WASHINGTON COUNTY SETS UP METH-ONLY UNIT

HILLSBORO - Washington County will appoint a special police team to break
up methamphetamine labs after the county ranked fourth for meth labs among
the state's 36 counties.

The decision frees the interagency narcotics team, a separate group of drug
detectives, to focus on investigations.

The narcotics team, which investigates illegal drugs in Washington County,
reported 58 labs in 2001. That was the highest number since 1996.

Washington County police have broken up 30 suspected labs in the first half
of 2002, said Beaverton police Sgt. Rich Preim, who manages the narcotics team.

The creation of a countywide meth lab team with members culled from several
police agencies is a sign of continued coordination, said Chief David
Bishop of the Beaverton Police Department.

Administrators from the county's 12 law enforcement agencies say they can
work more efficiently and effectively when a well-trained force focuses on
one type of crime.

Washington County's meth lab team, for example, will be called out whenever
police uncover a lab, blunting the cost of training and equipment from any
one agency.

The team will include at least one member from the sheriff's office and
police departments in Cornelius, Beaverton, Forest Grove, Hillsboro,
Sherwood, Tigard and Tualatin, Preim said.

The new team, which will begin work this fall, will allow the narcotics
team to focus less on breaking up meth labs and more on traditional
investigations, he said.

"It's hard for a city to put someone on a joint team when they may be
working on a case out in Aloha, and they don't see a direct benefit,"
Washington County Sheriff Jim Spinden said.

"But drug dealers are selling drugs in every city."

Methamphetamine is a white, crystalline substance that can be injected,
inhaled, eaten or smoked.

Its popularity has jumped because ingredients can be found in a corner
drugstore, and it can be manufactured in someone's living room.