CLOSING METH LABS A POLICE PRIORITY

Busting laboratories that manufacture methamphetamines is a top priority
for area law enforcement agencies in 2003, several representatives said.
Sgt. Jess Bailes, spokesman for the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department,
and Senior Trooper Jay Powers of the State Police both noted the importance
of cracking down on meth labs.

During a recent press conference, State Police said more than 100 meth labs
had been seized in the state during 2002. The conference also served as a
plea for help from the public to combat the problem, asking residents to
notify authorities when they think a lab is operating in their neighborhood.

"Meth labs are going to be big things," Powers said. "We are going to keep
on the lookout for those and aggressively enforce the law and pursue
criminal charges for those involved in manufacturing methampthetamines."

Because of the sheriff's department's community presence, Bailes said, tips
on where to locate meth labs and who is running them are coming in more often.

Maintaining that presence and letting residents know that deputies are on
the street is a tenant of the sheriff's department's approach to fighting
crime, he said.

"We want to continue with a holistic approach to law enforcement," Bailes said.

Bailes said the department will continue to upgrade its mobile data
systems, which allow deputies to access information about possible suspects
from computers in their cruisers.

Also on tap for the sheriff's department is establishing a first-responder
training system that allows for what officials believe is a more efficient
way to deal with possible hostage situations and instances where weapons of
mass destruction are involved.

Bailes said the department plans to begin training all personnel, including
civilian employees, in the new techniques. Developed by Sheriff Dave Tucker
and Chief of Special Operations Kevin Quinlan, the new techniques are
designed to help officers who are on the scene first at a given situation
direct the operation, despite their rank, until they are relieved of command.

An issue the State Police will be focusing on is recruiting new troopers.
Powers said the State Police Academy will be graduating two classes this
month, but the new officers, because of on-the-job-training, will not truly
be ready until later this year.

The Charleston Police Department is also looking to beef up community
patrols, especially on the West Side and East End.

"We want to make people feel better about where they live," said Police
Chief Jerry Pauley.

With the opening of the Clay Center slated for February, Pauley said his
department will evaluate what, if any changes need to be made with regard
to patrols in the immediate area.

"Anytime something big like that comes in, something that will attract a
few people, we might have to upgrade patrols," Pauley said.

Bailes said a crime his department would have liked to have solved was a
September hit-and-run where a Cross Lanes teenager was killed.

Sixteen-year-old Davey Hood and a friend were walking on Big Tyler Road
about midnight on Sept. 28 when Hood was struck by a car. He fell into a
coma and died days later.

"We hoped to solve that one by the end of the year," Bailes said.

Bailes said two detectives are still assigned to the case.