DRUG GRANT FUNDS IN DANGER

IONIA - National cuts could trickle down and have a local impact if
proposed cuts to the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program go
through.

This would have a negative impact on efforts to curb drug use around
not only the nation, but Michigan as well.

Michigan could potentially lose two-thirds of its nearly $10 million
of funding received in 2007.

Nationally, the funding will be reduced to about $170 million, down
about 67 percent from last year's nearly $520 million.

Some of the programs these Byrne grant dollars help fund include
county officers for the Central Michigan Enforcement Team drug task
force made up of law enforcement agencies from Ionia, Montcalm,
Mecosta and Newaygo counties.

"We are reimbursed for 50 percent of the officer expenses we put up,"
Ionia County Administrator Mark Howe said.

The total cost for an officer is about $80,000, with the county being
reimbursed for about $40,000.

If the program is indeed cut, Howe said it would be something the
county would have to take a look at continuing.

Local law enforcement officials are also weighing in on possible
impact a cut in the grant program would bring.

Ionia County Sheriff Dwain Dennis said there has been an effort across
the nation by law enforcement officials to encourage congressional
leaders to reinstate the funding to previous levels.

He said the assistance the Byrne grant provides to the CMET program is
a help to the county department.

"We just don't have the resources to patrol narcotics complaints as
well as we should," Dennis said, adding that the local officers are
just trying to keep up with day to day tasks and complaints.

"We just want to keep being able to enforce the laws," said
Dennis.

The sheriff wasn't the only local law enforcement official who was
concerned about the cuts

Lt. Patrick Richard, Michigan State Police Ionia Post Commander, said
he was concerned that without Byrne funding there is a possibility for
cuts in the CMET program.

"CMET does a lot of stuff that people don't know about," said
Richard.

Lt. Steve Rau, commander of CMET, said they are currently waiting to
see what happens with the cuts.

Despite the potential for the reduction in funding, Sen. Alan Cropsey,
R-DeWitt, sponsored a Senate resolution urging the U.S. Congress to
reverse cuts to the grant program.

Cropsey said the cuts would have a significant impact on many drug
control efforts.

He also said Gov. Jennifer Granholm had based her budget on the state
receiving funds from the Byrne grant.

The Senate resolution, which was adopted March 25, will be sent to
President George W. Bush, the U.S. House of Representative and members
of the Michigan congressional delegation.

The Byrne grant program is a national grant program that allows states
and local governments to support activities to control crime and
improve the justice system.