Author: Maggie Borman, Telegraph staff writer

CARROLLTON TO GET FUNDS FOR OFFICER ON DRUG TASK FORCE

CARROLLTON -- Chief Mike Kiger said the Carrollton Police Department will
be able to keep an undercover officer on the South Central Illinois Drug
Task Force after the three-year grant that funded the officer's
participation in the program expires April 30.

"I am happy to report that the cities of Roodhouse, White Hall and
Greenfield all agreed to pay $7,000 per year toward his salary," Kiger said.

Kiger had requested $7,000 from each of the cities and the Greene County
Board to enable the police inspector to remain on the drug task force.

The Greene County Board approved paying the same amount towards the
officer's salary at its February meeting, and the city of Carrollton will
pay for his insurance, retirement benefits and equipment needs.

The South Central Illinois Drug Task Force has been an asset in drug
trafficking cases and prosecutions. Since the officer's assignment to the
task force in March 1998 through 2000, 70 cases were opened. Eleven
methamphetamine cases have been opened since January 2001, nine of which
involved meth labs, with two of the cases from Greene County.

Greenfield Mayor Don Chapman said the city plans to pay its portion of the
salary in monthly payments.

"We feel this is a really good thing to do," Chapman said. "You can't give
enough money toward something like this. If we help keep just one kid off
drugs, it's worth the $7,000."

White Hall Mayor Harold Brimm said his City Council voted to give the
$7,000 toward the officer's salary before the April 3 election but left the
option of how to pay the amount up to the decision of the post-election
council.

"We were all in favor of paying our portion of the salary but felt it was
only fair to allow the next sitting council to determine in what manner
they wished to make the payment," he said.

Roodhouse City Clerk Frances Ballard said the entire City Council feels the
drug task force is very important.

"We loaned them $1,000 when they needed some last year, because we feel it
is such a necessary thing," Ballard said. "We certainly want to continue
funding the task force officer and will try to make payments of $500 per
month, starting in May, with our amount totaling $6,000."

Kiger said some of the benefits for a county having an officer on the task
force are more arrests, prosecutions, getting drugs off the streets, money
from fines and saving money by not having to hire an outside officer
trained in cleaning up meth labs, which can cost $2,000 to $8,000.

"One drug bust on a rolling meth lab would probably bring us more in fines
than the $7,000 we have committed for one year," Greene County Board
Chairman Eric Ivers said when the board agreed to pay a portion toward the
salary.

The South Central Illinois Drug Task Force encompasses the counties of
Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Montgomery and Calhoun. It includes two city,
three county and two Illinois State Police officers.