AGENCIES LEAVE TASK FORCE

Board Accepts Voluntary Removals Of Three Departments

NEOSHO, Mo. - Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland said he is
optimistic his agency's exit from the Southwest Missouri Drug Task
Force will be a positive move for the county.

On Thursday, the Newton County Sheriff's Department and the Neosho
and Aurora police departments voluntarily removed themselves from the
task force's roster.

The sheriff's department received $10,000 - the amount it contributes
annually - at the time of its departure. It was not known if the
other departments would receive a share of the money they contribute.
Neither department had representatives present at the meeting
Thursday, said Copeland who had been chairman of the
multijurisdictional task force governing board.

Newton County also provided space for the task force and supplies, a
secretary and a supervisor to oversee the day-to-day operations. The
task force's headquarters will be moved to Barry County, Copeland said.

"We certainly wish them well and hopefully they will continue making
drug cases, but at this time we'll continue to work with our unit."

He said the department has two full-time investigators devoted to
drug activity.

The multijurisdictional task force is supported by state and federal
grants matched by its member agencies. Those remaining are the
sheriff's departments in Lawrence, McDonald and Barry counties and
the police departments of Cassville and Pierce City. Unlike
traditional task forces, the Southwest Missouri Drug Task Force hires
its own agents rather than using representatives from its member agencies.

Aurora police Chief Rick Batson and Neosho police Chief David
McCracken both said the departure was an issue of manpower and
resources for their departments.

McCracken said Neosho will continue to work closely with the
sheriff's office. He said in the future, Neosho may consider aligning
with another task force.

Batson said the Aurora Police Department has established its own
narcotic unit, which Batson said should be able to handle the
activity in the area.

"We certainly would love to cooperate, but it was a matter of (the
task force) being spread too thin."