Pubdate: Tue, 14 May 2002
Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX)
Copyright: 2002 San Antonio Express-News
Contact:  http://www.mysanantonio.com/expressnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384
Author: Zeke MacCormack

DPS OVERSEES ANTI-DRUG UNITS

The Department of Public Safety has assumed oversight of 48 narcotics task 
forces around the state, largely ending the era of independent operators in 
the undercover war on drugs.

Gov. Rick Perry initiated the change to improve accountability and 
coordination among the drug units, and to reduce the chance of misconduct 
among the 550 task force officers in 216 counties.

"These task forces have been in existence since 1987, and until now there 
had been no significant look or review as to how they operated," said Jay 
Kimbrough, executive director of the state Criminal Justice Division in the 
governor's office.

Any task force wishing to receive federal block grant funds - which totaled 
$30 million this year - must cooperate with the DPS administration and 
adhere to new standardized procedures.

Under the hierarchy that took effect Jan. 9, Kimbrough said, "the DPS has 
oversight of policies, procedures and tactical operations, but the criminal 
justice division maintains fiscal authority."

Nearly all of the grant-funded units endorsed the changes, he said.

Units funded solely by cities and counties were unaffected.

The DPS has reorganized its narcotics division to handle the additional 
administrative duties.

It also distributed a new 31-page manual that covers job evaluations, 
evidence storage, undercover operations, confidential informants, reports 
and much more.

Some task forces expressed concern about losing autonomy, said DPS 
Narcotics Commander Walter Eeds.

But, he added, "The intent never was to take away local control."

The DPS has a wealth of resources to benefit task forces, he said, from 
equipment and intelligence to personnel.

About a dozen task forces already had DPS oversight and required few, if 
any, changes.

However, problems were found at a handful of units during preliminary 
inspections this spring.

In Wilson County, south of San Antonio, for example, cocaine was reported 
missing from the evidence locker of the 81st Judicial District Narcotics 
Task Force.

Texas Ranger Andy Lopez declined comment on his ongoing investigation into 
the matter.

Asked about televised reports that 70 pounds of cocaine was missing, 
Kimbrough said, "I do not know that number to be incorrect."

Drug dealers who move from county to county aren't the only targets of the 
initiative to collect and share intelligence among the widely spread task 
forces.

New centralized personnel records should also help curtail so-called "gypsy 
cops," who create problems at one task force and then relocate to another.

"Before, we didn't have a central clearinghouse to see where officers 
move," said Kimbrough.

"We want every task force to know what kind of officers they're getting and 
where they came from."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens