LEAVING LOCAL TASK FORCE NOT A DETERRENT TO DRUG CONTROL

The Athens County Sheriff's Office has plans to reduce the drug usage
in the area despite leaving a multi-county crimes task force.

The Major Crimes Task Force, started in April 2005, is law
enforcement officers targeting drug and narcotic violations among
other crimes, said Larry Mincks, the Washington County sheriff.

Washington and Morgan counties are the only members of the task force
since early January when the counties decided to "refocus their man
power" in places other than Athens County, Mincks said. He added
Washington County needed its officers for homicides, attempted
homicides and drug problems in their own area and couldn't send its
officers on the one-hour drive to Athens County.

"We are refocusing our attention right now and operating on an
as-needed basis with Athens County," Mincks said.

"The task force is gone and it has nothing to do with Athens County
anymore and it has everything to do with economic times," said Pat
Kelly, Athens County sheriff. "We do have a drug problem in Athens
County and we can't say if there is an increase or decrease in drugs
with the task force because it has everything to do with supply and
demand."

Athens County's former sheriff, Vern Castle, entered into a mutual
aid agreement with the Major Crimes Task Force when he saw there was
a narcotics problem, Mincks said. More than 10 officers from
Washington and Morgan counties assisted with drug and narcotics
violations in Athens County over the last two years, Mincks added.

"I am very pleased with the task force, and it has been very
successful," Mincks said. "It is very important that agencies work
together to share resources, and we are doing that and concentrating
our efforts to see results."

In 2008, the Major Crimes Task Force made arrests in all three
counties with 70 cases involving opiates, 45 cases involving cocaine,
one case involving methamphetamines, 22 cases involving marijuana,
one case involving internet harm and 15 miscellaneous cases which
dealt with homicides or other crimes, Mincks said.

Even though Athens is no longer in the task force, there are plans to
control the drug problem through enforcement, prevention and
education, Kelly said.

The sheriff's department plans to go after drug dealers and meet with
state and federal agencies about the drug problem. Meeting with
community leaders about drug prevention and educating high school and
middle school students can help prevent future drug problems, Kelly
said.