S.C. CHIEF WANTS TO TACKLE DRUGS

Dunlap Has Plans To Upgrade Force, Restructure Staff

South Charleston's new police chief said there are no overwhelming issues
confronting his department, but there is a growing issue he would like to
devote more energy to -- drugs.

"It's one of the main focuses right now," Chief David Dunlap said.

Dunlap, 45, former chief of detectives, has been the police chief for about
six weeks. He has begun forming ideas for how he wants to use the
department's resources and has been surprised by what he's learned about
himself.

"I just don't think the public realizes the day-to-day dangers we look at.
They don't realize how many people are out here carrying drugs. I don't
think they realize the magnitude of the drug problem," he said.

Fighting this illegal drug activity is a top priority. He recently sent two
officers to Missouri to a training course about dismantling methamphetamine
labs.

"We've had four traffic stops with portable meth labs or components of meth
labs in the trunk of a vehicle, and it's getting worse," Dunlap said.

South Charleston hasn't seen the drug-related crime that Charleston and
other parts of the county have seen. But it has experienced an increase in
the number of "shots fired" calls, which he said might be a result of
increased drug activity.

There are some trouble spots in the city, but he would not elaborate.

Dunlap said he would like to assign one officer to the Metro Drug Unit,
which deals with crime throughout the county.

But right now the first priority is to bring the department back up to full
staff and to do some shuffling in the department so there are enough
sergeants and corporals on all the shifts.

The department is budgeted for 33 officers, but currently has only 28. Five
more officers will be hired within the month, he said.

A rank test will also be given soon, and some officers will be promoted.
Since Mayor Richie Robb named him police chief May 7, Dunlap has been very
busy. He was appointed to fill a vacancy left when former chief Jim Miller
died March 19.

Miller died of an apparent heart attack after being visibly upset about
department issues at a city budget meeting.

Lt. Kay West had been acting chief until Dunlap's appointment.

Dunlap said the transitions have not been too rocky.

"The support that I have received from the department doesn't surprise me
as much as please me," he said.

What has surprised him is how much he enjoys the political part of being
chief, which wasn't present in his job in the detective bureau, he said.
His duties now also include fielding complaints from the public, attending
City Council meetings and keeping track of the budget.

Though he didn't have direct aspirations to be the chief, it was always
something in the back of his mind -- just like he always wanted to be a
police officer, he said.

The happiest day in his law enforcement career was the day in the early
1980s when he graduated from the State Police Academy, he said.

During his academy training, his wife had been at home with their
3-year-old son and was eight months pregnant with their second son.

Eighteen years later, the wife and the children remain at home and very
supportive.

"Sometimes, when the kids were younger, they would make sure I was wearing
my vest," he said.