WILLIS TAKES STEP FORWARD IN DRUG WAR BY ADDING SECOND NARCOTICS OFFICER

Illegal drugs easily can become the scourge of any community; the crime and
violence associated with drug dealing and usage can quickly overwhelm
neighborhoods and destroy quality of life - and even take life.

That's why we appreciate seeing our communities take a strong stand
regarding drug enforcement. The latest to do so is Willis, where the City
Council this week approved the addition of a second narcotics investigator
to the police force.

It's not cheap to fight drugs in our communities. The city of Willis
budgeted $83,900 for the second narcotics investigator, an amount that
includes salary, vehicle usage, fuel, benefits and $5,000 for narcotics
"buy" money.

But if law enforcement dollars are used effectively, we believe they can
have an impact.

The question for Willis is whether adding just one more narcotics officer
will not only enable the city to manage or "control," its drug problems,
but actually eradicate them.

Like Conroe Mayor Tommy Metcalf's pledge last year to eradicate drug
dealing in Conroe, we hope Willis follows a similar path: not just
controlling drugs, but chasing them out of the community entirely.

Of course, no city can pull this goal off all by itself. It will take
community support, including the support of neighbors in areas where drug
activity is most common.

But the city of Willis is taking a good step forward by bringing in an
additional narcotics officer to combat drugs in the city.