HIGH WHERE IT'S DRY

KINGMAN -- Kingman Police saw a 35.7 percent increase in the number of
drug-related arrests in the first six months of 2004 compared to the same
period last year.

There were 299 drug-related arrests in Kingman during the first six months
of 2003, and 406 drug-related arrests through June 30, 2004. "Officers are
encountering it (drug-related crimes) more in other types of situations,"
Kingman Police Chief Bob DeVries said. "They may be heightened to watch for
narcotics," he said of the department's regular beat officers.

DeVries has been on the job a little over a year now after moving from
Holland, Mich.

Kingman Police put a "flex" team on the street in mid-May in response to a
concern expressed by residents at two recent town halls. The availability
of drugs and its accompanying problems were major concerns raised at those
meetings, he said.

The flex team, which consisted of four officers, was charged with working
on street-level narcotics enforcement. It was in operation for six to seven
weeks.

There is a "fair amount" of drug trafficking going through Kingman because
of the north-south and east-west routes of U.S. Highway 93 and Interstate
40, he said.

"They (flex team) were beginning to make some significant impacts," DeVries
said. However, the team was disbanded until further notice due to staff
shortages, i.e. vacancies and injuries.

DeVries describes the flex team as a "very viable weapon." He hopes to be
able to put it back into use some time in the future.

When asked how bad the drug problem is in Kingman, DeVries said, "It's very
difficult to compare it to other communities. I wouldn't say it's more
severe than other communities. We're seeing more awareness of the problem
in the community."

DeVries said Kingman Police are looking at creating a community-wide
methamphetamine awareness.

"It's not just a law enforcement problem," he said. "It's a community
problem. We need everybody to come to the table with the resources they
have available."

Asked what percentage of its resources his department is using to fight
drugs, DeVries said it's difficult to answer. "Indirectly, 100 percent (of
our) thrust is focused on drugs and property crimes."

DeVries has emphasized continuing the community-policing model that was
begun by his predecessor, Larry Butler. Community policing involves
assigning a group of officers to work a specific community.

Unfortunately, DeVries said he's not aware of any "success" stories when it
comes to fighting drugs. "There's not one that jumps right out," he said.
"We're looking at anything and everything and trying to piece one together
that works for Kingman."