OFFICIALS SATISFIED YEAR AFTER ARRESTS

WAHOO - A year ago, a single-day drug sweep took place in Saunders County.

A year later more than half of the people arrested that day have been
sentenced to jail, probation or fined.

On March 15, 2006, members of the Rural Apprehension Program Drug Task
Force conducted the largest single-day drug sweep in Saunders County.

Of the 24 individuals arrested, 15 have been convicted and either fined or
sentenced to probation or jail. The other individuals' cases are still in
court.

"We had tremendous success prosecuting most of all the individuals," said
Saunders County Attorney Scott Tingelhoff.

Tingelhoff added that law enforcement have noticed a decrease or slowing
down of the amount of drugs being sold on the surface.

"Individuals who use or sell drugs were getting to the point where they
felt comfortable to sell it to anybody they wanted, anywhere anytime," said
Tingelhoff.

Since the drug sweep that included undercover officers buying narcotics,
Tingelhoff said more drug sales could have been driven underground.

"They probably became more selective and made sure they were acquaintances
and felt comfortable with them," he said. The RAP drug task force
consisted of members from the Ashland, Cedar Bluffs, Fremont and Wahoo
Police Departments, as well as deputies from the Dodge and Saunders County
Sheriff's Department.

RAP members traveled to numerous locations throughout Saunders County with
warrants to arrest 18 people for illegal drug charges. Six additional
arrests were made in the days following

The issuing of warrants on March 15, 2006 was the culmination of nearly a
yearlong investigation into illegal drug activity in Saunders County.

Tingelhoff said the drug sweep was intended to send a message.

"We wanted to send a message that we're serious about stopping the drug
activity in Saunders County and hoping that by focusing it on one time, we
were able to show people that these types of things are going on," he said.

Saunders County Sheriff Kevin Stukenholtz said the drug sweep made a
difference, but by no means eliminated the problem.

"It's kind of like weed control," he said. "You can get a few weeds, but
after a while, they'll pop up in another area or maybe the same area."

He added that because the drugs are addictive, unless a person is
incarcerated, the chances of him or her being a repeat offender are high.

"When we made a large number of arrests, we saw the possibility that some
people were going to make some life changes," he said.

Of the 15 drug cases that have already gone through the court system, eight
people were sentenced to jail, five were given probation and work-ethic
camp and two were fined.

Tingelhoff said throwing people in jail is not always the best option.

"We try to line up the help to make it available to these individuals, so
if they are desiring to better themselves, that stuff is there for them,"
he said. "We want to make them productive members in society."

Stukenholtz said the goal is to have future countywide drug sweeps.

"There'll be more. There will be more," said Tingelhoff. "You don't know
when, don't know where, but there will be more coming."