BEDFORD BACKS PLAN TO HIRE 2 ANTI-DRUG OFFICERS

Mayor Urges That Other Cities Be Asked To Help
Sponsor Northeast Tarrant Effort

BEDFORD - City Council members say they support staff plans to hire two
additional police officers who will mount anti-drug campaigns and increase
regional enforcement efforts.

Police Chief David Flory is proposing that the city hire an officer next
spring to increase the city's contribution to the Northeast Tarrant
Narcotics and Intelligence Coordination Unit. Bedford also wants to hire an
officer to oversee the implementation of an anti-drug program proposed by
council member Karin Newell.

Council members told Chief Flory on Tuesday to delve deeper into the
financial ramifications of the new positions and to outline goals for Ms.
Newell's proposed "Everyone's Responsible" program.

Mayor Rick Hurt said he supports the concept of hiring an officer for the
Northeast narcotics unit, especially in light of the recent withdrawal by
North Richland Hills from the regional entity.

But he said the city should ask other cities in the area to co-sponsor the
new hire through a salary-or benefits-sharing agreement.

"I would like everybody to pay their fair share," he said. "We are all
going to benefit from this."

At least one area police chief said he would be willing to consider the
idea of pooling resources for a new hire.

Euless Police Chief Gary McKamie said that the regional drug unit has been
beneficial to his city and that his department would be glad to entertain a
funding proposal from Bedford.

"I think that concept [regional task forces] is going to carry us into the
future - this concept of pooling our resources," he said Wednesday.

Chief McKamie said Bedford and Euless wouldn't need to consider such a
proposal if all cities in the area participated fully in the task force.

Cities that don't have police officers assigned to the anti-drug unit
include North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Keller, Colleyville and
Southlake. The cities that have officers assigned to the unit include are
Bedford, Euless, Hurst, Grapevine and Watauga.

North Richland Hills officials say their withdrawal from the unit was
necessary for the department to focus efforts on the teen drug and alcohol
problems in the city. The city has since established its own three-member
narcotics unit.

Other departments cite budget constraints as impediments to full
participation in the force, although they share information and resources
on a case-by-case basis.

Colleyville, North Richland Hills and Keller officials have said they maybe
able to add officers to the unit in coming years.

Northeast Tarrant police agencies link drugs with at least 20 deaths,
mostly teens and young adults, since 1996. In Bedford, Chief Flory said
heroin has been the leading cause of teen deaths in the last two years.

Chief Flory said his department is hopeful it can increase its numbers with
the help of a three-year, $75,000 federal grant that will help pay for the
hiring of an officer to oversee Ms. Newell's proposed program, which calls
on all residents to do their part in stemming drug use.

Ms. Newell is proposing that the city educate residents to watch for
unusual activities in their neighborhoods that may indicate drugs are being
bought and sold, and that residents keep an eye out for teens who are
associated with the drug trade.

Ms. Newell said she devised the plan as a response to the numerous
heroin-related deaths that have occurred in the area this fall.

Chief Flory said the officer put in charge of the program could undertake
other related duties by forming relationships with community groups and
helping the Northeast narcotics unit track leads.

Ms. Newell said she was heartened by the positive response of her
colleagues and the city's willingness to commit resources to fighting drugs.

"I am proud to sit with folks who are not willing to put their heads in the
sand," she said.

Checked-by: derek rea