CITIES, COUNTIES FORM DRUG TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE

COLBY - A group of cities and counties intent on fighting drug
trafficking in northwest Kansas have banded together and reactivated
the Quad-County Task Force.

The task force is comprised of Thomas, Sherman, Logan, Gove and
Wallace counties along with the city police departments of Oakley,
Colby and Goodland. Originally formed in 1991, the force is funded by
a federal grant designed to enable a multijurisdictional approach to
drug enforcement. It disbanded in 1996 due to limited financial
resources.

The task force was reactivated in 2000 through funding from a second grant.

One of the first priorities of the new task force was to hire a
coordinator. Doug Murphy, a 27-year law enforcement veteran, assumed
that duty in October 2000.

"The task force is important because drug traffickers know no
jurisdictional boundaries. The small agencies commonly found in
northwest Kansas have limited resources, and by working together they
are able to share resources and information in order to better
investigate and combat drug trafficking and manufacturing," Murphy
said.

The task force, based in Colby, is managed by a board comprised of
law enforcement agency heads from each member city and county. It is
under the supervision of Thomas County Undersheriff Mike Baughn.

The board includes Tom Jones, Thomas County; Doug Whitson, Sherman
County; Allan Weber, Gove County; Pat Parson, Logan County; Larry
Townsend, Wallace County; Randy Jones, Colby; Danny Shanks, Oakley;
and Ray Smee, Goodland.

"To date, a number of undercover operations have been conducted in
the task force's catchment area, which have resulted in numerous
search warrants being executed and numerous persons being arrested
and charged with violations of the Kansas Controlled Substances Act,"
Murphy said. "In addition, there are ongoing investigations being
conducted with future arrests and search warrants expected."

He said there has been a dramatic increase in the number of
methemphetamine labs in northwest Kansas. The Kansas Bureau of
Investigation recently received a grant that enabled it to assign a
full-time undercover narcotics agent to northwest Kansas. That person
will work closely with the task force and other agencies.

"While the Kansas Highway Patrol and Thomas County Sheriff's Office
has been successful in highway interdictions, which have resulted in
the seizure of large amounts of drugs, cash and vehicles used to
transport drugs across the country, the Quad-County Task Force
focuses on the local dealers and manufacturers," Murphy explained.

"As a result, the task force is not able to seize the large amounts
of drugs or cash. However, the force's efforts result in a more
immediate impact on the local drug problem," he said.

The task force is funded by a four-year grant requiring a local match
from member agencies, usually part of their annual budgets. Each
year, the local match increases.

Seized assets are another source of funding, but those are never
certain, Murphy said.

"As a result, task forces such as Quad-County have to seek out
alternative funding sources - such as contributions from area
businesses and persons who wish to help combat the detrimental effect
of drug abuse in their communities - to continue with their drug
enforcement efforts," he said.

Murphy maintains that task forces simply are another weapon in the
war against drugs, and he hopes residents agree.

"Drug enforcement on the local level is important in providing
healthy communities, because drug abuse results in higher insurance
premiums and decreased productivity for businesses whose employees
are affected by drug abuse. Additionally, personal income that would
normally be used to purchase goods and services from local merchants
is, instead, spent on drugs to maintain the abuser's habit.

"Local taxpayers are additionally affected through higher taxes to
fund treatment, welfare and other social programs to help the abuser
and his or her family due to the lack of personal funds. And, more
seriously, the children and dependents of local drug abusers suffer
both academically and socially from the drug abuse of their parents
or, even more importantly, usually see drug abuse as an acceptable
behavior because of their exposure to it through their parents and,
as a result, become abusers themselves," he said.

Anyone with information about drug dealers or manufacturers within
the task force area can call the same number or local authorities.
Those with information that would assist law enforcement outside the
area can call the KBI at (800) KSCRIME or a local agency.