ATTORNEY GENERAL STUMBO DEFENDS CREATION OF THE KBI

In a recent editorial, The Courier-Journal criticized my plan to create a
Kentucky Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and suggested that the Office of the
Attorney General (OAG) should focus on consumer protection and
environmental regulation. While the KBI is an important crime-fighting
initiative, its establishment is in no way intended to diminish the
emphasis I will maintain and enhance upon the other divisions of the
Attorney General's Office. These divisions include programs for consumer
protection and the environment as well as victims' advocacy, senior
protection, child support collection and public corruption. All of these
programs will continue to be managed effectively to fight crime across our
commonwealth and preserve the civil rights of our citizens.

In fact, shortly after my election, I directed my transition team to
explore the potential interaction between the KBI and the Consumer
Protection Division as an initial organizational goal. Knowing that law
enforcement agencies regularly encounter cases of fraud and deception in
business practices, I anticipated a need for effective communication
between the KBI and the investigators and prosecutors acting to protect
Kentucky's consumers under Kentucky law.

The creation of the KBI offers the Consumer Protection Division a great
opportunity to improve its effectiveness. With this in mind, the longtime
director of this division suggested a coordinated approach to their
respective enforcement duties. As a result, I am designating a consumer
protection investigator with extensive law enforcement experience to serve
as liaison to the KBI. I will ensure that maximum cooperation will be
achieved between these subdivisions of the OAG for the greater benefit of
the public.

During my campaign, the people of Kentucky also stressed to me the
importance of protecting our environment. I promised to use this office to
achieve that goal. Consequently, another initial directive to my transition
team was to evaluate the Attorney General's duties in the criminal
prosecution of environmental offenses. I have concluded that increased
effort should be directed to this area.

The Office of the Attorney General has concurrent jurisdiction with locally
elected prosecutors to investigate violations of environmental law, and
this authority will be exercised. The Special Prosecutions Division is an
integral component in the Environmental Crimes Workgroup (ECW), which is
comprised of state and federal agencies working in concert to review
potential and ongoing environmental cases and to ensure the most effective
use of resources in the prosecution of such cases.

The ECW meets shortly after I take office in January, and I look forward to
invigorating and expanding the role of the Special Prosecutions Division in
this important work. I will not, however, be targeting the new Republican
administration, as you propose. I believe that fair and effective law
enforcement is only achieved where wrongdoing is confronted wherever it is
found. Those who would cheat our children of their most precious
inheritance by violating environmental protection laws will be prosecuted
no matter what their political affiliation.

Beyond The C-J's suggestions that I focus my attention on consumer
protection and environmental law enforcement, other important areas must be
considered in evaluating the beneficial effects of the KBI. You correctly
note that one of the KBI's main goals is the eradication of illegal drug
use, which has reached epidemic portions in some parts of our state.
Accordingly, I have directed that the Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control
Division be increasingly vigilant in detecting any improper diversion of
prescription drugs from theirintended use.

The proven worth of this division should not be underestimated. Operating
on a budget of only $1.6 million, the division obtained restitution for the
Medicaid program in the amount of $14.3 million last year alone. In
consultation with federal authorities, I will strengthen and improve the
achievements of this valuable division by allying it with the KBI and
ensuring that any improper drug diversion is prosecuted on all fronts.

I am also compelled to defend the integrity and professionalism of the
sworn peace officers presently serving in the OAG. Characterizing these
brave public servants who have a proven record of fighting crime as
"running around with badges and guns, their effects not particularly well
organized or focused," misinforms the public as to the true capabilities
and accomplishments of the OAG's investigative team. Recently, OAG
investigators and prosecutors arrested 85 fugitive felons who were
defrauding vital public assistance programs, collected a record criminal
penalty of $1.2 million for nursing home patient abuse and recovered in
excess of $3 million from predatory lenders. By establishing regional
offices in the east and west regions of Kentucky, valuable resources will
be brought to bear where they are most urgently needed. In this way, the
traditional law enforcement duties of the OAG will be delivered along with
the drug-fighting mission of the KBI to areas of Kentucky remote from
Frankfort. The KBI is designed to far outlast my tenure in office, and to
grow and respond to the evolving needs of this commonwealth.

The C-J may say "no" to the KBI, but the people of Kentucky have
overwhelmingly said "yes." The people favored creation of the KBI, and I am
keeping my promise to do just that.

I have met with and received support in this endeavor from Lt. Gov. Steve
Pence, officials of the Kentucky State Police, FBI representatives, U.S.
Rep. Hal Rogers' office, and the current director of the OAG's Public
Corruption Unit, Jim Huggins. All agree that the budgetary constraints
affecting the State Police, the redirection of federal resources toward
homeland security and the growing magnitude and complexity of the drug
epidemic point to the necessity of reorganizing the OAG's resources to more
effectively fulfill its investigatory and prosecutorial functions.

I find that the OAG will greatly benefit from the effective streamlining of
services that the KBI will provide, as I have briefly outlined here. I
expect The C-J to evaluate this program on its merits as it is instituted.

GREG STUMBO

Attorney General-elect

Commonwealth of Kentucky