POLICE CHIEF, SHERIFF DIVIDED OVER DRUG UNIT

Two independently functioning groups of detectives now try to stem the
relentless tide of illegal drugs washing through Wilmington.

Whether that benefits the citizens of inner-city neighborhoods and outlying
sections of New Hanover County depends on who is asked.

The City-County Vice and Narcotics Unit was launched with all expectations
of a successful union in April 1997 and disbanded in February, when its
approximately 25 members returned to work at their respective agencies.

Wilmington Police Department Chief John Cease and New Hanover County
Sheriff Sid Causey have offices just blocks apart, but their differences
over the matter span a much wider distance.

"We were willing to keep the unit intact if it were to be placed under
police department command and management," Chief Cease said. "That was not
going to take place."

"Eighty percent of the drug activity is within Wilmington city limits. We
wanted to have the opportunity to command it and put our imprint on it, and
that was unacceptable to (Sheriff Causey). We have a different philosophy
and a different way of doing things," Chief Cease said.

As evidence of its success, Sheriff Causey points to more than 6,400
arrests and $16 million worth of drugs and property seized over the
70-month life of the partnership.

"It was certainly a well-working unit in a county this size. It just makes
sense to have one unit," Sheriff Causey said, granting "there are problems
with inter-agency relations."

Chief Cease, Sheriff Causey said, "is a control guy and difficult to work
with."

Undercover police working the same neighborhoods could place each other in
danger if one squad doesn't know what the other one is doing, Sheriff
Causey said.

"It's dangerous for the people on the street," he said. "They could get
caught up in crossfires."

Ted Davis Jr., chairman of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners,
is equally concerned.

"What if the city is going to do a drug bust and the county is
investigating it?" Mr. Davis asked. "It only seems logical that you should
have a unified force to fight the drug problem. I was extremely
disappointed that the city chose to break that up."

Chief Cease said federal and state agencies routinely conduct separate drug
investigations in Wilmington without informing local police.

"Do we all sit down every day and tell everybody what we're doing? No," he
said. "Is there a potential (for overlapping investigations)? There is a
potential."

Wilmington City Manager Sterling Cheatham said the city vice and narcotics
unit is as effective as its predecessor.

"Drugs are a pervasive problem in our community and we need everybody
working on it. If we have two units, maybe we can be even more effective,"
he said.

Some city residents aren't so sure.

"I think they should handle it together, because divided you fall, together
you stand. If you stick together, you have a better chance," said 35-year
Wilmingtonian Jonathan Peterson, taking a break Tuesday from riding his
bike on Third Street.

The average citizen may not have enough facts to decide which is the best
way to fight drugs, Onasis Melvin said outside Graham's Barber Shop on
Castle Street, where he works.

"They're going to do what they want to do anyway," Mr. Melvin said. "You
have to know everything that's going on before you can even speak on it.
They know their jobs better than we do."

The sheriff's office furnished 15 investigators to the vice and narcotics
unit. Another 10 came from the city police department. Those numbers remain
consistent within the new, separate units, the sheriff and chief said.

"It's a shame. It's an ego thing with the chief. He doesn't think he gets
enough good publicity with the drug unit," Sheriff Causey said. "What I
would like to see him do is put an equal number of people in the unit and
we could really bring some pressure."

Chief Cease said overseeing the city vice and narcotics unit allows for the
introduction of fresh tactics.

"There's a lot of new and different things that we're doing, not just on
the street, but how the unit operates internally," Chief Cease said. "What
we're trying to do as a police unit in the city is have a more direct
response."

Sheriff Causey said the cost of operating the county vice and narcotics
unit is about the same as its previous investment. The county has budgeted
$1.28 million in the fiscal year ending June 30 for operation of the unit,
including $861,000 in basic salaries to deputies.

Chief Cease said the vice and narcotics units still share the same legal
environment and can work together.

"The sheriff and I both have to deal with structured sentences. If we
develop a case outside the city, we can give them the information," Chief
Cease said. "This isn't a competitive thing. Not only can we provide a high
level of services, hopefully over time, we will have a different impact."