ALERT MERCHANTS AID WAR ON DRUGS

Law enforcement agencies in the area are gaining critical allies in
their ongoing war against methamphetamine.

Police say tips from retailers who sell materials necessary for
making meth are valuable in finding producers and users of the
illegal drug.

Within the last 10 days, four arrests were made at Evansville's East
Side Wal-Mart after employees reported suspicious purchases to the
Vanderburgh County sheriffís office.

Across the region, police report a growing level of cooperation.

"We work hand-in-hand with them, and they work hand-in-hand with us,"
said Charlie Young, assistant chief of the Henderson (Ky.) Police
Department. "Thereís a partnership there, and weíve been able to
arrest people."

The partnerships are being forged through education.

State, county and local police agencies have held meetings with
retailers encouraging them to watch for purchases of things like
starter fluid, drain cleaner, lithium batteries and cold medicines.

When customers buy combinations of those items or buy them in bulk,
police have urged retailers to call with the information.

The Evansville Police Department's effort to educate store clerks and
security personnel about meth was instigated by EPD drug investigator
Chris Pugh.

"He contacted retailers and their loss prevention people, gave them
numbers to contact. It was very productive," said EPD drug
investigator Jerry Tooley.

Since the program started, Tooley said store personnel have provided
leads that have led not only to immediate arrests, but have triggered
investigations leading to additional arrests.

A scenario that's become fairly typical throughout the region
unfolded March 30 at Evansville's East Side Wal-Mart.

A customer bought lithium batteries and starter fluid, drawing notice
from loss-prevention personnel.

The man went outside and put the items into his car. His wife then
went into the store and bought three cans of starter fluid.

Sheriff's deputies pulled over the car after it left the store.
Deputies reported finding numerous other meth components which the
couple had allegedly bought elsewhere.

The couple were arrested for conspiracy to manufacture meth and
possession of precursors. They were out on bond after previously
having been arrested in Union County, Ky., on charges of
manufacturing meth.

Police in Henderson say their relationships with retailers also have paid off.

Young said police say tips from the city's Wal-Mart and Kmart stores,
especially, have led to arrests.

In Spencer County, Ind., where meth traffic has been steady for the
last two years, police-retail relationships are still taking root,
according to Sheriff LaVerl Uhde.

Uhde said his office has received about four meth-related tips from
stores since the it began "Operation Fight Back," a countywide
anti-meth effort, last year.

"We're still pushing (relationships with retailers)," Uhde said.