DPS OVERSEES ANTI-DRUG UNITS

The Department of Public Safety has assumed oversight of 48 narcotics task
forces around the state, largely ending the era of independent operators in
the undercover war on drugs.

Gov. Rick Perry initiated the change to improve accountability and
coordination among the drug units, and to reduce the chance of misconduct
among the 550 task force officers in 216 counties.

"These task forces have been in existence since 1987, and until now there
had been no significant look or review as to how they operated," said Jay
Kimbrough, executive director of the state Criminal Justice Division in the
governor's office.

Any task force wishing to receive federal block grant funds - which totaled
$30 million this year - must cooperate with the DPS administration and
adhere to new standardized procedures.

Under the hierarchy that took effect Jan. 9, Kimbrough said, "the DPS has
oversight of policies, procedures and tactical operations, but the criminal
justice division maintains fiscal authority."

Nearly all of the grant-funded units endorsed the changes, he said.

Units funded solely by cities and counties were unaffected.

The DPS has reorganized its narcotics division to handle the additional
administrative duties.

It also distributed a new 31-page manual that covers job evaluations,
evidence storage, undercover operations, confidential informants, reports
and much more.

Some task forces expressed concern about losing autonomy, said DPS
Narcotics Commander Walter Eeds.

But, he added, "The intent never was to take away local control."

The DPS has a wealth of resources to benefit task forces, he said, from
equipment and intelligence to personnel.

About a dozen task forces already had DPS oversight and required few, if
any, changes.

However, problems were found at a handful of units during preliminary
inspections this spring.

In Wilson County, south of San Antonio, for example, cocaine was reported
missing from the evidence locker of the 81st Judicial District Narcotics
Task Force.

Texas Ranger Andy Lopez declined comment on his ongoing investigation into
the matter.

Asked about televised reports that 70 pounds of cocaine was missing,
Kimbrough said, "I do not know that number to be incorrect."

Drug dealers who move from county to county aren't the only targets of the
initiative to collect and share intelligence among the widely spread task
forces.

New centralized personnel records should also help curtail so-called "gypsy
cops," who create problems at one task force and then relocate to another.

"Before, we didn't have a central clearinghouse to see where officers
move," said Kimbrough.

"We want every task force to know what kind of officers they're getting and
where they came from."