I-95 PATROLS BY CHARLESTON OFFICERS RATIFIED

CHARLESTON (AP) -- Charleston police cruisers can sometimes be seen
patrolling Interstate 95 in Santee, more than an hour away from Charleston.

"I-95 is a pipeline" for drugs that can come to the city, Mayor Joseph P.
Riley Jr. told Charleston City Council on Tuesday. "We're patrolling our
borders."

The council endorsed an existing mutual aid agreement between the city and
Santee on I-95. But some council members said future agreements will be
looked at more closely.

Riley said an opinion from the state attorney general's office resulted in
the decision to seek council ratification.

In the past, patrols from Charleston have headed to other areas including
Myrtle Beach and Spartanburg.

"The farther we get away ... it starts making less sense to me on a policy
basis," said Councilman Henry Fishburne, who said the officers might be
better used in Charleston.

Charleston gets to keep half of any drug assets seized in the I-95 busts.
The city has realized almost $86,000 although the costs for salaries has
totaled about $100,000.

The city has had agreements with Myrtle Beach to provide extra help for
biker weekends. An agreement with Spartanburg involves exchanging officers
between the cities for undercover drug busts.

Both the Santee and Spartanburg agreements expire this year and Councilman
Robert George wants Charleston to take a closer look before any new
agreements are reached.

The exchanges bring in new faces drug dealers don't recognize, said
Charleston police Maj. Herb Whetsell.