VALPO, PORTER COUNTY COPS TO LEAVE COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE

Sheriff: 'Obviously, We're Not Making A Difference'

VALPARAISO -- The Porter County Sheriff and the Valparaiso police
chief will pull their officers out the Porter County Drug Task Force
and instead join forces with a federal drug task force already
operating in the region.

During a meeting Friday representatives of several local law
enforcement agencies met to discuss the future of the county task
force, which is run by the Porter County Prosecutor's Office. Porter
County Sheriff Dave Reynolds said Friday evening his department will
join the federal Drug Enforcement Agency task force.

"Obviously we're not making a difference," Reynolds said of the local
drug problem.

Valparaiso Police Chief Michael Brickner said Friday that he had
intended pull out of the local task force at the meeting to
immediately join DEA task force. But he and other police officials
decided to stay in the task force temporarily to allow time for a transition.

But Brickner said his department will definitely end its involvement
with the county drug task force.

Reynolds said officials from the DEA offered their assistance to Porter County.

"How do you turn down the United States government?" he asked.

The Porter County Drug Task Force -- undercover officers working
local drug cases -- is made up of officers from the three largest
police departments in Porter County -- Valparaiso, Portage and Porter
County police. An Indiana State Police officer also assists. The
Porter County prosecutor's office funds and oversees the unit. Robert
Taylor, the coordinator, has been in charge since 1995.

Taylor confirmed the meeting, and said he doesn't know what the future holds.

"I'm told I still have a drug unit," Taylor said Friday afternoon.

Taylor defended the record of county task force, citing the increase
in the number of cases it handles each year.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Brian Gensel confirmed there was a meeting
Friday morning involving police chiefs throughout the county and the
DEA. But he said those at the meeting "just wanted to address some concerns."

"There were many things discussed and, ultimately, the three
departments that contribute members still have their members in the
department," Gensel said. "Nothing has changed."

When asked about the future of the unit, Gensel said, "We're just
forging ahead with the narcotics unit as it exists."

Cpl. John Ryan, a Portage police spokesman, confirmed "everything is
status quo, and the drug unit has not been disbanded."