METH MADNESS: LAW ENFORCEMENT

CIBOLA COUNTY - Law enforcement agencies use any means available when
it comes to battling methamphetamine in Cibola County, because meth
abuse results in criminal behavior to support the habit.

Officers from New Mexico State Police, Milan and Grants shared
information at the August meth awareness discussion before 50 city,
village and county officials.

New Mexico State Police Lt. Frank Musitano said the McKinley County
Sheriff asked him why he thought McKinley County had an increase in
burglaries, robberies and larceny in Thoreau. Lt. Musitano contended
that the problem was possibly drug related. Then Lt. Musitano spoke
with the vice principal of Thoreau Middle School, who said citizens
were upset about the increased number of burglaries, and Lt.
Musitano learned that six middle school students tested positive for
meth abuse.

Milan Police Chief Jerry Stephens told discussion attendees that
Milan and Grants police departments have the same criminal elements
… users and dealers travel between the communities. He said
local law enforcement agencies are members of the New Mexico State
Police Region One Task Force, and Grants Police Department's federal
funding for one and a half narcotic officer positions is expected to
end Sept. 30.

"When we get complaints, we address it with our patrol officers,"
Chief Stephens said. He said Milan police officers have met with
village department heads, school officials, trustees, meter readers
and animal control. They taught the staff what to look for to prevent
meth use and to know the signs of drug labs in people's homes.

"We've never have been able to determine if they have been doing any
cooking in Milan," Chief Stephens said.

He added that the village recently instituted a neighborhood watch
program, and he asked those residents to be the police force's eyes
and ears.

Grants Police Chief Marty Vigil said two officers are best for
narcotics operations. He noted that he and Grants Assistant Chief Rob
Hall are the only experienced narcotics officers on Grants' force. He
said the police department needs officers from outside the
community, because dealers and users know the identities of
undercover officers.

Chief Vigil reported to the group that in 2002 local police took down
a meth-lab house less than 1,000 feet away from Milan Elementary
School, and the people prosecuted were also prosecuted for child
abuse, because their own children lived in the house.

In 2005, GPD reported the Region One Narcotics Task Force Grants
Office seized 64.1 grams of methamphetamine valued at $6,410; the
amount purchased in undercover operations totaled 5.1 grams with a
street value of $510. Meth was the highest amount listed among the
drugs in the seizure report with cocaine in a close second. Milan had
no seizures in 2005, reported Chief Stephens.

Chief Vigil said rural meth labs are small and mobile, allowing the
culprits to make meth in different parts of the community. He noted
drugs are brought in from Deming or Phoenix. He also contended that
using patrol officers on narcotics watches originated from
Albuquerque's police department, where officers exchanged reports on
site while staged at a particular location.

NMSP Lt. Frank Musitano reported criminals retaliate against
informants so they are less likely to report incidents. He said
people should call (888) 442-6677, and he assured people that NMSP
will call them back and keep their information confidential.

Facilitated by U.S. Representative Steve Pearce, R-Dist. 2, the
methamphetamine awareness discussion is expected to result in an
official report for Cibola County and local officials this fall. At
that time, local officials could address more ways to combat
methamphetamine in Cibola County.

(Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of articles about a
methamphetamine awareness discussion conducted in Grants in early
August.)