TO PROTECT AND COLLECT

I'm of the opinion that Sheriff Don Blankenship and his deputies are
the only people in this country who really are against illegal drugs.

Oh, sure, you and I say we're against illegal drugs, but what have you
done to stop drug abuse? I've done nothing, and I doubt you have, either.

Blankenship and his deputies volunteer their time on a checkpoint west
of town on Interstate 44, which has been called a "drug pipeline." The
sheriff and his deputies have taken literally tons of dope off the
highway and out of circulation. That's tons of dope that aren't going
into the bloodstreams of the nation's children.

Although the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that drug roadblocks are
illegal, Sheriff Blankenship said his operation doesn't fit the
description of what the court ruled illegal, so he's going to keep on
operating the checkpoint.

Good for him!

The Missouri Sheriffs Association has warned its members about the
ruling. The Missouri Police Chiefs Association has told its members to
quit conducting checkpoints at least until the ruling can be
researched. The Missouri State Highway Patrol has said it will cease
conducting its drug checkpoints, so I guess in Phelps County the only
people who will actively try to halt drugs on the highway are Sheriff
Blankenship and his deputies.

The Justice Department has told him that his checkpoint is legitimate
and can continue.

Officials with the American Civil Liberties Union said they believe
Blankenship should stop the checkpoints anyway.

"Even if the Justice Department gave him the go-ahead, I don't think
it changes the fact that the practice appears to conflict with the
U.S. Supreme Court ruling," said Matt LeMieux, executive director of
the ACLU of Eastern Missouri.

Blankenship said what differentiates Phelps County's checkpoints from
others is that only drivers who are already acting suspiciously are
stopped. Although the deputies set up signs on the interstate warning
motorists of an upcoming roadblock, the checkpoint is set up off the
interstate, so the people who go through it either live in the area or
are trying to avoid what they think is a checkpoint.

"We have statistics to show that the vehicles we have come through our
operations, we've found drugs in 61 percent of the vehicles,"
Blankenship said. "That's a reason for the stops. We are confident we
are well within the guidelines."

Sheriff Blankenship and his deputies ought to receive some kind of
recognition for this.

Oh, sure, they've been recognized-and chastised-by the Kansas City
Star.

They've been recognized-and chastised-by the county Democrats who
tried to use the drug checkpoint as a way to oust Sheriff Blankenship
from office.

They've been recognized-and chastised-by the county prosecutor who
went so far as to have the sheriff investigated. (The investigation
showed the sheriff had done absolutely nothing wrong.)

The only positive recognition Sheriff Blankenship and his deputies
have received is from me and the DEA.

And, oh, yes, there was that majority of voters who recognized the
excellent job done by Sheriff Blankenship and returned him to office
for another four-year term. I guess that's some important
recognition!

Keep up the good work, sheriff.