METH ARRESTS IN STATE DECLINING, OFFICIALS SAY

They Credit Enforcement And Awareness For Drop

Platteville - Officials are crediting beefed-up enforcement efforts
for a significant drop in the number of methamphetamine-related
arrests in southwestern Wisconsin this year.

So far, there have been six arrests in Iowa, Grant, Lafayette and
Crawford counties, compared with more than 50 in 1999, officials said.

"We've stemmed the tide here on methamphetamine labs," said
Platteville Police Chief Earl Hernandez. "We've drastically reduced
the number of meth cases. They're just not here."

The news comes after local, state and federal officials have taken
numerous steps over the last two years aimed at curbing
methamphetamine use and trafficking, which had been spreading along
Wisconsin's western borders.

In August 1999, for example, the state received $1 million in federal
funding to hire more agents to combat the meth problem. And in April,
Gov. Tommy G. Thompson signed into law a bill that increases penalties
for possessing, making and trafficking in methamphetamine, also known
as "crank."

In addition, more state agents have been trained and certified to
handle meth cases, and the state Department of Justice has held
regional training conferences on meth throughout Wisconsin.

Local officials say those efforts appear to be paying
off.

"We've really stepped up enforcement," Lafayette County Sheriff Scott
Pedley said. "I think a lot of the activity is moving elsewhere."

Pedley said Lafayette County has seen meth arrests drop from 21 in
1999 to just three during the first seven months of this year.

Platteville police Capt. Tom Schmid, who also is administrative
director of the Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force, said there have been only
three meth-related arrests within the task force's jurisdiction this
year. That's down from the approximately 30 cases reported in 1999, he
said.

Schmid believes public education and additional enforcement have
helped the cause.

"We've trained or held classes for about 2,000 people," he said. "Out
of that, we've generated 56 tips from different stores in Iowa and
Grant counties that sell some of the precursors that are used for meth
manufacturing."

Those tips have helped solve meth-related crimes, he
said.

More importantly, Schmid said, store owners have learned to spot the
common products that go into the production of methamphetamine,
products found in any small town's grocery store.

Last year, the Department of Justice distributed 10,000 posters that
illustrated those products, which include car starter fluid, paint
remover, drain cleaners and some over-the-counter medications.

The posters encouraged businesses to be watchful for repeat or bulk
purchases of the products and to report them to local or state law
enforcement officials.

Attorney General Jim Doyle credited local law enforcement agencies for
the decrease in meth arrests.

"This drug really spreads rapidly. In fact, it's really not spread
into other parts of Wisconsin. It's just in the western part of the
state," Doyle said. "I give a lot of credit to those local officers in
western Wisconsin because they've fought the battle for all other
counties in the state."

Doyle also praised U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl for recognizing the drug
problem in the area and responding quickly. He said the new federal
money will help open new drug task force offices, one each in
southwestern and northwestern Wisconsin. Each office will be staffed
by three officers, Doyle said.

While Doyle is pleased with the reductions in meth-related cases, he
said it's "a little too early to claim victory."

Schmid agrees.

"We've reduced it, but we haven't eliminated it," he said. "Maybe
we've driven it more underground."