Palestine —
Due to changes in the federal funding structure, Anderson County, the City of Palestine and
others throughout the state are in the process of developing a new strategy in waging the war on drugs.
As of March 31, the federal Byrne Grant which has been the primary source
of funding for the Dogwood Trails Narcotics Task Force expires. Participants in the multi-jurisdictional task force include
Anderson County; City of Palestine; Houston County; and Cherokee County.
While the participating city and county entities have historically contributed
either an officer's salary or cash, the Dogwood Trails Narcotics Task Force has been chiefly funded through the Byrne Grant.
Although the federal share has steadily dwindled in recent years, the local task force received a total of $565,901 during
its 2004-05 fiscal year, with $416,483 coming from the Byrne Grant and the remainder from local sources.
Federal monies previously earmarked for drug task forces throughout the
country are now being funneled into programs designed to combat terrorism, according to persons familiar with the process,
so Anderson County is not alone in the cutbacks.
The effect of that shift in philosophy at the federal level is that rural
law enforcement agencies such as the Anderson County Sheriff's Office and the Palestine Police Department are now forced to
either seek new methods of funding or reduce their efforts in fighting the trafficking of illegal narcotics.
"I understand from a national standpoint for the security of our country,"
Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor said of the federal shift. "I think they're going to find in the rural areas like East
Texas that drug dealers are our terrorists."
Still, Taylor said drug dealers and concerned, law-abiding citizens alike
can rest assured of at least one thing. Local law enforcement authorities will continue to commit financial and human resources
to wage the war on drugs.
"I don't consider it a victory for them (drug dealers)," Taylor said.
"We will adapt and overcome. It's not the end of narcotics enforcement by any stretch of the imagination.
"The Byrne Grant no longer exists to fund narcotics task forces solely,"
the sheriff continued. "The money is being funneled into JAG (Justice Assistance Grant program). There is money available
to apply for. We're a little unclear of exactly how much narcotics funding there will be."
Taylor, however, did concede those monies would be far less than what
has been available through the Byrne Grant.
The sheriff made it clear Anderson County and the City of Palestine remain
"committed" to providing resources to fund some type of narcotics task force. At what level that task force will operate is
a question that only time will answer.
Currently, Anderson County and the City of Palestine both fund the salary
of an officer dedicated to the Dogwood Trails Narcotics Task Force. Taylor said he and Palestine Police Chief Chuck Edge will
likely approach the Anderson County commissioners' court and Palestine City Council respectively in the coming months, requesting
additional funds possibly to pay for the salary of a second officer.
The salary and benefits of a full-time officer will cost an additional
$40,000-to-$45,000, according to the sheriff.
Some of the other participating entities, such as Cherokee County which
currently contributes a total of $20,000 to the task force, could also possibly increase their commitment.
"Our first goal is to have a multi-jurisdictional task force (two or
more counties) like we do now," Taylor said. "The difference will be there will be no (federal) funding."
The Palestine office of the Dogwood Trails Narcotics Task Force houses
eight officers and two administrative assistants, according to Taylor. In all likelihood, the two support positions are gone
come March 31, he added.
"It's unfortunate that anyone isn't retained," Taylor said. "We're going
to do everything we can to retain as many as possible."
It may be later in the year before the immediate future of a narcotics
task force including Anderson County becomes entirely clear. Taylor, however, said the show must go on because the stakes
are too high.
"We're going to continue to pursue the drug dealers no matter what funding
we get," Taylor said. "We must. There will always be narcotics enforcement in Anderson County and the City of Palestine regardless
of the funding.
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