NEW UNIT TO HELP MADISON POLICE IN WAR AGAINST DRUGS

Area Police, Sheriff's Officers Now Sharing Resources, Information

By combining resources and manpower through a new task force, the narcotics
unit of the Madison Police Department now has access to 16 officers to help
fight illegal drug activity in the community.

The newly formed unit called the Huntsville/Madison County Strategic
Counter Drug Unit, or STAC, officially began operating Sept. 11, ahead of
its targeted start date by nearly a month.

The unit combines the efforts of the Madison Police Department, the
Huntsville Police Department and the Madison County Sheriff's office,
replacing the previous Madison County Drug Task Force operated under the
direction of the District Attorney's office.

"Our objective is to deter drug activity throughout Madison County," said
Director Lee Weaver of the Madison Police Department.

She said Madison had run a two-man drug unit for several years, but it was
difficult, especially with the city's rapidly increasing population. And
because drug dealers often work outside their own city or coun"The biggest
advantage to any type of investigation is information. So when you pool
your resources, it helps further the investigation process." Lee Weaver
with the Madison Police Department and Huntsville/Madison County Strategic
Counter Drug Unit ty, Weaver said, the offender might live in Huntsville
but deal in Madison.

"The biggest advantage to any type of investigation is information. So when
you pool your resources, it helps further the investigation process," said
Weaver.

That's why the most important benefits of the new unit, Weaver said, are
sharing resources and having the ability to combine manpower and equipment.

"Madison only had two narcotics investigators, so they had to go outside
their agency for support," said Sgt. Jim Winn of the Huntsville Police
Department.

Winn, commander for the newly formed drug unit, said they've been able to
combine intelligence and databases. Previously, this information was
scattered among different agencies.

Significant drug busts

"Now, for anything that happens in Madison, they already have a team of 16
people," said Winn. "It's a great resource for the Madison community."

The Madison County District Attorney's office is administering the grant
which pays for the unit. And the Huntsville Police Department has taken the
leadership role, coordinating the efforts of the various agencies and
departments.

"The previous organizational task force was down to only four agents. At
full strength, we'll be up to a commander and 15 agents," said Winn.

He said the increase in manpower is going to enable the unit to implement
new programs and strategies.

"We've already made some pretty significant busts and, to date, we've had
drug and property seizures of more than $20,000," said Winn.

This includes confiscating more than 18 pounds of marijuana, arresting five
people and seizing 12 rifles and shotguns and three handguns.