LAWMEN LOBBY FOR DRUG ENFORCEMENT HELP

ELIZABETHTOWN -- Bladen County Chief Deputy Phillip Little is headed to
Washington, D.C., next week to lobby for more federal grant money to
help with drug enforcement.

Little and other members of the National Narcotic Officers'
Associations' Coalition are trying to get Congress to reinstate
funding to Byrne/Justice Assistance Grants, Little said.

Money for the program was slashed under the Bush administration from
$1 billion to just over $100 million, Little said.

"That has a big impact on what North Carolina gets," he said. The
organization represents Narcotic Enforcement Officers Associations in
each state, Little said. The coalition was organized in 1995 to
counter efforts by the Clinton administration to eliminate the grant
money. Members will meet with North Carolina' representatives
including Reps. Mike McIntyre, Bob Etheridge and Larry Kissell as was
well as Sens. Kay Hagan and Richard Burr, Little said.

Little serves on the coalition's board of directors.