Pubdate: Tue, 28 Jun 2005
Source: Sand Mountain Reporter, The (Albertsville, AL)
Copyright: 2005 Sand Mountain Reporter.
Contact:  http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1713
Author: George Jones

DEU PREPARES FOR FUNDING CUTS

Editor's Note: This is the second in a two-part series looking at potential
budget cuts to be suffered by the Marshall County Drug Enforcement Unit.

Marshall County Drug Enforcement Director Rob Savage said during his
many years of experience, "I have never seen a single crime issue
escalate at the rate that this (drug problem) has escalated."

Savage, a father, dedicated law enforcement officer and drug agent,
who knows first-hand the human tragedy devastating our society, said,
"Of all the times to be cutting funding - it is somewhat astounding to
me."

Marshall County District Attorney Steve Marshall commented on the
present drug problem and the funding of the Marshall County Drug
Enforcement Unit by stating, "This is an issue that is not just here.
It is a reduction of funding nationally for drug task forces."

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) "Has
provided a staggered response," Savage said. "In that we understood,
we were receiving a 35 percent cut in our federal funding. However,
the bigger issue is that there is not only the 35 percent cut, but
they were changing their match from 75-25 to 50-50."

Angered by that news, it was more frustrating for the MCDEU's board
chairman to then hear his task force's budget, as well as all other
task forces, were going to be reduced to $143,000, which Marshall
said, "Represented well over a 50-percent cut in our federal
allocation."

Marshall went on to explain how that type of reduction affects an
organization whose mission is to deal with the illegal drug
trafficking.

"The question, Marshall said, "Becomes one of how can you fulfill that
mission within the parameters of your decreased funding."

Mirroring Savage's comments, Marshall lauded the community's response
when he said, "We got tremendous support from our local
municipalities, as well as the county, in trying to raise additional
funds." He added, "It still doesn't get us to the level we were at
before. But they at least gave us the option by raising that money to
try and come up with a proposal of where to go from here."

According to Marshall, the MCDEU board ultimately made a two-fold
decision to eliminate one full-time agent and reduce the amount of
overtime costs specifically having to do with agents having to go out
on calls.

Marshall said, "It was not something we wanted to do, but frankly
there was no other alternative. So, the chiefs came together and
adopted a new policy dealing basically with call-out cases for
possession."

The board's decision narrowed the focus of the MCDEU, Marshall said,
"From a broad-based possession, distribution and trafficking to focus
principally on distribution and trafficking. We hope that we will be
able to target, both from the standpoint of targets of significant
quantity, but also enhance our opportunities for greater seizures."

Another effect of the funding cuts Marshall said, ". it is going to
place a greater burden on local law enforcement. While regrettably we
don't have much choice."

President Bush has recommended "no funding" for the budget in 2006,
but Marshall said, "It is still up in the air as Congress is in the
process of debating the issue. It is my understanding the House has
placed some money there, but it is substantially lower than this year."

Marshall candidly stated, "If, in fact, we were to learn there was a
complete loss of federal funding . then I think there is a significant
issue as to the viability of the unit as a whole under its current
structure, because there is a point and time where if the unit is
having to be reduced even more. Are we able to legitimately fulfill
the mission? And, if we can't fulfill the mission of the organization,
which is to focus on the significant tracking rings, then we are going
to have to come up with a plan B."

Marshall re-emphasized, "That's regrettable, but that is kind of where
we are."

The major benefit of the task force unit, according to Marshall, is "A
multi-jurisdictional effort enhances your capacity to find those
people you need to find, because drugs don't stay within
jurisdictional boundaries."

Marshall told of a multi-jurisdictional operation that, until
recently, netted one of the largest drug arrests of seven pounds of
methamphetamine in an Arab parking lot. "Without the
multi-jurisdictional concept, it would never have happened," Marshall
said.

Marshall continued, "It doesn't mean a local law enforcement agency
couldn't do significantly good work on drugs locally, but what we are
going to have are a dramatically reduced amount of resources devote to
that effort."

On a positive note, Marshall said, "The cooperative nature of all the
member agencies remains a commitment to the mission which I think is
important. There has been leadership shown, by mayors, councils and
chiefs, which is important."

While praising the efforts of the members, Marshall said, "It is
simply frustrating though when law enforcement is tasked with a
responsibility of trying to assist in this effort, that we are now
tying one hand behind our back in an already maxed out system as far
as the resources we can devote."

A ray of hope for the future stems from the private and corporate
sectors, to which Marshall said there have been those making a
contribution, wishing to remain anonymous. And that may obviously be a
way of going about it.

Marshall said, "Another way might be to broaden the regional and
jurisdictional bases of task forces and potentially try to incorporate
Marshall, DeKalb and Etowah in a collaborative effort with a similar
mission but trying to broaden the base of contribution trying to
target the trafficking rings affecting all of these counties. Some of
these very same people we see in Marshall County are the ones we see
in our neighboring counties. So that may be another way of going about
it."

"The ultimate solution," Marshall added, "Is every member party is
going to have to figure out what is best for their particular
jurisdiction. And, we'll have to use that as a guide as to figure out
where we are going to go."

Marshall's word to the citizens of Marshall County reflected his
belief that while the situation might be classified as "a crisis," he
said, "There is no need to panic. It is a difficult situation, but I
am very appreciative of the response of local officials. First,
because of their support of the taskforce as a whole, but also in
responding to this particular crisis."

The DA assured, "The work is going to be done! The question is the
scope in which the work will be done? The field level patrol officer
is 'Johnny on the spot' on drug cases, and they will continue to do
what they've been doing. The question is just what are the resources
you can devote to distribution and trafficking?"

Deputy Chairman of the MCDEU Board and Guntersville Police Chief Scott
Walls said, "What's important that we continue the fight against
drugs, especially crystal meth, at this time, which is the plague
that's taken over our county."

Walls, as Marshall, expressed his appreciation with the local
governments and the county for having "stepped up and agreed to the
additional funding for this year in order to keep the unit functioning
. We have some plans to restructure what we are doing and how we are
doing with the drug unit . It is also important that if we get to the
point that it has to be self-supporting that we have some sort of plan
to accomplish that. And we hope to start working on that by Sept. 1."

However, it's important enough for all of us to commit to that in
order to keep the drug unit going."

Walls encourages people to call or contact their U.S. representatives
and senators and "Tell them we want that money restored for this year
and next year, because we've got to have it . This is the one of the
worst things that has happened in law enforcement since 1988 when task
forces began in Alabama."

Board member and Marshall County Sheriff Mac Holcomb said, "The MCDEU
does an excellent job, and I am very proud of the job they do. We've
worked hand in hand with the drug unit on many cases. To lose our drug
task force and its contribution to the war on drugs would be a real
tragedy. If that were to happen it would obviously make our jobs a
little tougher, but it would not prevent my deputies from doing their
best to protect the citizens of Marshall County from those who deal in
drugs."

Board member Benny Womack, Albertville's police chief, said, "It's
very unfortunate that the federal funding is being diverted to other
entities at a time when there is no greater need than right here in
Marshall County."

Boaz Police Chief Terry Davis, also a board member said, "The funds
are now being diverted to Homeland Security, but unfortunately little
of that funding reaches the local departments. What it does is
generally not for use in drug enforcement."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin