Pubdate: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 Source: Daily Review (PA) Copyright: 2007 The Daily Review Contact: http://www.thedailyreview.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1015 Author: Ronald W. Hosie Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) SHERIFF ACCUSED OF 'FUDGING' DRUG GRANT Sheriff Steve Evans "misrepresented" his office in the application for U.S. Department of Justice money that resulted in a $246,807 anti-methamphetamine grant being awarded to the Bradford County Sheriff's Office, according to Greg Hostettler, a candidate for sheriff in the May Republican primary election. Hostettler, in an interview on Monday, contended Evans wanted the money to buy equipment and conduct training to further what Hostettler said was Evans' interest in establishing a countywide police force using sheriff's deputies. Such a police operation is unnecessary, Hostettler said, because the Pennsylvania State Police and the state Attorney General's Task Force in Bradford County already provide that service, especially for drug investigations. To create another such operation would be "a duplication of efforts, using tax dollars for services that already exist," Hostettler said in the interview, repeating what he had said previously in the campaign. Evans, seeking election to his fifth term as sheriff, has been pro-active in spreading a community awareness campaign about the dangers of methamphetamine. He wrote in the grant application that the money was needed to continue the fight against the illegal drug. He added: "The problem that Bradford County consistently encounters is cost. ... [W]ithout federal funding we will not be able to accomplish our goals of eradicating this drug from our community." Evans could not be reached before a newspaper deadline Tuesday for a response to Hostettler's claims. Detailed messages left at his office, home and on his cell phone were not returned. In an interview last week, Evans was asked about District Attorney candidate Bob McGuinness' statement that the former D.A. (McGuinness) favored expanding the powers of the sheriff to conduct drug investigations. Evans said, "We just want to help our county in any way we can. We have in the past (served as a part of the countywide drug task force) and we would be willing to serve in whatever role to help our county." The alleged misrepresentations, according to Hostettler, occurred when Evans repeatedly phrased his written answers to grant-application questions as if he currently conducted a police force actively engaged in the investigation of illegal drugs, specifically, methamphetamine. That is significant, Hostettler asserted, asking rhetorically, in effect: Why would the government award money to investigate drugs to an agency that was prohibited from conducting such investigations? The lengthy grant application, which contains acknowledgements that the answers are true, and that false statements may result in fines, imprisonment and disbarment from participating in federal grants, was signed by Evans in August 2006. But early in 2004, the Bradford County Sheriff's department was prohibited by the state attorney general and the Bradford County district attorney from investigating such cases, Hostettler said. "He knows he can't do these things. ... He hasn't been involved in any at all," he said. "What's the motive?... It's no secret in countywide law enforcement over the years that he has desired a countywide police force. ... He is not being entirely forthright," said Hostettler, who for many years was the chief of the Troy Police Department. The campaign issue, Hostettler said, boils down to this: "... He has misrepresented himself in a federal grant to get money to create the infrastructure for a countywide police force. There appears to be misrepresentation to obtain federal funds. Am I concerned that's his intent? Yes, 'cause I can't see any other explanation." So, Hostettler asked, "Is a person who fudges, misrepresents things the kind of person you want in office, who will have to testify ... ?" Evans acknowledged in the application that his office "is not the primary law enforcement authority in Bradford County." However, he writes, "We have taken a very active role in attacking the methamphetamine problem. We not only have investigated, apprehended and prosecuted numerous meth cooks, but we have vigorously participated in establishing and actively continuing our Anti-Meth Task Force." Nevertheless, Hostettler said, what Evans did not say was that his office had not had the authority to conduct such investigations for about two years. Among the claims set forth by Evans in the grant is that the money would "provide law enforcement appropriate equipment to detect methamphetamine manufacture." To "detect" means to investigate, Hostettler said. Evans also wrote: "It is believed we have done all we can with our limited resources to fight the methamphetamine epidemic. This grant is essential for our continued success." Hostettler enumerated other sections of the application he said make it clear the money is intended for the sheriff's office to conduct drug investigations. They include requests for: One 2007 Yamaha Rhino 4X4 utility vehicle to help transport equipment and provide for "more rapid response to secluded crime scenes," plus a cargo trailer to carry the utility vehicle. Total cost, $20,650 Six car-mounted and two hand-held global positioning units "to mark surveillance locations, clan dump sites and locations of clandestine laboratories in wooded areas." Evans points out that the Bradford County Sheriff's Office jurisdiction covers more than 1,151 square miles. Total cost, $4,600. Five night-vision devices for "surveillance of suspected clandestine laboratories." Cost, $19,000. "One thermal imager for surveillance, detecting heat sources associated with meth production, locating fleeing meth suspects in remote locations and locating chemical dump sites." Cost, $12,550. One portable light tower "to flood light over the entire meth lab scene." Cost, $4,100. One Panasonic Toughbook29 "for field operations including search warrants, criminal charging and clandestine laboratory reports." Cost, $6,050. Protective gear for hazardous materials handling, including haz-mat safety suits and glove packs. The cost exceeded $4,000. Under travel/training, the application repeatedly refers to "The Bradford County Sheriff's Office requests training in ..." In one instance, for example, it stated, "street survival for all personnel in this office." The allocation requested for training, including out-of-town trips to Las Vegas, Orlando, Fla., and other destinations, totaled $20,690. The application also requested $30,000 for "deputy overtime surveillance." In the narrative, the application signed by Evans said, in part, "We considered requesting additional staff, but we concluded it would be far more effective to provide overtime for trained, experienced personnel to conduct surveillance after regular work hours." The resources are not being shared with any other police agency, Hostettler said. They are for the exclusive use of the sheriff's department, he contended. For example, he said, the car-mounted GPS units all have been installed on sheriff's vehicles. The application also had other components, including, for example, anti-drug education for children and students. Coupled to that were requests for money to pay for premiums such as school-dance or sporting-event tickets, gift certificates and other prizes to reward positive anti-drug behavior. The total for that amounted to more than $25,000. Evans is part of a movement statewide to expand the powers of sheriffs. It has been an issue around Pennsylvania for some years. In recent years, state appeals court rulings have limited their powers. However, the issue has not yet been resolved at the higher court levels, where a case involving Bradford County is pending. In addition, bills have been introduced in the legislature to expand sheriffs' powers. However, they have not been enacted into law. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman