News (Media Awareness Project) - US WI: Editorial: State Should Supervise Area's Meg Drug Units |
| Title: | US WI: Editorial: State Should Supervise Area's Meg Drug Units |
| Published On: | 2002-07-10 |
| Source: | Reporter, The (Fond du Lac, WI) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-30 06:43:17 |
STATE SHOULD SUPERVISE AREA'S MEG DRUG UNITS
Turning over supervision of the Lake Winnebago Multi-jurisdictional
Enforcement Group Drug Unit to the state Department of Justice simply has
too many benefits to pass up.
Creating a hierarchy of supervision that will provide appropriate
operational safeguards is a must if the unit is to be effective in ongoing
drug enforcement efforts.
The MEG unit participated in a botched drug raid in Green Lake County in
1998 that resulted in a couple filing a lawsuit after officers entered
their home and held them at gunpoint while searching for drugs.
The error proved to be an embarrassment for the unit because the search
warrant used in the raid was issued for a neighboring apartment. An
out-of-court settlement was eventually reached with the couple.
Giving the Department of Justice the supervisory role for the MEG unit
should provide a system of accountability that has been lacking since the
unit was created in 1988.
The MEG unit is made up of 10 law enforcement agencies in Fond du Lac,
Winnebago, Calumet and Outagamie counties. One by one, participating cities
and counties have been authorizing the change in leadership.
There is no doubt that the MEG unit has played a significant role in
controlling the influx of illegal drugs in the region since it was formed.
In 2001, for example, the unit arrested more than 580 people for drug offenses.
Officers from the participating law enforcement agencies have been
effective in using informants to set up drug buys so that suspects can be
arrested. The reorganization should help the MEG unit build on its past
successes.
With Department of Justice supervision, the unit would have access to
state-level drug intelligence to help in local investigations.
In addition, with the change in leadership, one common source of indemnity
insurance would be provided to the unit for protection in the event of
mistakes like the botched drug raid.
That embarrassment served as a catalyst for bringing the participating MEG
agencies together to discuss needed changes.
Hopefully, the new supervision by the Department of Justice will ensure
that such an error never occurs again as the MEG unit continues its efforts
to apprehend drug dealers.
Turning over supervision of the Lake Winnebago Multi-jurisdictional
Enforcement Group Drug Unit to the state Department of Justice simply has
too many benefits to pass up.
Creating a hierarchy of supervision that will provide appropriate
operational safeguards is a must if the unit is to be effective in ongoing
drug enforcement efforts.
The MEG unit participated in a botched drug raid in Green Lake County in
1998 that resulted in a couple filing a lawsuit after officers entered
their home and held them at gunpoint while searching for drugs.
The error proved to be an embarrassment for the unit because the search
warrant used in the raid was issued for a neighboring apartment. An
out-of-court settlement was eventually reached with the couple.
Giving the Department of Justice the supervisory role for the MEG unit
should provide a system of accountability that has been lacking since the
unit was created in 1988.
The MEG unit is made up of 10 law enforcement agencies in Fond du Lac,
Winnebago, Calumet and Outagamie counties. One by one, participating cities
and counties have been authorizing the change in leadership.
There is no doubt that the MEG unit has played a significant role in
controlling the influx of illegal drugs in the region since it was formed.
In 2001, for example, the unit arrested more than 580 people for drug offenses.
Officers from the participating law enforcement agencies have been
effective in using informants to set up drug buys so that suspects can be
arrested. The reorganization should help the MEG unit build on its past
successes.
With Department of Justice supervision, the unit would have access to
state-level drug intelligence to help in local investigations.
In addition, with the change in leadership, one common source of indemnity
insurance would be provided to the unit for protection in the event of
mistakes like the botched drug raid.
That embarrassment served as a catalyst for bringing the participating MEG
agencies together to discuss needed changes.
Hopefully, the new supervision by the Department of Justice will ensure
that such an error never occurs again as the MEG unit continues its efforts
to apprehend drug dealers.
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