CITY TO FOCUS ON DRUGS

The Boaz City Council adopted a job description for a drug enforcement
officer, promising to crack down on illegal drug use in the city.
Methamphetamine was cited by Police Chief Terry Davis as a growing problem.

"I'm just sick of it," Mayor Tim Walker said, noting that drug use and
addiction are not limited to those from broken homes.

"This drug enforcement officer will be focused specifically on drugs in
Boaz. I don't wish a drug problem on any community, but people making meth
will feel the heat to move elsewhere."

He stressed the drug enforcement officer, when hired, will not distract
from the work Boaz does with the county's drug task force, which he said
performs a great service, but the council felt it important enough to go an
extra step since 70 percent or more of crimes are committed to support a
drug addiction.

"This person will have a more extensive background check than the president
of the United States," Davis said, half-seriously.

The officer's identity will be kept secret so drug users cannot know
whether the next person making a drug buy is an everyday person or an
undercover police officer.

The drug officer's duties will involve "highly classified investigations".

gather evidence, investigate incidents of drug activities, obtain and
execute search warrants, perform background checks on prospective city
employees, prepare court cases, make drug buys, work stakeouts or
surveillance, handle a drug dog, and supervise the use of informants.

The officer will also work vice cases such as prostitution, gambling,
alcohol sales to minors, and bootlegging. He or she must be emotionally
stable to work in stressful and dangerous situations. Random drug tests
will be given to the officer.

Bids were opened Friday, Davis said, for domed cells to house additional
prisoners. The current Boaz Jail is beyond its capacity, and more drug
arrests are certain to fill extra space.

Davis and Walker said the drug problem in area schools is bad enough that
some students are afraid of losing their friends if they do not try crystal
meth.