Pubdate: Fri, 28 Apr 2006
Source: Carteret County News-Times, The (NC)
Copyright: 2006 Carteret Publishing Co., Inc.
Contact:  http://www.carteretnewstimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1738
Author: Ben Hogwood

CANDIDATES DIFFER OVER DRUG PROBLEM

BEAUFORT - The candidates running for sheriff may all agree that
combating drug use is a top priority in the county, but the reason why
drugs are such a problem is a little more hazy.

Seven of the eight candidates running for sheriff participated
Wednesday night in a League of Women's Voters Sheriff's Candidate
Forum in the superior courtroom and answered questions submitted by
audience members about why they believe they are best suited for the
position. League member Dorothy Childress moderated the forum.

Candidates running on the Republican ticket are Jack Askew, Asa Buck,
Boyce Floyd, Edfred Gaskill, George Phillips and Mike Deegan. However,
Mr. Deegan did not attend. Democrats are Anthony Dennis and Frank
Galizia. In response to the question on why drugs were such an issue
in Carteret County, Mr. Askew, a retired major in the N.C. Highway
Patrol and currently the chief ABC law enforcement officer in the
county, said it is easy for drug dealers to bring in drugs via land,
sea or air. The large military population in the county also has an
effect on the drug problem, he said. "Marines use drugs just like
Carteret citizens use drugs," he said. Lt. Buck, a lieutenant in the
county's sheriff department, did not address why there was a problem,
but instead addressed how the county should attack it. "So many people
destroy their lives by getting on drugs," he said. According to Lt.
Buck, the county needs to increase its street patrol, increase
undercover operations and get drugs out of the schools. Mr. Dennis,
who recently retired from his position as lead investigator with the
N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) License and Theft Bureau and
previously worked in the sheriff's department, agreed the ease of
access to the county is a reason why drugs are such a problem. "Drugs
have been a problem in Carteret since I was in high school. They'll be
a problem in Carteret when I'm dead and gone," he said.

Mr. Dennis said the department needs to take a methodical approach to
combatting drugs, starting with the street-level user and then working
up the ladder. Unfortunately, he said, detectives normally only get
one-quarter of the way up before they have to start again.

Capt. Floyd, a captain detective with the sheriff's department, said
one reason drugs are such a problem is because there is no
rehabilitation center in the county. He said he has made more than
1,000 drug arrests during his time with the department and wants to
use his experience to curb the problem. Maj. Galizia, the chief deputy
of the sheriff's department, agreed rehabilitation was needed in the
county. He could not explain why people start using drugs, but said he
has 25 years of experience tackling the drug situation and is
dedicated to getting drugs off the street. Mr. Gaskill, retired from
35 years of law enforcement divided among several departments, said
the sheriff's department needs to do what it can to curtail the drug
problem and the only way to do that is to attack the "big money"
people, he said.

According to Chief Phillips, the police chief of Indian Beach, the
main reason drugs are such a problem is that dealers do not fear
punishment. Drug dealers don't mind turning over their houses or cars
to receive a lighter jail sentence, because they know that when they
get out, they can quickly make the money back, he said.

Also, departments in the county are not effectively combatting the
problem because they are not sharing information on dealers with each
other. Each department wants the proceeds from seizing property
related to drug arrests, he said. Another question directed at the
three candidates currently working in the department was why they
hadn't already implemented the changes they plan to make if they take
office.

Lt. Buck said some of his ideas, such as getting Alcosensors and cages
into patrol cars, have been implemented. He said he was also involved
with getting the department its drug dogs.

Capt. Floyd said that while deputies can make suggestions for
improvements, it's up to the sheriff to implement them. He added that
he has been working for the past three years - since coming off active
duty following 9/11 - putting together his plans.

Maj. Galizia said it is a deputy's job to execute the orders of the
sheriff. Also, he said, growth in the county is presenting problems
that haven't been experience before.

"Programs we didn't need 10 years ago we need today," he said. The
candidates were asked what they believed was the most important issue
facing the sheriff's department and how growth may affect that issue.
The last question of the evening asked what the single most important
issue facing the department in the future will be and how growth
relates to that issue. Lt. Buck said drugs are and will continue to be
the most important issue facing the county.

"Drug abuse is a societal problem, and we need to do something about
it," he said. The increase in population has the potential to increase
the county's drug problem, he continued.

"The county has exploded, and I don't see any end in sight," he said.
Mr. Dennis said the top issue will be the new direction the department
will go in after current Sheriff Ralph Thomas, Jr. steps down. Whoever
takes that position will need to grow the department to keep up with
the new population and the new real estate.

Capt. Floyd said that with as many as 400 people moving into the area
some months, growth will have a huge impact on the county and the
sheriff's department. He said the next sheriff will eventually need to
convey to county commissioners that the department needs more money to
adequately fight crime.

Maj. Galizia said that as the county grows, the demands on the
department will increase. For example, he said, a growing population
will increase the demands of the jail, which is already overpopulated.
He also stressed that the department will need to be transparent with
the board of commissioners to get adequate funding to deal with the
growth. Mr. Gaskill said the main problem with the county growing will
be finding the money to grow the department with it.

Chief Phillips said the department will need more money just to
maintain the current levels of services because of ever-increasing gas
prices and general inflation. The next sheriff will have to do more
with less money, he said, adding that he could submit a budget that
would get the department what it needs to properly serve the county.

The next 10 years will likely see an even greater boom in growth,
according to Mr. Askew.

"We will need to educate commissioners why we need more people and
more money," he said.

The next sheriff will also need to get as much out of his employees as
possible year round, Mr. Askew said.

"We can't wait to make big drug arrests on election years, and ladies
and gentleman, I think everyone knows what I'm talking about," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin