POLICE SEE ICE EFFORTS STARTING TO PAY OFF

Police have been pouring resources into fighting the ice (crystal
methamphetamine) epidemic in West Hawaii and say they are starting to see
results.

"The feedback we're getting from some of the people we arrested (for drug
possession) is that a lot of the dealers are more leery than in the past," said
Lt. Robert Hickcox, who oversees the West Hawaii Vice Section. "They're not
selling as openly as before and they're more cautious about who they're selling
to."

Police are serving more search warrants on residences where suspected drug
activity is occurring, he said, adding specific statistics are not available.

However, he did say 95 percent of the cases that cross his desk are ice
related. And it's been that way for several years, he said.

Because of the overwhelming case load, Vice Section officers are often assisted
by Kona community police officers, and state and federal law enforcement
personnel.

"It's part of a continuing effort between community police officers and vice to
combat ice," said Acting Sgt. Stan Haanio, who oversees the Kona Community
Police Officers.

"The vice officers are really busy with their cases," Haanio said. "Community
police officers are supposed to be a liaison to their communities. So if my
community keeps calling and asking what we're doing about this we got to do
something about it."

Hickcox said he expects to see more results when the West Hawaii Ice Task Force
is fully staffed - probably within the next month. A sergeant has been
dedicated to the task force but two officers still need to be assigned, he
said.

"We really could have used an ice task force three years ago when we started
noticing this thing becoming a problem," he said.

But he remains optimistic.

"You gotta be," he said. "You gotta be. But in all honesty, I think we are
making some progress. I see what they're doing in Honolulu and its all stuff we
were already doing three years ago. So I think in that aspect we have a head
start over them."