POLICE ASK CITIZENS TO HELP FIGHT CRIME

HAMLIN -- You don't have to be a super hero to stop crime, according to
Sgt. D.M. Nelson of the Hamlin detachment of the West Virginia State
Police. Ordinary citizens can help by contacting law enforcement agencies
regarding suspicious activity in their area, Nelson said.

"Citizens can play a vital role in stopping crime in their area by
contacting the police with any information of suspicious activity," Nelson
said.

Police are asking people to report marijuana cultivation, strange smells or
high traffic in their neighborhoods. Police have already received some tips
from outside sources concerning marijuana growing in Lincoln County, Nelson
said.

If citizens find marijuana growing they are urged to contact the State
Police immediately, Nelson said. Strange smells could be coming from a
methamphetamine laboratory due to the many chemicals used to make the
illegal drug. Police have found clandestine labs in homes, barns, rented
rooms and even the back seats and trunks of cars.

Nelson said citizens should also be suspicious of homes that have high
traffic and visitors. If several strange vehicles or people come in and out
of a residence it could be a sign of drug activity and should be reported
to police, Nelson said.

All information will be kept strictly confidential, Nelson said.

There were 301 marijuana arrests in West Virginia between 2001 and 2002,
according to a report issued by the state Division of Criminal Justice
Services.

Lincoln County is also one of 12 counties in the state that are part of the
Appalachian HIDTA -- High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

In other police news:

A new law has passed that is aimed at methamphetamine trafficking.

Senate Bill 354 makes it a felony office for operating or assembling the
necessary chemicals for a meth lab. The offense will carry a two- to
ten-year prison sentence. Selling and possessing the drug is already a
state and federal crime.

"This new law is a great weapon in our arsenal when prosecuting clandestine
lab operators," said West Virginia State Police Superintendent Howard Hill.

Last year police dismantled over 100 meth labs, including several in
Lincoln County. State Police encourages any person suspecting that a
clandestine laboratory is in operation to call the West Virginia State
Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation at (304) 558-2600 or the Hamlin
detachment at (304) 824-3101.

After 28 long weeks at the West Virginia State Police Academy, the 51st
Cadet Class will graduated on Friday, July 11. The graduation will be an
instrumental step in helping to alleviate the current manpower shortage
faced by the State Police, officials said.

New Trooper Joseph W. Robinson will be stationed with Troop 5 at the Hamlin
detachment in Lincoln County.

The State Police is funded for 674 uniformed Troopers. Currently, there are
only 555 Troopers in the State Police. The addition of the graduating
cadets will bring the total number of Troopers to 585, not including the 23
cadets still at the Academy, officials said.