DRUGS ARRESTS INCREASE WITH RESTRUCTURING

Team Effort

For too long the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics was viewed as a
lone-ranger agency.

Drug enforcement should be a unified, federal, state and local effort.

Drugs drive crime in Mississippi, so drug enforcement is a key part of
public safety. The news this week that drug arrests from the
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics are up 39 percent deserves note by the
public.

For the first half of 2004, MBN officials report 1,435 drug arrests.
For the same period last year, there were 1,034 arrests.

Public Safety Commissioner Rusty Fortenberry and Bureau of Narcotics
Director George Phillips credit restructuring of the agency under the
Department of Public Safety and better interaction with local agencies
as reasons for the increase. The restructuring was an important step
in improving drug enforcement.

For too long, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics operated with such
independence that it had a reputation for "cowboy" law enforcement.
Gov. Haley Barbour rightly moved the agency clearly under the
administration of the Department of Public Safety. The agency should
be part of an overall state crime-fighting effort, not competing with
other agencies for public attention and funding. Barbour also
appointed former U.S. Attorney George Phillips to head the agency.
Phillips is highly qualified and came to the office with a strong
reputation among state law enforcement agencies.

Cooperation is essential for effective drug enforcement. The newly
reorganized MBN seems to be getting off to a good start in working
with local agencies. The state needs an overall drug-enforcement
strategy with team players, not lone rangers.