Pubdate: Sun, 07 Mar 2004
Source: Enterprise-Journal, The (MS)
Copyright: 2004 The Enterprise-Journal
Contact:  http://www.enterprise-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/917

MAGNOLIA ADDS OFFICER TO DRUG UNIT

City officials in Magnolia have given Police Chief Ray Reynolds permission 
to assign one of his officers to assist the Southwest Mississippi Narcotics 
Enforcement Unit on a part-time basis.

The agreement between police and SMNEU is meant to help root out drug 
activity in Magnolia by sharing information more readily. The Magnolia 
SMNEU officer is expected to initiate drug investigations within the city 
limits.

No direct costs come with the agreement, but some aldermen were concerned 
that overtime pay issues may arise. Reynolds said he planned to monitor the 
officer's work schedule to prevent overtime. Still, aldermen want to review 
the agreement in 60 days before deciding to continue the agreement.

The Magnolia officer's involvement with SMNEU will be no more than eight 
hours per pay period and primarily will be on an on-call basis.

As part of the agreement, Magnolia will receive 80 percent of the seizures 
in the city initiated by the Magnolia officer.

"This is going to be a plus for us," Reynolds said.

The current efforts by police to combat drug activity in Magnolia have been 
going well, but Reynolds said SMNEU assistance could result in more arrests.

"Our program now is very effective," Reynolds said. "But there's more that 
could be done. Follow the crime statistics. They have been going down. If 
we can control the drug activity, then we can cut down on other crimes too."

Area agencies participating in the SMNEU include the McComb Police 
Department, Pike County Sheriff's Department, Pike County District 
Attorney's Office, Copiah County Sheriff's Department and the Brookhaven 
Police Department.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart