KBI WILL BE KEY PLAYER IN STATE'S ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS

I was disappointed that the Herald-Leader does not support my decision
to establish a Kentucky Bureau of Investigation within the Office of
the Attorney General. I am convinced that consolidating investigative
personnel into a single unit will greatly promote the management of
law enforcement operations and training, particularly in the fight
against the illegal drug trade and public corruption.

My office is charged with joint enforcement of the Uniform Controlled
Substances Act and has long been active in combating drug crime. The
structure of the KBI is designed to enhance this duty, as well as to
provide other critical services.

As is set out in the KBI Action Plan, the specific drug enforcement
functions are:

. KASPER enforcement. KBI agents are trained to investigate
prescription drug fraud and drug diversion. Changes made to KASPER
(the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting system)
ensure that all law enforcement agencies, including the Kentucky State
Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration, work in concert and
avoid a duplication of efforts. Rather than leading to "an unnecessary
turf battle in the state's war on illegal drugs," in the editorial's
overwrought language, the bipartisan improvements designed by state
Sen. Richard Roeding and me will ensure a coordinated system.

. Methamphetamine Precursor Investigation Team. KBI and DEA agents are
working together to achieve a long-overdue audit and examination of
methamphetamine precursor distributors. This enforcement tool was
proposed by Robert Otero, DEA drug diversion supervisor, and
established in cooperation with my KBI commissioner, David James. At a
time when all law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed by extremely
hazardous illegal meth labs, this initiative will aid in cutting off
the flow of raw materials to them. Far from encroaching on other
programs, this team, unique in Kentucky, offers the best hope for
reducing the number of illicit drug labs.

Contrary to the Herald-Leader's assertions, the creation of the KBI
does not dilute our efforts in existing areas of law enforcement, such
as consumer protection. The KBI includes our longstanding Medicaid
Fraud and Abuse Control Unit and, with a new emphasis on the
prevention of elder abuse, will aggressively pursue cases of suspected
abuse in residential care facilities. And my office's commitment to
the elimination of public corruption is enhanced under the KBI with a
doubling of the staff available to investigate suspected wrongdoing by
public officials.

Furthermore, the editorial falsely accuses my office of not acting as
a "team player" in the war on drugs. It is unfortunate that the paper
views action to decrease the drug epidemic as "grandstanding."

We look forward to working with the new Office of Drug Control Policy
on all aspects of the problem. The KBI's investigative and enforcement
services will play a crucial role in the war on drugs.