DRUGS CHIEF SEEKING SUPPORT

The new chief of a regional agency that targets illegal drugs in Northern
Kentucky will update his board today on his progress in expanding the
agency's dismal membership.

Participation in the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force is voluntary, and
now only three of the region's 33 police agencies contribute officers. But
James Paine, who took over in April as executive director, says he has
commitments from at least four other police and sheriff's departments.

Paine is trying to elicit more cooperation by varying the length of time
officers are loaned to the agency, by vowing to be accessible to police
chiefs and by emphasizing the training benefits that serving on the task
force provides.

He also plans to narrow the agency's focus to stopping the movement of
illegal drugs along Interstates 71 and 75.

"It is a lot for a police chief to give up a fully trained officer for a
two-or three-year commitment," Paine said.

"You expect to see a return on your investment. Those are the type of
things that we are dealing with in trying to make the chiefs feel
comfortable with the unit."

Created in 1977 to help police agencies in Boone, Campbell and Kenton
counties deter crime, the strike force has had a spotty history. Agencies
have come and gone over the years, and two executive directors have
resigned since 1998.

But Paine's credentials, and his recruiting efforts, are apparently
impressive enough to win over both current members and some converts.

"He brings many years of experience and administrative diversity to the
job," said Kenton County Police Chief Bill Dorsey, whose agency is one of
the current members.

"I think Jim has the ideas to make the strike force grow and become an even
larger contributor to drug abatement and enforcement in the Northern
Kentucky area."

Officers assigned to the drug strike force are paid by their respective
police departments, and the agency's administrative costs are paid by state
and federal grants and by assets forfeited in drug cases.

Kenton County has contributed two officers, as have police departments in
Boone and Campbell counties. But Paine said he needs at least 15 to 20 agents.

Paine declined to name the four agencies who've told him they plan to sign on.

He said he hopes to increase participation by varying how long an officer
serves on the agency. Officers now are rotated in and out every two or
three years, but it takes most agents a year to get a good feel for the
job, Paine said.

He would like officers from larger departments to serve even longer terms
that will enable them get a better handle on bigger drug rings and
couriers. But he's told smaller departments that even short terms would
benefit their officers by training them in identifying potential narcotics
dealers, even on routine traffic stops.

Paine has also made good on a stated commitment to crack down on people
using local motels and hotels to conduct illicit drug business. On
Thursday, agents with the drug strike force joined Florence police officers
and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in shutting down a
methamphetamine lab at a Florence motel.

Paine, a 51-year-old native of Southern California with three college
degrees, has 25 years of experience in law enforcement and last served as
police chief in Brigham City, Utah.

"It's a challenge. It's definitely a challenge," he said about increasing
the regional strike force's influence.

But Paine said he has been called upon several times in his career to be a
strong leader and is confident he can perform the job.

He also believes he has a strong team backing him.

(SIDEBAR)

About James Paine
- -- 25 years of experience in law enforcement, including six years with Los
Angeles police and six years with Palm Springs police.
- -- Police chief in Brigham City, Utah, since 1998.
- -- Was chief investigator with the Utah Department of Commerce's division
of consumer protection, and special investigative agent with the Utah
Attorney General's public corruption unit.
- -- 1999 graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.