DRUG ARRESTS UP IN NEBRASKA

GRAND ISLAND -- Drug arrests have risen in central Nebraska, and police are
crediting good work from a multi-unit task force.

Seventy-seven people were arrested in a 24-county area in 1999. That number
grew to 119 in 2000, and had nearly doubled to 147 last year.

Police at all levels of law enforcement began working together in Hall,
Adams and Buffalo counties in 1991 to better coordinate efforts as part of
the Tri-City Drug Task Force.

Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney police are part of the task force, which
covers 24 counties, as are the three counties' sheriff departments, the
State Patrol, the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, the Immigration and
Naturalization Service, the U.S. attorney's office and the Midwest High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

"It's a key element to fighting the crime problem," Grand Island Police
Chief Kyle Hetrick said. "A lot of crime in the area is related to drug abuse."

Drugs seized have included methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine.

Grand Island Police Capt. Clyde Church said having personnel work together
on the same jobs allows area law enforcement agents to pool their manpower
and equipment.

"We're all working on the same page," he said.

Church credits the increase in arrests in part to more experienced
investigators. There may be more illegal activity, Church said, but the
organization has gained skills in trying to stop criminals.