DON'T RUSH DRUG SQUAD SEARCH

Finding The Right Leader For The Countywide Drug Squad
Will Take Time.

CURTAILING CHATHAM County's drug trafficking is key to reducing the
property crimes committed by addicts and the violence committed in
crack and dope dealer turf wars.

A necessary facet of that effort is coordination among the various
city and county law enforcement agencies in investigations and
information sharing.

That's why the Counter Narcotics Team plays a huge role in effective
crime-fighting - and why finding good leadership for the CNT does not
need to be rushed.

The right CNT leader will be a person with more than impeccable
law-enforcement skills, but also the ability to harmonize the efforts
of multiple police forces.

This person must be able to lead the charge against a pervasive
societal scourge, but also to encourage and accept assistance from
other agencies.

Finding a strong-willed leader who recognizes the need for
collaboration takes time.

Beyond that, the chairman of the Drug Advisory Board, which oversees
the CNT, is the recently hired Savannah-Chatham Metro Police Chief
Michael Berkow.

Local leaders had hoped to name a new CNT commander by now, but the
application deadline was extended from December of last year to
January. The extra time has given Chief Berkow more time to
familiarize himself with the area's issues and needs.

It also will help him make better informed decisions as the Drug
Advisory Board carries out its search.

The board, made up of area police chiefs, the sheriff and the district
attorney, will make a recommendation, likely within the next two
months, according to County Manager Russ Abolt.

Mr. Abolt will then make the final decision on the next CNT
commander.

The 20 applicants who have expressed an interest in the job range from
local law enforcement officials, to officers from as far away as
Minnesota and California.

Chief Berkow says the board is looking for someone with leadership
ability, integrity and a solid background in investigations and
narcotics work.

Many of the applicants may meet those criteria.

That means choosing from among them will require close scrutiny to
decide which person would be the best fit for Savannah and Chatham
County.

The Drug Advisory Board should be able to carry out their
deliberations without pressure to act too quickly.

Choosing the right leader for Chatham County's anti-drug effort is too
important a decision to be made in haste.

The right CNT leader will be a person with more than impecccable
law-enforcement skills, but also the ability to harmonize the efforts
of multiple police forces.