TASK FORCE ERASES LINES IN DRUG RAIDS

'Our only complaint right now is that it's a bottleneck getting [drug
raids] through the courts now.'

Donnie Myers 11th Circuit Solicitor

Drug dealers will lose a major advantage - police being limited by
city or county lines - with a task force 15th Circuit Solicitor Greg
Hembree is compiling.

Hembree's multijurisdictional task force is set for the end of the
year, and it would allow officers across Horry County, and eventually
the region, to investigate long-term drug raids together.

Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and Horry County
police are looking to give at least one officer for the team, Hembree
said.

Currently, police must stop at their city or county limits. But the
task force officers can make raids across the county, and the agencies
would split money seized, no matter where the raids happen.

"Drug dealers don't stop at county and city lines," 11th Circuit
Solicitor Donnie Myers said. Myers started a similar program in Lexington.

Hembree said the agencies have been enthusiastic. The city and county
councils would fund the program by donating at least one full-time
officer and providing equipment. Hembree said the task force also is
seeking state grants.

"My biggest concern is that every agency has budget constraints,"
Hembree said. "It's just difficult for them to dedicate people to this
project when they have other needs."

Task force budget information isn't available yet, and Conway police
are not giving an officer because of budget concerns, Hembree said.

This task force is modeled on others around the country, Hembree said.
Two in the state have been successful in Lexington and Rock Hill.

Myers said drug raids have risen to the point where they need help
from more solicitors.

"Our only complaint right now is that it's a bottleneck getting them
through the courts now," he said.

Myers said the task force has deterred drug dealers and that he'd
advise any community that has the chance to get involved.

Horry County Police Chief Johnny Morgan said it makes sense for
agencies to go across jurisdictional lines because drug raids often
are connected.

"They all have a common denominator; they have the same source," he
said.

Hembree expects to start the task force on a smaller scale than his
ideal 12 to 15 officers. He also wants to expand the task force into
Georgetown County, but he says the county is hesitating.

"We'll just try to get the Horry County pieces put together first, and
hopefully, they'll come along right behind," he said.

Morgan said officers generally do not have time to deal with drug
investigations.

He said that despite time restrictions, "narcotics have become a
problem in our county, and it's something we have to face and deal
with now."