Pubdate: Wed, 17 Oct 2007
Source: Moulton Advertiser (AL)
Copyright: 2007 Moulton Advertiser
Contact:  http://www.moultonadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4585
Author: Ginger Grantham

LC DRUG TASK FORCE GETS ADDITIONAL FUNDING

The grant received by the Lawrence County Drug Task Force will help fund 
the unit for the coming year but it is $11,000 short of the requested amount.

Gov. Bob Riley announced last week that the task force had received a grant 
for $61,000. The funds were made available by the U.S. Department of 
Justice and are administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and 
Community Affairs (ADECA).

"If we had gotten the $72,000 grant we had requested, we could have hired 
an additional officer for the task force," said Task Force Director Amard 
Martin. "But we didn't get enough for a new officer. But it was more than 
last year when we only got $45,000."

The LC Drug Task Force is two officers strong including Martin and Dennis 
Sharp.

Martin said he will use the funds to pay the expenses of the task force.

"Our cars are worn out and now unsafe. I want to get two new vehicles that 
will blend in with the cars in the county," Martin said.

In making the announcement, Riley stated "Illegal drugs are a menace to the 
health and safety of every segment of our society. The task force's 
investigations and arrests send a clear message that users and pushers will 
not be tolerated in Lawrence County."

The task force agents from the Lawrence County's Sheriff's Department, the 
district attorney's office and the police departments of Moulton, 
Courtland, North Courtland and Town Creek reduce drug-related crime by 
using informants, undercover drug purchases and other 
intelligence-gathering techniques.

These efforts lead to the seizure of money, weapons and vehicles used in 
illegal activities.

The grant is made to the Lawrence County Commission but is earmarked for 
the drug task force. The grant is a 50 percent match requiring the county 
to pitch in $61,000.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D