POLICE ADMIT THEY'RE LOSING BATTLE AGAINST METH

The Good Guys Are Supposed To Win.

When it comes to battling illegal drugs, Northeast Nebraskans like to think
their law enforcement agencies can win -- find the dealers and users, make
the arrests and get the convictions -- at least most of the time.

It helps everyone sleep easier at night. It helps make Nebraska's "good
life" slogan still seem plausible. It helps families think the drug problem
isn't nearly as bad here as elsewhere.

But guess what? The good guys aren't winning. They aren't coming close.
They won't even argue that point.

"We aren't keeping up. We're losing and it's going to get worse," said Lt.
Curt Nielsen of the Nebraska State Patrol's Troop B in Norfolk.

Think the Norfolk Police Division, the Madison County Sheriff's Office or
the county attorney's office feel differently? Think again. There's
widespread agreement that law enforcement does not have the resources -- in
terms of manpower and funding -- to be able to effectively fight the drug
problem in Madison County and Northeast Nebraska.

"We could keep two investigators busy full time just on drug cases,"
Norfolk Police Chief Bill Mizner said. "But we don't have two investigators
available. In the meantime, the problem just keeps getting worse."

This isn't easy for law enforcement officials to acknowledge. They like to
help create an atmosphere of safety. They like criminals to think law
enforcement is on top of the situation. They like to see streets safe and
dealers locked up.

So, when rough-and-tough law enforcement officers say they need help, it's
probably wise to listen.

"Manpower and resources are a big issue," Nielsen said. "There are areas we
can't serve. There's a lot of meth influence in this area that we don't
have the manpower to try to stem."

Mike Prather, a Madison County deputy sheriff, agrees. "With
additionalofficers,we could do more. But we don't have them."

Did you catch that reference to methamphetamine in Nielsen's comments? It's
a common theme when law enforcement personnel get together. "Meth is the
biggest (drug) problem in Madison County and Norfolk," Nielsen said.

Consider these statistics as just an indication why:

In 1999, 57 percent of the Norfolk Police Division's drug cases were
related to methamphetamine. In 2000, meth was involved in 86 percent of the
drug cases.

In 2000, law enforcement officers uncovered 38 laboratories used to
manufacture methamphetamine. Last year, the number increased to 230 in
Nebraska. This year, the state patrol expects the number to top 300.

The number of methamphetamine cases investigated by the state patrol was up
95 percent in 2001 compared to 2000.

"Meth is in all segments of society. High school usage is on the increase,"
Nielsen said. "We've seen people as young as age 15 using it."

Nielsen, Mizner, Prather and others aren't oblivious to the problems
alcohol causes, or marijuana, cocaine or heroin usage. Those are big,
difficult problems, too. But it's meth use that seems to be sweeping
through Northeast Nebraska and elsewhere, at a pace that's almost too rapid
to keep up with. And it's not just measured in actual drug cases.

"We're seeing more burglary and theft cases," Mizner said. "People who are
using meth are having to commit other crimes in order to get the money
needed to feed their habits."

All of this has law enforcement concerned, extremely so. Officers don't
want to see meth dealers continue to make inroads into Madison County. They
don't want to see housewives or teen-agers or businessmen become hooked on
meth. They don't want to see more meth labs pop up in Norfolk or elsewhere.
They don't want to let the drug element win.

But it is winning because as much as law enforcement wants to fight back,
its hands are tied. There are too few officers, too little money.

So, don't kid yourself. Unless something changes drastically, the good guys
aren't going to win. Try getting a good night's sleep with that thought in
mind.