AGENCIES TEAM UP TO FIGHT DRUGS

Cabell Sheriff's Department Coordinating `Operation Blitz'

HUNTINGTON -- Police plan to increasingly tackle the growing local
"drug epidemic" at street level, combining the resources of several
city, county, state and federal agencies.

More than a dozen law enforcement officers and state and federal
leaders gathered Wednesday at the Cabell County Courthouse to announce
"Operation Blitz." Coordinated by the Cabell County Sheriff's
Department, it will combine officers from multiple agencies, including
Marshall University Public Safety and the FBI, to form
street-enforcement teams throughout Cabell and Wayne counties.

West Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. A.L. Cummings, district commander
of Cabell and Wayne counties, referred to the operation as "a more
proactive street-level" version of the existing Huntington Drug and
Violent Crime Task Force.

Officers said the May 22 fatal shooting incident of four teenagers in
the 1400 block of Charleston Avenue underscores the need for extra
enforcement and police visibility.

"There's no better time to start something than right now,"
Barboursville Police Chief Alan Meek said. "People are coming out and
giving more information than they ever have. We have to take advantage
of that."

Huntington Police Chief Gene Baumgardner said the extra help will
benefit his agency, which has been flooded with tips from callers.

"It will allow us to have more personnel to work on these leads," he
said. "I anticipate a lot of help."

Law enforcement officers addressed the Huntington area's drug
connection with Detroit, and Cabell County Sheriff Kim Wolfe referred
to Michigan's largest city as "a (drug) pipeline."

Huntington police previously had said the quadruple homicide case
appears to be linked with Detroit, a connection that has resulted in
an influx of drug dealers and violence. Police estimated that as many
as 100 Detroit drug dealers have operated in Huntington in recent
months, with major crime investigations linked to Detroit and the
crack-cocaine trade.

During Wednesday's news conference, Cabell County Prosecutor Chris
Chiles addressed the supply and demand "simple economics" of the
crack-cocaine trade.

"We've got to attack the supply side," he said. "We have to remember
to attack the demand side, too."

Cabell Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jim Scheidler said he has noticed a
disturbing trend of more and more juveniles involved with the
crack-cocaine trade.

"Operation Blitz" will not be limited to crack-cocaine enforcement,
officers said. Another growing epidemic is methamphetamine
manufacturing, but it tends to occur in predominantly rural areas and
without an elaborate network of dealers, Scheidler said.

Cabell County Commission President Bob Bailey said nearly $20,000 was
allocated toward the Sheriff's budget to help launch "Operation
Blitz." The operation also will receive assistance from federal grants.

Similar multi-agencies have helped fight drug trafficking in
Charleston and Chillicothe, Ohio.

Cummings said officers will work both uniformed and undercover, as
well as in marked and unmarked vehicles.

"We want to maintain the highest level of visibility to let the
community know we're out there," he said.

Officers said "Operation Blitz" should allow for quicker turnaround
times from bust to bust than the existing drug task force.

Police encouraged anyone with information about illegal drug activity,
no matter how unsubstantial that information may seem, to call the
confidential tip line at (304) 696-4444. Mayor David Felinton said
callers may remain anonymous, and he said caller ID is not utilized on
the tip line, which is answered with a recorded message.