CITY COUNCIL BACKS I-95 POLICE PATROLS

Riley Says Local Officers Stopping Drugs

Charleston's practice of sending city police officers to patrol Interstate
95 survived a City Council vote Tuesday, but the patrols could get closer
scrutiny in coming months.

The fact that the vote took place marked a reversal from Mayor Joe Riley's
previous position, which was that Police Chief Reuben Greenberg had the
ultimate say on the far-flung patrols.

Riley said an opinion from the state Attorney General's office led to the
decision to seek ratification from City Council of existing mutual aid
agreements. Future agreements also will come before council, he said.

The patrols of the section of I-95 near Santee were the first to draw
attention, but Charleston police officers also have headed to Spartanburg,
Myrtle Beach and elsewhere.

Although the agreements won approval from City Council, some council
members criticized the practice.

"The farther we get away ... it starts making less sense to me on a policy
basis," said Councilman Henry Fishburne. He said he believes officers would
be better used in Charleston.

Riley and police officials defend the practice.

They say the Santee patrols nab drugs on the busy interstate that otherwise
might come to Charleston.

"I-95 is a pipeline," Riley said. "We're patrolling our borders."

The patrols have led to arrests and the seizure of a variety of drugs.

Police also say the practice brings in money. Charleston gets half of the
assets seized during the I-95 patrols. As of December, that amounted to
about $85,500, although salaries for the officers totaled about $100,000.

The focus of the other agreements has varied. Some have been for special
events, such as biker weekends in Myrtle Beach. The other ongoing
arrangement is with the city of Spartanburg, and involves an exchange of
officers for undercover drug busts.

Police Maj. Herb Whetsell said the exchange brings in new faces that drug
dealers will not recognize.

Riley said it is an important tool for police in the fight against drug
dealing.

"Drug enforcement isn't easy," he said. "Why in the world we would want to
tie their hands, I don't know."

The agreements with Santee and Spartanburg expire this year.

Councilman Robert George said he would like to take a closer look at the
practice before making any new deals.

"I'd like to know the fiscal impact of it, what it's costing the city in
dollars and cents," he said.

He also asked whether Charles-ton has received as much assistance as it has
given.

Whetsell said he was not certain about the extent of the assistance
received but that officers from other areas have come to Charleston.

Councilman James Lewis said nothing is necessarily wrong with mutual aid
agreements, but that he is bothered by the Santee patrols. He said he does
not want to micromanage the police department but that the officers would
be more valuable in Charleston.

Two council members, Kwadjo Campbell and George, voted against approving
the existing agreements. Councilmen Jimmy Gallant and Louis Waring were absent.