Pubdate: Mon, 03 May 2004 Source: Jackson Sun News (TN) 405036094590 Copyright: 2004 The Jackson Sun Contact: http://www.jacksonsun.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1482 Author: JULIE DODSON HAYWOOD COUNTY SHERIFF TALKS ABOUT METH TASK FORCE BROWNSVILLE - Seventy-five percent of all meth labs in the country are in the Southeast, and that worries Haywood County Sheriff Melvin Bond Jr. ERIKA ALEXANDER/The Jackson Sun - Haywood County Sheriff Melvin Bond Jr. was recently named one of 20 Tennesseans named to the Governor's Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse. Only four law enforcement professionals were appointed to the group, including another sheriff and two police chiefs. ''It's scary; it's really scary,'' he said. ''So you see what we're faced with in this particular area.'' Bond is one of 20 Tennesseans named to the Governor's Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse. Only four law enforcement professionals were appointed to the group, including another sheriff and two police chiefs. The Task Force's first meeting was Tuesday, and the next is scheduled for June 21 at Jackson State Community College. Bond has worked for the county Sheriff's Department since 1988 and has served in almost every department, including investigation, child abuse and narcotics. Bond grew up in Nutbush, one of 11 children. Now, he is married with six children of his own. He loves his home county, which has a population of more than 38,000. It's a friendly community where everyone pulls together in times of need, he said. Bond recently talked with The Jackson Sun about the plans of the Meth Task Force and his job as sheriff. Question: How do you feel about the opportunity to serve on the Governor's Meth Task Force? Answer: ''I feel honored to be a selectee of the governor.'' Q: How big a problem is meth in this area? A: ''It's a statewide problem. Stats would show around the Cumberland area is the most predominant, but we're having a rash of it in West Tennessee, also.'' Q: Why do you think meth is becoming so widespread? A: ''It's a cheap method with a longer high. It stays with you a lot longer than crack cocaine ever thought of, and it's easy to manufacture. It's so very similar to crack - $100 in supplies will make about $1,000 in sales.'' Q: What happened at the first Governor's Task Force meeting? A: The group broke the task down into four groups: Public awareness, law enforcement, environmental issues and health, Bond said. The governor seems the most concerned about the health aspect, since the Department of Children's Services has gotten involved because children are not being taken care of. The task force's recommendations are due to the governor by Sept. 1. Q: How long have you been the sheriff of Haywood County? A: ''Since 2002 ... my first tour at the helm.'' Q: What do you like most about your job? A: ''(I enjoy) helping people, solving crimes and trying to keep our community safe and drug free.'' Q: What's the hardest thing about your job? A: ''Not a large percentage of burglaries and things are solved, and to see families that are deprived of their personal belongings ... it hurts. The most painful aspect of all of this job would probably be child abuse.'' Q: What do you like to do when you are not working? A: ''Hunting and fishing and coaching my coach-pitch softball. I love hunting - I like to work my dogs; I love it.'' Q: What book are you reading right now? A: ''Nothing right now, other than Bible studies. That's what I study more than anything. I try to keep God first in all I do. I try not to put faith in man. At the end of the day, I'd like to look back and not have any regrets and say that I treated everyone fairly - not according to race or creed. That way I can live with myself and look at myself in the mirror.'' - - Julie Dodson, (731) 425-9763 About Haywood County Sheriff Melvin Bond Jr. Age: 51 Family: Married with six children Education: Graduated from high school in Lauderdale County Attended Dyersburg State Community College Has also participated in numerous law enforcement training schools Hometown: Nutbush Achievements: One of 20 Tennesseans chosen to serve on the Governor's Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse Appointed by Gov. Phil Bredesen to the Tennessee Correction Institute How to help Bond asks any sheriff in the West Tennessee area who has statistics or suggestions about methamphetamine to e-mail or fax him the information. The information will be presented to the Governor's Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart