POLICE DRUG SQUAD MOVES TO NEIGHBORHOOD PRECINCTS

The Macon Police Department is moving its drug investigators from a central
office into city neighborhoods in an effort to get more small-time dealers
off the streets.

The move comes after months of hearing complaints from residents who report
drugs are being sold right in front of their houses, officials said.

Starting Sunday, the police department drug investigators will move from
their Houston Avenue office into four precincts throughout the city, Chief
Rodney Monroe said in a letter to city officials. It's an effort in line
with Monroe's community policing policy.

"After analyzing the current drug problem within the (city), I found that
the area of focus needed to be street level open-air drug markets and
neighborhood vice-related crime," Monroe said. "The ultimate goal is to
eliminate and/or severely restrict these activities and their negative
impact on our neighborhoods."

Officials said they've had plans to make this move for several months and
it has nothing to do with a criminal investigation of a Macon police drug
investigator.

Raymond Cross, who has been on the police department for more than eight
years, remains on administrative leave with pay while he's under
investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in Perry. GBI
officials said the investigation is still ongoing and declined further comment.

Major David Matthews said the change will increase the number of drug
investigators from nine to 16. All of the former drug investigators had to
reapply, and many were reassigned to precincts around the city.

"This will be a better response to neighborhood complaints and improve the
quality of life of the citizens living in the effective areas," Monroe
said. He said there will also be a drug investigator working directly with
federal officials on larger investigations.

"As always, it is our mission to provide the citizens of Macon with a high
standard of public safety in an effective and efficient manner," Monroe said.