AGENCIES LINK UP TO FIGHT DRUGS, GUNS

When it comes to fighting crime, a lack of cooperation between federal,
state and local law enforcement agencies has been an age-old problem,
authorities say. But that may soon change, at least in Southern Illinois.

A new project targeting illegal guns and drugs will have federal, state and
local law enforcement officers working on the same cases.

Officials from all types of police agencies gathered Wednesday to announce
the partnership at the Fairview Heights Public Library.

While it's an old idea, many suggested the execution is the first of its kind.

"This is the best I've seen in 28 years . . . because of the cooperation
being enlisted from all agencies," said David Cline, acting resident agent
in charge the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Fairview Heights.

The project, the brainchild of Southern Illinois' U.S. Attorney Miriam
Miquelon, falls under President George W. Bush's directive called Project
Safe Neighborhoods.

Locally called "Dragun," for drugs and guns, it assembles officers and
agents from different police forces and federal agencies on the same teams.
Southern Illinois' 38 counties are consolidated into 11 teams.

Under the program, felons who possess guns and possibly face probation
under the state system could be heading for serious federal prison time.

The idea is to get the "biggest bang for the buck" in prosecuting drug and
gun criminals by attempting to calculate whether they would serve more time
if convicted under federal or state laws, officials say.

Drug and gun crimes already make up about 75 percent of the federal cases
in Southern Illinois.

The project involves agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, ATF,
local police, state's attorneys and others.

"This is just what the doctor ordered," said U.S. Marshal Don Slazinik. As
former chief of the police department in O'Fallon, Ill., Slazinik said it
was a policy to just submit their charges to St. Clair County State's
Attorney Robert Haida, not seek possible federal penalties.

Even Belleville police Chief Terry Delaney, a Miquelon critic in the past,
was on hand to discuss the project. He had a cordial exchange with her over
how other programs, such as anti-gang units, would operate under the project.