Pubdate: Sat, 24 Jan 2004
Source: Clanton Advertiser, The (AL)
Copyright: 2004 Clanton Advertiser
Contact:  http://www.clantonadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1742
Author: Scott Mims

CALERA POLICE CONSIDERING JOINING CENTRAL ALABAMA DRUG TASK FORCE

Drug Dealers Are Running Out Of Places To Hide In Calera

The Calera Police Department is doing several little things in order
to hinder the sale of drugs within the community, such as cutting down
bushes and trees, leaving open fields.

The police department also has bigger things in the works-in this
case, the possibility of joining forces with the Central Alabama Drug
Task Force.

Officers becoming involved with the Drug Task Force would become
investigators, focusing on the manufacture, possession and sale of
illegal drugs, according to Calera Chief of Police Jim Finn.

"They (officers) will have first hand knowledge, and they'll have
better insight on how to approach the problem as a group," Finn said.
He said the biggest reason the police department is waiting about
getting involved is because three officers are currently away from the
office; two are undergoing basic training at the Central Alabama
Police Academy and another is active in the Navy National Guard.

But they can join in anytime, provided enough officers are available
for the project, Finn said, adding the process would be quick once it
began. With the rapid growth of the city, the already expanding police
department will benefit from the knowledge of the Drug Task Force to
better track down the unlimited boundaries of drug dealers, Finn indicated.

"Drugs are a problem in every community," he said. "You don't see it
as readily on the street as you did, say, 10 years ago."

The neighborhood near Calera Elementary School was one example of a
former problem area which Finn attributed to people coming through who
didn't necessarily live there.

"We do know what works and what doesn't work," Finn said, noting the
importance of having a good relationship with people in housing and
development and knowing the people in neighborhoods. He said the
design of neighborhoods is instrumental in keeping drugs out of an
area.
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MAP posted-by: Derek