SHERIFF BOLSTERS ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS

MARIETTA -- Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks has made drug
enforcement a top priority during his first week in office, creating a
narcotics bureau at the office and meeting with other agencies in hopes of
developing a multi-jurisdictional drug task force. Mincks said drug abuse
continues to be a concern in Washington County not only because of the
health risks associated with drug use, but because drugs lead to other
crimes such as theft and abuse.

Mincks said he has assigned four deputies to work narcotics cases full time
as part of the newly created narcotics bureau.

"As of this morning (Tuesday), there will be a lieutenant, sergeant and two
detectives assigned to do nothing but work narcotics in Washington County,"
Mincks said. "I think this is very important, and it is going to be one of
my priorities."

Mincks said he is optimistic a narcotics task force will be in operation in
Washington County within the next few months. He said new Washington County
Prosecutor Jim Schneider and Marietta and Belpre police departments are
anxious to participate.

A spate of drug related overdose cases in 2002 led to a community-wide
concern about the amount of illegal drugs in the county. At the time, one
of the recommendations was to establish a multi-jurisdictional task force
to deal with the issue.

In 2002, a state-commissioned study indicated the use of heroin and other
opiates had increased tenfold in Washington County. The Ohio Substance
Abuse Monitoring Network reported 52 non-fatal overdoses related to heroin,
other opiates and sedatives in Washington County from May to August of
2002, 15 of which occurred in a two-week period.

Former Sheriff Bob Schlicher had called for the creation of a
multi-jurisdictional task force for some time, but it failed to come to
fruition during his tenure. Mincks, who was elected sheriff in November,
replaced the retiring Schneider starting this week.

Marietta police Chief Brett McKitrick said he is dedicating two officers
toward the creation of the task force, which is being called a "Drug Team."

"It's a done deal that we're going to get this going," McKitrick said.
"Right now it is just a question of getting mutual aid agreements and
everything approved."

Belpre police Chief Ira Walker could not be reached for comment; however,
McKitrick said it was his understanding Belpre's involvement would be
limited, at least initially. McKitrick said he expects Belpre will still
participate by helping to pool information on local drug activity.

Mincks said the sheriff's office will be providing a location for the drug
team to work. He said the Marietta officers will be commissioned as special
deputies so they will be able to participate in arrests outside of the city
limits.

Mincks said another priority is to increase the number of road patrols in
the county. He said he is looking for ways to streamline duties to increase
the amount of time officers are out on county roads.