DRUG SQUAD: NEW LEADER, BIG JOB

IF SAVANNAH wants to reduce violent crime, it must do a better job of
attacking the source of the violence.

That's illegal drugs.

On Thursday, Chatham County leaders took a step in that direction by
naming a new commander to lead the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics
Team. He's Roy Harris, a retired deputy director of the Georgia Bureau
of Investigation and a law enforcement consultant with the University
of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

Mr. Harris, who was identified as one of three finalists earlier this
month, has a big job to do.

He's taking over a hybrid police agency that must work hand-in-glove
with the Savannah-Chatham County Metropolitan Police Department and
smaller municipal police departments to reduce drug-related crimes.
Coordination and cooperation are the keys to success.

In that regard, Mr. Harris has useful experience.

During his career with the GBI, Mr. Harris, 57, supervised drug
enforcement for the agency's Macon office. He worked with several
multi-jurisdictional task forces. And while Macon's drug problems may
not mirror Savannah's, many of the same solutions apply - generate
good intelligence, use resources wisely and bring down drug
organizations that are responsible for much of the crime.

To some degree, it's a never-ending battle. As long as there's a
demand for crack, weed and other illicit drugs, someone will try to
supply it for a profit. But smart policing, effective prosecution and
sure punishment can make life difficult for dealers and their suppliers.

When they have bad days, the law-abiding public has good
days.

Credit County Manager Russ Abolt, along with Savannah-Chatham Police
Chief Michael Berkow and County Human Resources Director Michael
Kaigler, for diligence in filling the top vacancy at the CNT.

The former commander submitted his resignation letter last September
and then retired at the end of last year, creating a temporary
leadership void for the last quarter of 2006. But Mr. Abolt, who
oversees the CNT as county manager, didn't rush to fill the vacancy at
the beginning of 2007. Instead, he correctly took time to search for
qualified candidates. He let Chief Berkow get settled in as leader of
the combined city-county police department.

The county's Drug Advisory Board, which advises the CNT's commander
and is chaired by Chief Berkow, interviewed some of the candidates as
well. The board's buy-in is important. It signals unity and trust -
two ingredients necessary to fight a problem that crosses all
municipal boundaries.

Mr. Harris won't have time for on-the-job training. He must hit the
ground running. County and city leaders must help clear his path of
pitfalls.

Smart policing, effective prosecution and sure punishment can make
life difficult for dealers and their suppliers.