SHERIFF AIMS TO STEP UP DRUG FIGHT

Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown doesn't really know what the next four
years will bring, but he does know what kind of changes he hopes to initiate.

In the 16 years Brown has served as sheriff, Onslow County has
battled a drug problem. Although detectives have arrested their fair
share of drug dealers, the problem continues to escalate, Brown said.

He plans to spend his fifth term in office drawing more attention to
drug crimes.

"It's the No. 1 problem," Brown said.

Brown's opponent in the recent election, Republican Jimmy Harris,
said the sheriff wasn't addressing the county's drug problem. Brown
said it's an issue that extends beyond law enforcement.

"It's not fair for law enforcement to be blamed for drug problems,"
Brown said. "Law enforcement is doing their job."

Drug dealers, buyers and abusers are arrested at a regular rate. But
drug laws aren't tough enough, Brown said, and his detectives often
arrest repeat offenders.

"The same people are arrested over and over and over," Brown said.

"At present, drug laws are liberal and ineffective and do nothing to
discourage illegal drug violations," he added. "The drug problem is
the No. 1 enemy of our county, our state and our nation, and it must
be addressed now."

The sheriff plans to sit down with Sen. Harry Brown, R-Onslow, to
discuss the possibility of stiffening the state's drug laws. He has
also drafted a letter to all the sheriffs in the state suggesting
that the N.C. Sheriff's Association form a committee that can look
into making laws more effective in deterring drug dealers.

"We need to get legislators, law enforcement and citizens united to
bring the problem to the attention of the people," Brown said.

Some of the people deputies arrest and put in jail receive disability
or Social Security checks from the government. When the person is in
jail, the check is stopped, Brown said. He thinks that the money
should instead be redirected to the jail or to the N.C. Department of
Corrections.

"It should go to those organizations taking care of him," Brown said.
"That's who is footing the bill. . A sheriff can't make a lot of
changes, but I can bring it to the attention of the people."

County inmates eventually will be housed in a new 500-bed jail, which
could be completed before Brown's term is over. It's much too soon
for him to think about whether he will seek a sixth term in office,
he said. For now, he is hoping to at least witness the groundbreaking
for the new facility soon.

Overcrowding has been a problem at the existing jail, which was
designed to house about 120 inmates, for several years. There are
frequently more than 200 inmates at a time in the jail. The
conditions are taxing on both the inmates and jail employees.

"Those working in the jail need also to see some relief coming,"
Brown said. "Jailers have done a great job keeping the jail in order,
even when the jail population was nearly twice what the jail was designed for."

Although the demands of the job are time consuming, Brown is hoping
to make some changes that he hopes will benefit the community and his family.

"I hope that in the next four years that I will learn how to share
with my wife and family some of my life that I haven't been able to
do in 16 years," Brown said.

He said he feels personally obligated to the public he serves, and
the sheriff's hours aren't limited to the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday.

"I want to provide a safe community," he said. "It's personal to me
what happens to people in Onslow County. I take personally every
crime committed. The person who was a victim of that crime is a
citizen of Onslow County, and I feel an obligation to serve and protect them."

He also wants to hear from the public more often and plans to set
aside one day a week to visit folks throughout the county.

"I might ride along with the officers," Brown said. "But mainly I
want to get out and let the officers know the importance of having
contact with the people they serve."