Pubdate: Sat, 09 Feb 2002
Source: Daily Press (VA)
Copyright: 2002 The Daily Press
Contact:  http://www.dailypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/585
Author: Jessie Halladay, Daily Press

TASK FORCE KEEPING DRUGS OUT OF IW, SURRY

Law enforcement officials praised last week's arrests of 18 people accused 
of drug dealing in Surry and Isle of Wight counties, and they say the bust 
has made illegal drugs harder to buy for now.

Details on the arrests are still being kept quiet since one of those 
charged hasn't been arrested and the others face court dates.

But local officials who oversee the Pagan River Drug Task Force, the team 
responsible for the busts, say the arrests illustrate the value of actively 
working to combat drug use and sales.

Since the fall of 1999, the task force has been working in both counties to 
try to nab street-level dealers and drug suppliers.

Four officers -- one each from the Smithfield Police Department, Virginia 
State Police and the Isle of Wight and Surry sheriff's departments -- make 
up the drug unit.

"We just come together and work together," said Bob Stanek, head of the 
State Police office that monitors six drug task forces in the area. "We 
start with street-level drugs and try to get up the ladder."

There are 26 drug task forces statewide. Local departments kick in the 
manpower. Money for undercover officers to make illegal drug buys and run 
operations comes from the Virginia Drug Trust Fund, which was set up by the 
General Assembly to fund investigations.

Setting up task forces makes it easier for local agencies to combat drug 
use and sales. Officers don't have to split time between time-intensive 
drug investigations and regular duties. And they can cross city and county 
boundaries.

"The 'bad guys' don't have city and county lines," Stanek said.

Having a successful drug task force sends a message to the community, said 
Smithfield Police Chief Mark Marshall.

After news broke about last week's arrest, Marshall said drug activity in 
the counties slowed considerably.

One informant told police officers that "you couldn't buy a crack rock for 
any amount of money right now."

Task force members like to hear that, but they know drug activity will pick 
up again soon.

"There's always another dealer ready to step in and replace one who's been 
arrested," Marshall said.

Surry County just assigned a deputy to the task force last year, but 
already Sheriff Harold Brown said he sees an impact.

"They can do so much more than working individually," Brown said.

Brown works with Marshall, Stanek and Isle of Wight Sheriff C.W. Phelps to 
oversee the operations of the task force. Phelps declined to comment on the 
impact the group has had on drug activity in Isle of Wight.

Law enforcement officials realize they will never be able to get all drug 
activity out of their counties, but they think the task force helps keep 
the numbers down.

"It will discourage the dealers from coming," Brown said, "and thinking 
they'll get away with it."
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