SPECIAL WESTCHESTER DRUG TASK FORCE LOSES MEMBERS

The New York City Police Department has recalled eight officers on special
assignment to the Westchester District Attorney's Office, reducing the
members of a special narcotics task force by half.

A police spokesman said the officers -- on loan since February 1999 -- were
reassigned so they could "concentrate their efforts on narcotics activity
in the Bronx, where we've experienced increased activity."

"We routinely reassess personnel assignments, and it was decided that those
officers would be better utilized by being transferred back to Bronx
Narcotics," Lt. Brian Burke said.

District Attorney Jeanine Pirro acknowledged that the loss of the New York
City officers -- as well as surveillance and tactical equipment they
brought with them -- meant "it certainly is going to be more difficult for us."

But Pirro said she was heartened by the relationship her office had
developed with the NYPD, and she said the task force -- which has made more
than 240 arrests and seized more than $2 million worth of drugs and weapons
- -- would continue its work.

Other officers assigned to the task force come from Pirro's staff of
investigators and the Mount Vernon and Metropolitan Transportation
Authority police departments.

Pirro blamed the NYPD transfers, which took effect Thursday, on the
continuing impact of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, which prompted a surge in
retirements by officers whose pension benefits grew dramatically due to
increased overtime.

"The bottom line is that our world has changed since 9/11," she said. "The
protection of New York City in light of what happened on 9/11 is of utmost
importance, and we're going to have to be creative in terms of finding ways
to do without what we did with them."