1994-021-RES WHEREAS, UNDER PROVISIONS OF THE ANTI-DRUG ABUSE ACT PUBLIC LAW 100-690

Home Browse Search

The RCSAP has conducted undercover narcotics investigations for the past 5 years. For 4 of those years, it has been under the leadership of the current commander, prosecutor and secretary. Each year has seen in increased productivity. The essential goals of the project are to remain the same, i.e., to identify, target and apprehend the drug dealers; to successfully prosecute those cases to see that justice is done - whether by removing the dealer from the streets or by effective rehabilitation through community supervision and/or confinement in a substance abuse felony punishment facility; to provide a police presence in high narcotics trafficking areas; to expedite prosecution and adjudication of drug offenders; and to hopefully break the link between drugs and violent crime. While continuing to focus on the street-level dealer, the task force has successfully "gone up the ladder" to reach some of the area's suppliers. In doing so, the task force has worked closely with and cooperated with area law enforcement agencies coordinating the available funds, the undercover and intelligence gathering capabilities of the task force with the manpower of the state and local agencies. Investigations leading up to indictments on the 3 different organized crime groups all involved such cooperation. The project should impact the stated problem by making it less desirable for out-of-town crooks to expand their business into the area and removing the "neighborhood heroes" whose drug dealing activities might influence their younger replacements. The policing team should help discourage dealing in the targeted high trafficking areas as well as providing a more visible link between law enforcement and the communities. In the past 5 years, the task force has made an impact on the marihuana growers in the area. Acting on increasing tips from persons in the community, more and more marihuana is being eradicated and growing operations put out of business. Over $8 million in marihuana has been seized in the past 2 years alone. It is not unusual for disgruntled growers to call the office and complain that we're "cutting down" their profits. The project will target and serve approximately 83,070 persons in a 3-county area where there are no comparable programs. It is innovative in that it utilizes undercover officers to infiltrate rural and urban areas so that traffickers can be identified and apprehended, and because with the addition of the interdiction/community policing team, officers are able to prevent, deter, or intervene in drug trafficking in targeted high crime areas. Additionally, members of the policing team (all of whom have worked undercover previously), the commander, and the prosecutor all meet with various church, civic and school groups, or participate in community forums which discuss the drug problem in an effort to educate the public and in turn, receive input from the community of task force activities. All of the agents receive cross-cultural awareness training through the TNCP and TNOA, as well as through in-house programs. As set out above and in the preceding pages, the project complies with the 1994 Statewide Strategy for Drug and Violent Crime Control.