TASK FORCE GRANT KEEPS AGENCY GOING

Escambia County officials charged with the task of fighting illegal drug
activity received some good news this week as a grant was awarded that
allows for the continuation of the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force.

Confirmation was sent to the Escambia County Commission from the Alabama
Department of Economic and Community Affairs that a $210,000 grant would be
awarded for the Drug Task Force program. Matching funds totalling $70,000
has been committed by local agencies.

The grant application was submitted in July. Each year, the task force must
reapply for the grant in order to maintain operations.

DTF Commander Keith Hutchins said the grant is all-important in the
continued operations of the agency.

"This grant is very important. It helps pay for utilities, training,
salaries and allows us to have a department within the county that works
solely on drugs for another year," Hutchins said.

The task force is a combined effort of the Escambia County Sheriff's
Office, district attorney's office, Brewton Police Department, East Brewton
Police Department, Flomaton Police Department and the Atmore Police
Department. Each of these organizations provide 25 percent of the salaries
for the agents. The cooperation between them creates a single,
multi-jurisdictional unit dedicated to the enforcement of drug laws and the
investigation of other drug-related violent crime in Escambia County.

Hutchins said the department has had success in combating drugs.

"Having an agency working solely on drugs is a big advantage," he said. "We
feel like we have had a lot of success."

Despite that success, Hutchins said there is still a lot of work to do.

"Drugs continue to be a growing problem. Meth labs continue to grow and
there are growing concerns over prescription drug crimes and 'doctor
shoppers.' With this grant, we will be able to continue our investigations
and hopefully get these drugs off the streets," he said.

The grant will be funneled through the Escambia County Commission who
administers the task force's funding.

"The drug task force allows us to have more officers involved in
enforcement of drug laws and it enhances our capabilities to fight illegal
drug activity. Without this grant, we would not have a drug task force and
without them we would be at a great disadvantage," said Larry White,
chairman of the Escambia County Commission.

Governor Don Seigelman, who notified White on the approval of the grant,
said the program makes clear law enforcement's commitment to battling drugs.

"The continuation of this program sends a strong message that trafficking,
distribution and use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated," Siegelman
said. "I commend the work of law enforcement officers in Escambia County
and I am pleased to support their efforts."

Over the past year, the drug task force has made 161 felony drug arrests:
62 for crack cocaine; 54 for marijuana; 18 for crystal methamphetamine;
three for powder cocaine and 24 other cases such as prescription and
mushrooms. The force has seized 43 firearms.

The grant will help fund the investigation and prosecution of drug
offenders, seizure of money and property used in drug-related crimes and
surveillance of gangs that distribute crack cocaine, marijuana and other
illegal drugs. The task force also trains law enforcement officers in areas
of drug abuse and work with local agencies as often as possible.

"We try to share what knowledge we have with other officers and they help
us. In fact, a lot of our cases come from officers on patrol. They get to
see a lot of things that we don't. We work together and try to keep
everyone involved," Hutchins said.

In addition to making arrests and seizing drugs, the task force also works
to prevent drug use by hosting programs in local schools, churches and
other organizations.

The 21st Judicial Drug Task Force is comprised of the following law
enforcement agencies: Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Atmore Police
Department, East Brewton Police Department, Brewton Police Department,
Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County District Attorney's Office and
the Escambia County Commission.

The task force receives 75 percent of its funding from a grant funded by
the Bureau of Justice Affairs Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The remainder of the funding is provided by the ECSO, BPD, APD and the
district attorney's office.