DRUG TEAM IS MAKING DIFFERENCE

Lamar County Sheriff's Department Participation in a multi-agency drug
enforcement 'team' is just the latest reform instituted by Lamar
County Sheriff Danny Rigel.

Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel promised voters last fall that, if elected,
he would make the sheriff's department more efficient.

Seven months later, it's clear that Rigel is fulfilling his promise.

Among other things, the first-term sheriff has realigned the
department's staffing schedule to provide more law enforcement in the
county. He's issued Fuelman gas cards to deputies - a strategic move
that is saving deputies' time and taxpayers' money.

Rigel's latest reform? Participating in a pilot program with two other
law enforcement agencies - the Pearl River County Sheriff's Department
and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics - designed to improve the
county's drug enforcement capabilities.

By teaming with MBN, Lamar County is invested with state authority in
drug investigations. Each of the three law enforcement organizations
provides two agents to work the two-county area.

Agents have the authority to operate in each county, thereby
increasing each county's drug-fighting capabilities.

"I think it's going to be an excellent opportunity for state and local
law enforcement to work on this problem," said District Attorney Buddy
McDonald, who is supervising the cooperative effort.

The pilot program, which has been in operation for several months, has
already yielded positive results.

According to Aaron Russell Jr., chief deputy with the Pearl River
County Sheriff's Department, there have been 150 meth cases between
the two counties since January.

Rigel - and each of the participating agencies - deserves praise for
taking part in this creative drug-fighting venture.

We encourage other counties throughout the state to launch similar
programs.