Pubdate: Tue, 18 Feb 2003
Source: Item, The (SC)
Copyright: 2000 The Item
Contact:  http://www.theitem.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1105
Author: Braden Bunch

LEE AWARDED $525,000 TO COMBAT DRUGS

BISHOPVILLE - Congress has approved a $525,000 federal grant to help the Lee
County Sheriff's Department battle drug dealers in the rural county.
Referred to in the 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill as funding for the Lee
County Sheriff Methamphetamines Program, the grant comes as a welcome
windfall for the law enforcement agency, whose head says it is in dire need
of new resources.

"This is a big help. I've been waiting for it," said Lee County Sheriff E.J.
Melvin, adding that he plans to use the money, if finalized, to expand the
current in-house drug unit by purchasing vehicles, cameras and surveillance
equipment as well as drug testing equipment. "It'll give our people more
stuff to work with, more up-to-date, high-tech stuff," Melvin said. The
sheriff said he also hopes to add four new officers to the unit using the
allocated funds. Those new officers would be joining the department at a
time when their presence is becoming more and more necessary. "This is very
important because, with the economy like it is now, if anything's picking
up, it's the drugs that are picking up," Melvin said. "This will put a stop
to it before it gets too far gone from me." Melvin also said the grant might
be able to stop a trend of drug dealers having more advanced equipment than
law enforcement. "A lot of the stuff that is out now, we weren't able to get
because of the funds that we didn't have," Melvin said. After applying for
the grant last year and not hearing much about the request, Melvin said he
had become worried the funding might have been withheld because of the
pending war with Iraq. The money will come, however, as part of a $2.9
million package proposed by U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., for criminal
justice programs throughout the 6th Congressional District in South
Carolina. "There are some real needs in our state, and I believe this
federal support is a substantial investment in meeting those needs," Clyburn
said in a press release. The funds are included in the $400 billion federal
spending bill approved by the U.S. Senate last week. The multi-department
spending package also includes a $5 million grant to develop the Sumter
Transportation Center planned for the old Moise Self Storage building on
South Harvin and Telephone Streets. The bill now awaits the signature of
President Bush to become law.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh