Pubdate: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS) Copyright: 2004 The Clarion-Ledger Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805 DRUGS ARRESTS INCREASE WITH RESTRUCTURING Team Effort For too long the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics was viewed as a lone-ranger agency. Drug enforcement should be a unified, federal, state and local effort. Drugs drive crime in Mississippi, so drug enforcement is a key part of public safety. The news this week that drug arrests from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics are up 39 percent deserves note by the public. For the first half of 2004, MBN officials report 1,435 drug arrests. For the same period last year, there were 1,034 arrests. Public Safety Commissioner Rusty Fortenberry and Bureau of Narcotics Director George Phillips credit restructuring of the agency under the Department of Public Safety and better interaction with local agencies as reasons for the increase. The restructuring was an important step in improving drug enforcement. For too long, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics operated with such independence that it had a reputation for "cowboy" law enforcement. Gov. Haley Barbour rightly moved the agency clearly under the administration of the Department of Public Safety. The agency should be part of an overall state crime-fighting effort, not competing with other agencies for public attention and funding. Barbour also appointed former U.S. Attorney George Phillips to head the agency. Phillips is highly qualified and came to the office with a strong reputation among state law enforcement agencies. Cooperation is essential for effective drug enforcement. The newly reorganized MBN seems to be getting off to a good start in working with local agencies. The state needs an overall drug-enforcement strategy with team players, not lone rangers. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin