SCRUTINIZED DRUG TASK FORCE GETS GRANT

A drug task force in Kentucky is getting money from the federal
government even though its spending practices are under FBI
investigation.

The Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force in Hopkinsville, Ky., will get
$745,125 in grant money this year from the Department of Justice to
fight methamphetamine use.

On May 12, the FBI in Louisville served a subpoena to Cheyenne Albro,
task force director, for records pertaining to the group's past use of
grant funding. Patrick Bashore, special agent in the Louisville FBI
office, confirmed Friday the task force remains under investigation
but did not provide further details.

The grant money has been authorized for surveillance equipment,
undercover work, meth test kits and destroying meth labs.

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield of Kentucky lobbied to get the money to
continue the program through next year, according to a news release.

Whitfield's press secretary, Jeff Miles, said the Department of
Justice did not contact the congressman's office about the FBI
investigation.

Calls made to the Department of Justice and Office of Justice Programs
were not returned Monday.

For the fourth year, the earmarked money will be distributed to nearly
60 law enforcement agencies across 33 counties in western Kentucky,
Albro said.

Of the total $3.5 million appropriated for Kentucky's 1st
Congressional District, the Task Force has spent $100,000 in training
nearly 180 officers to dismantle meth labs.

Because the work is no longer contracted, the cost of dismantling a
meth lab has dropped from $3,000 to a few hundred dollars, Albro said.

The task force distributes money for western Kentucky based on the
number of meth cases, size of jurisdiction and the financial
capability of local law enforcement agencies.

Albro said the task force tries to fund specific requests, such as an
off-road vehicle for busting labs. Meth labs have been discovered in
two caves, Robinson said.

Sgt. Pat Lageman, head of Hopkinsville Police's Special Investigations
Unit, has used their share of the funding for surveillance equipment
such as night-vision goggles and recording devices, as well as
overtime for agents.