DRUG FIGHT NEEDS AG'S ASSISTANCE

The Herald Leader's editorial regarding creation of the Kentucky
Bureau of Investigation describes the massive drug epidemic sweeping
Kentucky and emphasizes the need for my new administration to actively
fight this drug scourge. Concerns are raised, however, that a renewed
focus on confronting drug abuse will detract from other important
areas of law enforcement entrusted to the Office of Attorney General.
This fear is unfounded.

The KBI is structured to maximize the versatility of the OAG so that
investigators previously assigned to restricted duties will be free to
assist in intensive enforcement actions as needed. Because drug use
and trafficking adversely affect many aspects of our lives, it is
appropriate to combat them on all available fronts.

The fact that a renewed emphasis will be placed on the ability of
investigators and prosecutors to fight drug crime wherever it is found
does not mean that the OAG will ignore white collar crime or public
corruption, as the editorial suggests.

Shortly after the election, I directed my transition team to evaluate
and make recommendations regarding my office's law enforcement
structure. Continued investigative efforts will be made in
prescription drug fraud and abuse, election fraud, embezzlement and
misuse of public funds.

In addition, I have worked closely with the longtime director of the
Consumer Protection Division to ensure a coordinated approach to the
enforcement duties of that agency and the KBI. As a result, I am
designating a consumer protection investigator with extensive law
enforcement experience to serve as liaison to the KBI.

It is misleading to suggest that the my office's drug eradication
efforts will duplicate the efforts of other law enforcement agencies.
As I stated during my remarks at Fancy Farm, the drug problem is
certainly big enough to require the best efforts of every available
investigative and prosecutorial force in Kentucky. Every peace officer
must closely monitor his or her area of enforcement and share findings
with all other departments to ensure a coordinated effort.

Instead of passing off the responsibility for eradicating drugs by
claiming to be preoccupied with other enforcement duties, I will use
the resources of the office to protect Kentuckians from the ravages of
the drug culture.

By creating new avenues of communication between the divisions of the
OAG and with other law enforcement agencies, I will ensure that every
available tool is brought to bear against the growing complexity and
sophistication of the illicit drug trade.

Additionally, my office has authority concurrent with all police
agencies to enforce laws relating to controlled substances, and I will
ensure that these prosecutions continue and increase. The fact that
other police agencies and the drug control branch of the Cabinet for
Health Services have made increasing requests for assistance from the
OAG's Special Investigations Division clearly shows the law
enforcement community's need for our services.

I will also direct, in consultation with federal regulators, the
investigators of the Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Division to be
alert for possible prescription drug diversion activity. This agency
has returned $14.3 million to the financially distressed Medicaid
program in the last year, operating on a budget of only $1.6 millions.
The men and women assigned to this investigative work are ideally
situated to monitor and detect the growing problem of prescription
drug diversion.

As for the editorial's concern that my office will abandon efforts to
prosecute welfare fraud, I would point out that the Special
Investigations Division has an ongoing contract with the Cabinet for
Families and Children to investigate suspected fraud and to perform
background checks on applicants for public assistance to determine
whether they are wanted felons. To date, 1,177 criminals have been
prevented from misusing public assistance resources.

Other investigators have specialized training and expertise in
eliminating a wide variety of welfare fraud. Our efforts to protect
these vital resources will continue under my administration.

The Attorney General's office will continue to ensure the effective
delivery of all assigned services. Having offices in the east and west
regions of Kentucky will put KBI investigators close to previously
underserved communities.

The regional offices also will provide an avenue for the delivery of
consumer protection, senior protection, child support collection and
victim's advocacy services. Regional offices will be designed to
handle and refer cases from citizens who have not been able to come to
the attorney general before.

Prudent allocation of resources will ensure that my fight to eradicate
drugs will grow in concert with the many other public benefits
provided by this office.