DRUG TIP WEB SITE IS GETTING QUICK RESPONSE

Alexandria police are getting a response from the department's narcotics
Web site.

Sgt. Newmon Bobb, commander of the Alexandria police Narcotics Division,
said he is "impressed" with the information the site is generating.

The narcotics division went online last Monday with a site linked to the
department's main Web page.

The Web site is:

www.alexpolice.com/narcotics

The site allows residents to report suspected drug activity or apply to be
one of the department's paid informants.

Drug tips can be given anonymously. All tips go straight to Bobb, who
reviews them and then passes them on to an investigator.

When information is supplied, the details should be specific such as a
time, location and description of the suspects.

On Monday and Tuesday, Bobb opened his e-mail to find no messages.

The site was featured in Wednesday's Town Talk, and by Friday he had
received eight responses. All the e-mails reported suspected drug activity.

The site got several tips from other parishes, including Evangeline.

Bobb said he passed on the information to the proper law enforcement agency
to handle it.

He said he would like to see more responses from Alexandria residents. Bobb
said he believes the site will catch on in Alexandria "in due time."

The narcotics site also includes educational opportunities for students,
parents and teachers.

The site features a Power Point presentation on drug abuse, information
about the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and descriptions of
various drugs.

While the site offers teachers or organizations a chance to schedule a
narcotics presentation, Bobb said, they have not yet received any requests.

The Alexandria Police Department has had a presence on the Internet since
October 2000.

Sandra Shirah, the site's designer, said it has been very popular within
the community. Bobb said he believes that once more people become aware of
the narcotics site it will generate more responses and interest.

"I expected to get responses from the site, but I didn't think it would be
this prompt," he said.