BOND URGES STATE TO FUND SHERIFFS' FIGHT AGAINST METH

JEFFERSON CITY - U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond told a state Senate panel
Wednesday that Missouri needs to be prepared if federal money for fighting
methamphetamine dries up.

Bond, R-Mo., testified for a bill that would allow the state Department of
Public Safety to fund the Missouri Sheriff Methamphetamine Relief Fund. The
fund would go to county sheriffs "specifically for eliminating
methamphetamine labs within the state."

Over the past two years, Bond said he has helped secure $5.6 million for
state law enforcement officials to hire special meth investigators. Bond
said he had come up with "one-time" money for Missouri three times. He said
he wasn't sure he could keep coming up with these grants.

"It's past time for the state to support meth enforcement," Bond said. "It
does not look like the drug dealers will be going away any time soon."

A Missouri Sheriff's Methamphetamine Relief Team already exists but has
been funded through federal appropriations.

A panel of five sheriffs has been dividing up the federal money. Under the
bill, sheriffs serving on the panel would come from different parts of the
state. The panel would review funding applications. Departments could
receive a maximum of $100,000 a year for three years.

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan coordinates the panel and would
have the final say on the applications.

Jordan told the Senate committee that the relief team has doubled the
number of meth lab "takedowns" and reports of inactive labs between 2000
and 2001.

Sen. John Cauthorn, R-Mexico, is sponsoring SB1095.