NEW HOT LINE HELPS MARION FIGHT DRUGS

MARION -- A drug hot line is Marion's latest tool in the fight against
illegal drugs.

Police Chief Harry Daugherty said a detective will also soon be hired to
focus specifically on illegal drug activity in this city of 25,000.

"All he'll do is Marion narcotics work, 40 hours a week," Daugherty said of
the detective who will start work in July if the city receives a federal
COPS grant.

If the grant -- which would cover 75 of the detective's salary for three
years -- is not received, Marion will have money in its budget beginning
April 2001 to promote an officer to detective and hire a new officer.
Marion residents will receive a drug hot line card in their water bills
beginning this month.

The whole city should be notified of the hot line via the bi-monthly water
bills by July 1, said Capt. Bob Huffman, who has been working with
Daugherty on the program.

Huffman noted that posters with the hot line number -- 373-3258 -- have
already been delivered to local businesses and schools.

The hot line is now answered by two detectives during office hours and an
answering machine after-hours. The phone line does not connect to police
dispatchers, Daugherty noted, and tipsters can remain anonymous, if they
wish. There is no caller ID on the line.

Anyone with information about drug dealing or suspicious activity is urged
to call the hot line. No reward fund is currently available, but Daugherty
said one is under study for the future.

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City have similar drug tip lines and the local
Crimestoppers number, 1-800-CR-CRIME, is for tips on any illegal activity.

Like other communities, city leaders here are concerned about drugs like
methamphetamine that have been proliferating the state.

Marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine are the top three drug problems in
the city, Daugherty said.

Already, one suspected methamphetamine lab was discovered, before it began
operating, as well as a car with a suspected meth lab inside.

Daugherty made the fight against drugs his number one priority when he took
the reins of the 37-member department in 1996. The City Council has also
made drug-fighting a priority.

The hot line and narcotics detective add to a K-9 unit, HEAT (High-risk
Entry and Arrest Team) and officer assigned to the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) in Marion.

The department's dog is trained to sniff out drugs, while HEAT members
control the scene and make arrests when drug warrants are served.

While the DEA officer has been working on drug tips in Marion, he also does
work outside the city, Daugherty noted.

Having a detective, and a hot line, assigned specifically for Marion drug
tips should at least put a dent in illegal drug activity in Marion, he said.

"If we make one drug bust and take someone away who's pushing drugs in the
schools, it will be well worth the time and effort," Daugherty said.