CHIEF WANTS POLICE TO TAKE OVER NARCOTICS UNIT

The combined effort between the New Hanover County Sheriff's Department and
Wilmington police to fight illegal drugs and crime might end soon.

Citing a difference in crime-fighting philosophy and his department's
accountability to city residents, Wilmington Police Chief John Cease wants
to sever ties with the sheriff's department.

That is, unless the sheriff's department relinquishes its control of the
City-County Vice and Narcotics Unit to the police department. About 80
percent of the unit's arrests are made in the city, a statistic that has

fueled Chief Cease's resolve even more.

"It kind of makes the case in itself," he said.

Despite his willingness to take control of the unit or go it alone, it's
not the chief of police's decision.

"It's a city decision," Chief Cease said, adding that the question of
whether to make a change has been kicked around for more than a year. He
said the department regularly evaluates how it provides services to the
city. And those services have to change with the city, he said.

"What we were is a very different city than we are today. We've almost
doubled in size and population," he said.

Sid Causey, the unit's commander and chief deputy of the sheriff's
department, however, touts the unit's success and would like to see it
continue.

Col. Causey said the unit has seized millions of dollars worth of drugs,
property, cash and weapons over the past five years.

In the spring of 1997, the city and county joined forces again to battle
drugs and related crime after working separately for five years. In May
1992, then-Police Chief Robert Wadman pulled his detectives out of the old
city-county squad.

In 1997, then-Sheriff Joe McQueen and Chief Cease, who had just been hired
by City Council, agreed the venture would go a long way in fighting dope
dealers.

Besides fighting a growing crack cocaine problem, communication between
departments was a reason for combining efforts. Sheriff McQueen said then
that officers in the separate units didn't always inform each other about
their cases, and it caused problems that benefited only the crooks.

Col. Causey is well aware of that communication problem.

"It's the same issue we talked about in 1997 when we put it together," Col.
Causey said. "We're going to be working on the same people, and we want
shared information."

Also the Democratic candidate for sheriff, Col. Causey said the unit has
performed well and is the envy of law enforcement agencies across the state.

"Everybody knows it works," he said. "Is there room for improvement? Yes,
there is. But that unit is the best in the state and it's working well."

Col. Causey said he believes Chief Cease just wants to control the unit.

"It's just a sad, bad mistake to split it up," he said.

While the unit itself has not become a huge factor in the sheriff's race,
its future will have an impact on local law enforcement and the area's drug
issues. Chief Cease said more than 80 percent of the crime in Wilmington is
attributable to illegal drugs.

The chief said he wasn't sure what effect, if any, a new sheriff would have
on his willingness to take his officers out of the unit.

"It doesn't matter who's sheriff," Chief Cease said.

Marc Benson disagrees. The Republican candidate for sheriff said he hopes
the final decision, which is waiting on the new city manager's arrival, is
made after the election.

"I would try and keep it together," Mr. Benson said. "And I'm hoping they
leave it together for me to make a positive difference. I understand their
frustrations and their concerns, and I hope they give me the opportunity to
show them that I can make a positive change."

Paul Johnson, the Libertarian candidate for sheriff, couldn't be reached
Thursday night.

From April 1999 to June 2002, the City-County Vice and Narcotics Unit
arrested 5,871 people on 12,784 drug charges, according to a news release
from New Hanover County Sheriff Sonny Lanier.

The unit includes seven detectives and two supervisors from the Wilmington
Police Department, and 13 detectives, four supervisors and two secretaries
from the sheriff's department.