All too often, officials attack the problems they face as if they are the only ones who face them. They think of them as location specific rather than one that knows no borders. Drugs is one of those problems. It's not a war to be declared only in Childersburg or Talladega or Sylacauga. Across the river, it's not a battle just in Pell City or Moody. These are efforts that need a regional attack plan in order to get drugs off the streets of towns and cities and counties across the area and keep them off.

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SYLACAUGA - Drugs play a major role in crime in Talladega County as they do across the country. Just ask Sylacauga Police Chief Louis Zook or Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens. That's why the two law enforcement officers understand the importance of forming the Talladega County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

Both say they believe at least 80 percent of the crimes committed in Talladega County are related to drug use.

"It could be burglaries or thefts where the individual needs money to buy drugs. It could involve the sale or possession of drugs or crimes committed while on drugs," Giddens said.

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The Sylacauga City Council is offering its support to create a Talladega County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The council approved a resolution Tuesday night to fund the task force for fiscal year 2002-2003.

District Attorney Steve Giddens spoke to the council about the task force during a work session Monday night.

The District Attorney's Office, through the Talladega County Commission, is requesting grant funds from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Law Enforcement Planning Division. The grant would pay the operating costs of the task force, Giddens said.

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TALLADEGA COUNTY - The Talladega County Commission approved a grant application Monday for about $450,000 to fund the startup costs and one year's operation expenses for the Talladega County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The commission also approved the agreement participating agencies will sign to join the task force.

Assistant District Attorney Barry Matson said he expects these agencies will sign the agreement this week. They include the district attorney's office, the Sheriff's Department and the Talladega, Sylacauga, Childersburg and Lincoln police departments.

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If local law enforcement patrols of Interstate 20 needed any validation, try no less than three major drug seizures by both police and sheriff's patrols - in a week's time.

The latest example of police presence paying off was the discovery of some $400,000 worth of cocaine Friday when St. Clair Deputy Roy Mullins stopped a vehicle on the interstate with an expired tag.

Before that, Riverside police seized 213 pounds of marijuana worth $615,000 and on an earlier stop, the same department netted another 13 pounds of marijuana and $115,000 in cash.

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The St. Clair County Sheriff's Department made one of its largest cocaine seizures in the department's history on Friday. "As far as I can remember, it's one of the largest seizures of pure cocaine we have ever made," St. Clair County Sheriff Terry Surles said.

A big smile crossed the sheriff's face as he looked over at the four kilos of cocaine sitting on the hood of a county K-9 sports utility vehicle.

"You see so many lives wasted because of this drug right here," Surles said, pointing to the red packages.

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State law bars them from stopping speeders on interstates in Alabama, but that hasn't slowed down the Riverside Police Department. Through their diligence and efforts, law officers from Riverside put a big dent in some drug dealers' pockets this weekend, putting a number of people behind bars and taking more than a hundred thousand dollars in drugs and drug money off the streets.

Though a movement to allow small cities to have speeding enforcement rights on the interstates fell short this past year, the law still allows them to make other types of traffic stops.

And it's good to see local law enforcement taking the initiative to make a difference, despite legal difficulties.

Kudos to all who took part in the drug busts this weekend. After all, speeding tickets are small potatoes compared to crimping the drug trade.

[end]

When Riverside Police Officer and dog handler Richard Woods is at a training or in school, Xeno the drug dog stays home. That was bad news for the Riverside Police Department Tuesday as they missed out on confiscating three pounds of marijuana from a vehicle headed west on Interstate 20.

Police Chief Gilbert Norman said they received a tip from another law enforcement agency that a silver 2001 Mercury Mystique was headed toward Riverside.

"We received information that the car had a large amount of cash and the possibility of drugs," Norman said. "Officer Woods was in Georgia getting more interdiction training, and he is the only one who handles Xeno."

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A bill sponsored by Sen. Jim Preuitt was introduced into the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday redefining the crime of unlawful possession of anhydrous ammonia. Although anhydrous ammonia is a nitrogen fertilizer used legally by farmers, it is also a vital ingredient in the production of methamphetamine, an illegal narcotic growing in popularity throughout the state.

The Lincoln Police Department made an arrest in December when tanks of anhydrous ammonia were stolen from a local business for the purpose of producing methamphetamine.

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As sure as the campaign season gets into full swing in Alabama, so does the "tough on crime" rhetoric. But before they go any further, we join the Association of County Commissions of Alabama in asking the Legislature to use a little common sense before they act.

No politician wants to be perceived as being soft on crime, so they pander to gullible voters with legislation that keeps criminals behind bars longer. The only problem is, there aren't enough bars to hold them all.

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A routine traffic stop on Interstate 20 led to two men being charged Sunday with marijuana trafficking. "This is a by-product of increased patrols on I-20," Pell City Police Chief Mike Hale said. "There is a perception that there is something wrong with us being out there. We can be out there, and we should be out there. We know there is more than just this being transported along I-20. I'm going to continue to allow my officers to patrol the two-tenths of a mile of I-20 that's in our city limits."

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"Drug dealers don't do what they do as a public service. They do it because of the money," said Childersburg Police Chief Chuck Brown. If the lure of easy money is what tempts most people into crime, as Brown said, then that lure looks much more tempting when you don't have any money.

Most area law enforcement officials say they believe there is a link between poverty and crime. They believe that not having the opportunity to legally support yourself comfortably - which in essence is what poverty is - - is a strong incentive to turn to illegal means to make a living.

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Thanks to the Police Department and Police Chief Louis Zook, the Sylacauga City School System is getting a new school resource officer through a COPS in Schools grant. The school board officially accepted the grant Tuesday night.

Last May 9, the school system signed off on a grant application made by the Police Department for a grant award for the new school resource officer.

The department was recently notified it was awarded the $103,000 grant. The grant is for three years and pays for the salary and benefits of the officer.

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