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Cut in federal funds could hurt task force

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BY LORI PILGER / Lincoln Journal Star

Saturday, Mar 08, 2008 - 12:18:23 am CST

Lancaster County’s drug task force is keeping a watchful eye on Washington to see what Congress will do about proposals to cut federal funds the task force uses to bust drug dealers.

This fiscal year, Nebraska law enforcement was awarded $3 million of the funds.

If the cuts to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program go through as proposed by President Bush, the pot of money which helps drug task forces do their jobs would drop to $170 million this coming fiscal year, from the current $520 million.

By the numbers

In 2007, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force:

* Served 38 percent more search warrants than in 2006

* Investigated 11 percent more narcotics cases (the highest number in five years)

* Made 59 percent more felony arrests (the highest number in the past 12 years)

* Had cases leading to 33 percent more federal indictments

* Had cases leading to 48 percent more federal charges

* Seized 82 percent more illegal drugs, by estimated street value

* Seized 101 percent more property in connection with drug cases

A 67 percent reduction would almost certainly mean cuts to Nebraska drug task forces, including the Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, which got a direct award of $283,962 this fiscal year.

“It would wind up having an impact,” said Jim Peschong, assistant Lincoln police chief.

When the funding program began, Peschong said, it was intended to force law enforcement agencies to share intelligence to build better cases and pursue distributors of illegal drugs in the state. It has been succeeding, he said.

Lancaster County’s task force involves Lincoln police, sheriff’s deputies, the county attorney’s office and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police.

Peschong said bringing the agencies together has served them well and has made them more efficient at attacking the drug problem.

If the funding ends, he speculated, sharing among agencies and task forces might, too.

“Everybody could take more of an attitude that I’m only dealing with the narcotics that are in my community,” Peschong said.

If that happens, authorities  never will be able to take down larger networks actually bringing illegal drugs into communities, Peschong said.

Peschong said law enforcement agencies have voiced their concerns about the potential funding loss to Nebraska members of Congress.

Nebraska U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson has said he’ll fight the proposed cuts.

On Wednesday, the Nebraska State Patrol participated in “Operation Byrne Blitz,” a nationwide drug enforcement effort designed to take drug dealers off the streets and to draw attention to the Byrne grant program.

The State Patrol said the statewide roundup led to arrests of 30 suspected drug offenders, including seven in Lincoln.

Peschong said everyone knows that illegal drugs can erode a community’s quality of life and increase crime.

“Illegal drugs are the gateway to a lot of other social problems in the community,” he said. “So we all feel very strongly if this funding goes by the wayside that it just starts opening the door for a lot of other problems. That’s why it’s so near and dear to our hearts.”

Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.


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Kan wrote on March 8, 2008 12:57 pm:
" Whatever.Just keep the war going in Iraq,who cares about drug enforcment,highways,school security,EMS,education or anything else for that matter?As long as Iraq is secured(from who exactly?)we Americans can live on the extra $300 we may or may not get in May. "
JB wrote on March 8, 2008 12:58 pm:
" Thats why your Gov should have gone to the governors
conference in D.C. The KY gov. said all govs. needed to
be there to vote against the Fed taking away more money
to the states!!!! "
Tom wrote on March 8, 2008 1:41 pm:
" I am hopeful that the Governor and Legislature steps up to the plate regarding this funding. I disagree with the President in cutting these so very valuable funds for Drug/Gang Task Forces. I cannot think of a better place to spend state tax dollars. The Drug/Gang Task Forces are significant in fighting the illegal distribution of drugs and guns. If the Governor and Legislature does not allocate the funding the State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies will be faced with some very serious public safety issues that will affect all Nebraskans. Take the time to call your Senator and Governor and ask that this funding be provided. "
whatever wrote on March 8, 2008 9:58 pm:
" It's hard to see a downside to this. Let the states determine if there is a problem and come up with their own money for these task forces. But I suspect the real reason for the funding cuts has much more to do with our neighbors to the south and their helpful friends to the north. Dry up the funding and law enforcement can simply wash their hands of the problem. With as much community education re: drug abuse and the focus on busting the druggies it's really hard to see how the druggies can continue to carry on their business without a little help. "

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