Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jan 2004
Source: Odessa American (TX)
Copyright: 2004 Odessa American
Contact:  http://www.oaoa.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/708
Author: Julie Breaux
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/methact.htm
(Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act)

COURTS OK REQUESTS TO FILL TASK FORCE POSITIONS

Told Ector County is experiencing an "epidemic" of methamphetamine
trafficking, the Commissioners Court on Monday agreed to increase its
participation in a regional drug task force.

In a 4-0 vote, county commissioners approved a request by Sheriff Mark
Donaldson to fill two vacancies on the West Texas Narcotic Enforcement
Task Force with two officers who will be based in Odessa. "We've got
an epidemic in this county, and we need the employees to take care of
it," Donaldson told the court.

The sheriff will use approximately $7,500 to $8,000 of his
department's funds to pay the officers' salaries through May 31, the
day the task force's current contract with the federal government
expires, he said. The task force is funded through a "75/25 grant"
from the federal government, said County Auditor David Austin. That
means the federal government pays three-fourths of the task force's
funding each year, and the county pays the remaining 25 percent.

"What they did today is they said, 'OK, we're increasing our
participation in the drug task force by two employees, and it will
cost the county 25 cents on the dollar,' " Austin said.

Voting for the request were Precinct 1 Commissioner Freddie Garnder,
Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Simmons, Precinct 3 Commissioner Barbara
Graff and Precinct 4 Commissioner Bob Bryant.

County Judge Jerry Caddell was absent. The openings on the task force
occurred when the city of Fort Stockton and Crane and Howard counties
decided not to send officers to the task force, citing budget
constraints, he said.

During the debate, Graff reminded Donaldson that the county, facing a
$500,000 deficit this year, has laid off employees and reduced
benefits this year. At that, Cmdr. Sonia Garcia, who appeared before
the court with Donaldson, asked Graff to consider what the task force
officers "do everyday for the county and the citizens." "I appreciate
that but we're in such a money crunch," Graff said. Donaldson said
he's going through his 2003-'04 budget with a "fine-tooth comb" and
that he will return any unused task force money to the general fund.
Later, Donaldson said the task force had made 75 arrests through Dec.
18, the last date for which data are available.

During the 2002-'03 grant year, the task force made 255 arrests, he
said. When the two positions are filled, the task force will be nine
officers strong. Donaldson said the county remains a hub of
drug-related activity, particularly methamphetamine
manufacturing.

"Drugs have always been a big thing," said Donaldson, task force
project director. "These meth labs and the ease of making meth that
has occurred, it's just getting to be more and more and more, and it's
at the proportion now that we have to have the extra people. We need
to put a stop to it." Garcia said the task force has seen an increase
in methamphetamine production in the last year because it's easier to
manufacture, and it can actually be processed in the back of a truck.

"I think, too, just in general, we have a large amount of narcotics
either coming straight here to Odessa or being distributed from here
or passing through here," Garcia said. "We'll always have that."
Counties participating in the task force include Ector, Crane, Ward,
Pecos, Upton, Martin, Howard and Glasscock. Participating cities
include Odessa, Monahans, Crane, Stanton, Big Spring and Fort
Stockton. The task force commander is an officer with the Texas
Department of Public Safety.

Currently, the task force is made up of two Ector County sheriff's
deputies; an attorney, investigator, secretary, legal secretary and
administrative assistant with the Ector County district attorney's
office; a police officer with the city of Crane; a Ward County deputy
sheriff; an Upton County deputy sheriff; and two Big Spring police
officers, Donaldson said.

Not all cities and counties provide officers to the task force, he
said.
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