such as a DUI.

He mainly works in Johnson City, but his task there is to set up drug buys 
rather than conduct them. He does the setup work because he grew up in 
Johnson City and would be recognized fairly easily if he were to try to buy 
drugs here.

"I live in Johnson City," he said. "The majority of people know me, know 
what I do. My vehicle is well-known."

Because he went to school in Johnson City, he has put some friends in jail. 
People have asked him how he could do such a thing, but his reply is that 
"I haven't done anything, they've done it themselves." On the flip side, he 
said some people he has arrested have straightened out their lives and told 
him they appreciate what he did.

"That's where we get the satisfaction," Jones said.

He believes the DTF makes a difference, citing the work agents performed in 
incarcerating groups from North Carolina that came to the area about a year 
ago and were selling drugs and committing other crimes. He also mentioned 
the first wave of New Yorkers who came here to sell crack about 15 years 
ago. After some people in that group were arrested, the amount of crack 
here decreased.

The problem is the New Yorkers are making a comeback, something District 
Attorney General Joe Crumley expects to happen with the North Carolinians.

The most dangerous situation Jones encountered occurred after he conducted 
an undercover deal in Unicoi County. He said the person with whom he made 
the deal contacted the informant and told her he wanted to speak to Jones 
alone. That, of course, sent up a red flag, so Unicoi County authorities 
went to the man's residence and arrested him.

Jones said agents are careful not to put themselves in a position of danger 
when they do the buying.

"We're probably one of the safest drug units in Tennessee because of the 
training," he said.

Jones said he has become accustomed to threats in his police career to the 
point that the comments tend not to mean much.

The workload is not easy for the agents. Jones said his regular shift is 
81/2 hours a day but a day can grow to 12 or 13 hours with a court 
appearance added to the mix. He said there have been times when agents have 
worked 48 hours straight. A typical week is 50-55 hours.

"This is a very time-consuming job in law enforcement," Jones said. "I 
carry a pager all the time."

Fortunately for him, Jones is single. Some agents are married, and he said 
"their families are very understanding."
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