Pubdate: Wed, 16 Apr 2003
Source: Wilmington Morning Star (NC)
Copyright: 2003 Wilmington Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.wilmingtonstar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500
Author: Ken Little, Staff Writer

POLICE CHIEF, SHERIFF DIVIDED OVER DRUG UNIT

Two independently functioning groups of detectives now try to stem the 
relentless tide of illegal drugs washing through Wilmington.

Whether that benefits the citizens of inner-city neighborhoods and outlying 
sections of New Hanover County depends on who is asked.

The City-County Vice and Narcotics Unit was launched with all expectations 
of a successful union in April 1997 and disbanded in February, when its 
approximately 25 members returned to work at their respective agencies.

Wilmington Police Department Chief John Cease and New Hanover County 
Sheriff Sid Causey have offices just blocks apart, but their differences 
over the matter span a much wider distance.

"We were willing to keep the unit intact if it were to be placed under 
police department command and management," Chief Cease said. "That was not 
going to take place."

"Eighty percent of the drug activity is within Wilmington city limits. We 
wanted to have the opportunity to command it and put our imprint on it, and 
that was unacceptable to (Sheriff Causey). We have a different philosophy 
and a different way of doing things," Chief Cease said.

As evidence of its success, Sheriff Causey points to more than 6,400 
arrests and $16 million worth of drugs and property seized over the 
70-month life of the partnership.

"It was certainly a well-working unit in a county this size. It just makes 
sense to have one unit," Sheriff Causey said, granting "there are problems 
with inter-agency relations."

Chief Cease, Sheriff Causey said, "is a control guy and difficult to work 
with."

Undercover police working the same neighborhoods could place each other in 
danger if one squad doesn't know what the other one is doing, Sheriff 
Causey said.

"It's dangerous for the people on the street," he said. "They could get 
caught up in crossfires."

Ted Davis Jr., chairman of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, 
is equally concerned.

"What if the city is going to do a drug bust and the county is 
investigating it?" Mr. Davis asked. "It only seems logical that you should 
have a unified force to fight the drug problem. I was extremely 
disappointed that the city chose to break that up."

Chief Cease said federal and state agencies routinely conduct separate drug 
investigations in Wilmington without informing local police.

"Do we all sit down every day and tell everybody what we're doing? No," he 
said. "Is there a potential (for overlapping investigations)? There is a 
potential."

Wilmington City Manager Sterling Cheatham said the city vice and narcotics 
unit is as effective as its predecessor.

"Drugs are a pervasive problem in our community and we need everybody 
working on it. If we have two units, maybe we can be even more effective," 
he said.

Some city residents aren't so sure.

"I think they should handle it together, because divided you fall, together 
you stand. If you stick together, you have a better chance," said 35-year 
Wilmingtonian Jonathan Peterson, taking a break Tuesday from riding his 
bike on Third Street.

The average citizen may not have enough facts to decide which is the best 
way to fight drugs, Onasis Melvin said outside Graham's Barber Shop on 
Castle Street, where he works.

"They're going to do what they want to do anyway," Mr. Melvin said. "You 
have to know everything that's going on before you can even speak on it. 
They know their jobs better than we do."

The sheriff's office furnished 15 investigators to the vice and narcotics 
unit. Another 10 came from the city police department. Those numbers remain 
consistent within the new, separate units, the sheriff and chief said.

"It's a shame. It's an ego thing with the chief. He doesn't think he gets 
enough good publicity with the drug unit," Sheriff Causey said. "What I 
would like to see him do is put an equal number of people in the unit and 
we could really bring some pressure."

Chief Cease said overseeing the city vice and narcotics unit allows for the 
introduction of fresh tactics.

"There's a lot of new and different things that we're doing, not just on 
the street, but how the unit operates internally," Chief Cease said. "What 
we're trying to do as a police unit in the city is have a more direct 
response."

Sheriff Causey said the cost of operating the county vice and narcotics 
unit is about the same as its previous investment. The county has budgeted 
$1.28 million in the fiscal year ending June 30 for operation of the unit, 
including $861,000 in basic salaries to deputies.

Chief Cease said the vice and narcotics units still share the same legal 
environment and can work together.

"The sheriff and I both have to deal with structured sentences. If we 
develop a case outside the city, we can give them the information," Chief 
Cease said. "This isn't a competitive thing. Not only can we provide a high 
level of services, hopefully over time, we will have a different impact."
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