DEA CHIEF HEARS KANSAS POLICE'S METH CONCERNS

Hutchinson - Like most law enforcement officers, Salina Police Chief James
Hill is frustrated in his fight against those making and selling
methamphetamine.

But on Monday, Hill could voice his feelings to Drug Enforcement
Administration chief Asa Hutchinson and U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran.

"We're overwhelmed and overworked by drugs. There is no respite in sight
for us on the local level," Hill said. "We're falling further and further
behind. It's very frustrating."

He was among about 100 people, mainly police officials, at a meeting at the
Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center where the 1st District congressman
was host.

Moran said he and Hutchinson wanted to gather ideas from the officers about
fighting drugs. Hill and others said more federal money to assist local
departments would top the wish list.

"We haven't turned a corner as yet in Kansas," Hutchinson said. "We're not
quite there in Kansas yet, but we can achieve success."

Moran said drug abuse isn't a problem just in major cities, but also is
found in rural areas of Kansas.

"We need to make sure the policy-makers in Washington know it's a rural
problem," Moran said. "The tremendous growth in manufacturing meth now
threatens our way of life in Kansas."

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said last week that a record 846 meth
labs were seized in the state last year, half of them operational. There
were 702 labs seized in 2000.

Moran said Kansas ranked fourth nationally in the number of meth labs seized.

Shawnee County topped the list with 90 seized labs, followed by Cowley
County with 67 and Saline County, which includes Salina, with 62.

But that's just a small portion of the total meth picture.

Between 60 and 80 percent of all meth in Kansas comes from Mexico or
California, said KBI Director Larry Welch.

He said seizing meth labs takes time away from investigating drugs coming
into the state.

"We have to address what confronts us now," Welch said.

Law enforcement officers have voiced concern that some of the federal money
to fight drugs will be cut because of the economy.

"As dire as our straits are on the meth front, we'd be in terrible shape
without federal funds," Welch said.

Hill said about 10 percent of his 78 officers work full time to battle
drugs. He noted his town is at the crossroads of two major routes -
east-west Interstate 70 and north-south I-135.

"I could use triple the manpower. We're just hitting no more than the top
of the iceberg," Hill told reporters after the meeting.

"To say it's an epidemic doesn't really describe it. Find me some money,"
Hill said.

Moran said the need for more federal money is a message he will carry back
to the nation's capital.

"Fighting the fight in Washington can make a difference," he said.