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DEALERS, AGENTS PLAY ROLES OF COMPETITORS

One 1st Judicial District Drug Task Force agent compares his job of
catching drug dealers to two competing businessmen.

"This is my job," said Sam Jones (not his real name). "That's the job they
chose to do. Whoever does his job the best that day wins."

Jones, a police officer for six years, has worked on the drug trade in the
1st Judicial District for the last four years. It's a lengthy tenure for an
agent, but he enjoys the work and the extra territory he is able to cover.

If he returns to patrol duty for the Johnson City Police Department, Jones
would be restricted to working a particular zone. But as an agent, he can
work anywhere in Carter, Johnson, Unicoi or Washington counties. He also
sees more of an impact through an arrest on a felony offense, such as a
drug sale, than a misdemeanor offense such as a DUI.

He mainly works in Johnson City, but his task there is to set up drug buys
rather than conduct them. He does the setup work because he grew up in
Johnson City and would be recognized fairly easily if he were to try to buy
drugs here.

"I live in Johnson City," he said. "The majority of people know me, know
what I do. My vehicle is well-known."

Because he went to school in Johnson City, he has put some friends in jail.
People have asked him how he could do such a thing, but his reply is that
"I haven't done anything, they've done it themselves." On the flip side, he
said some people he has arrested have straightened out their lives and told
him they appreciate what he did.

"That's where we get the satisfaction," Jones said.

He believes the DTF makes a difference, citing the work agents performed in
incarcerating groups from North Carolina that came to the area about a year
ago and were selling drugs and committing other crimes. He also mentioned
the first wave of New Yorkers who came here to sell crack about 15 years
ago. After some people in that group were arrested, the amount of crack
here decreased.

The problem is the New Yorkers are making a comeback, something District
Attorney General Joe Crumley expects to happen with the North Carolinians.

The most dangerous situation Jones encountered occurred after he conducted
an undercover deal in Unicoi County. He said the person with whom he made
the deal contacted the informant and told her he wanted to speak to Jones
alone. That, of course, sent up a red flag, so Unicoi County authorities
went to the man's residence and arrested him.

Jones said agents are careful not to put themselves in a position of danger
when they do the buying.

"We're probably one of the safest drug units in Tennessee because of the
training," he said.

Jones said he has become accustomed to threats in his police career to the
point that the comments tend not to mean much.

The workload is not easy for the agents. Jones said his regular shift is
81/2 hours a day but a day can grow to 12 or 13 hours with a court
appearance added to the mix. He said there have been times when agents have
worked 48 hours straight. A typical week is 50-55 hours.

"This is a very time-consuming job in law enforcement," Jones said. "I
carry a pager all the time."

Fortunately for him, Jones is single. Some agents are married, and he said
"their families are very understanding."