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THE WAR ON DRUGS

Posted August 18, 2014 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- Anyone with a computer and an internet connection has probably noticed a wave of recent drug arrests by area law enforcement.

The Chester Police Department has arrested eight, with warrants out for two others, in the past few weeks. Steeleville police officers collared two after serving a search warrant at Heartland Manor Motor Home Court.

The positive news has prompted the question are we winning the war on drugs?

"We're slowing it down to the best of our ability," said Randolph County Sheriff Mike Hoelscher. "Drug issues have been around for ages, I just think we focus on it more in the modern era."

The Meth Belt

According to a 2013 Chicago Magazine article, Illinois borders on - or is within driving distance of - the biggest methamphetamine-producing states in America, including Missouri and Indiana.

Statistics from 2012 showed Illinois as having 801 meth lab incidents, compared to 1,825 in Missouri and 1,429 in Indiana.

Kentucky (919) and Tennessee (1,585) were also high on the list.

According to drugabuse.gov, meth use in the St. Louis region increased by 29.3 percent in 2013. Given Randolph County's relative proximity to the St. Louis area, the trickle-down effect has an impact in the region.

"We're very lucky in our county that we don't have it as bad as the St. Louis metro area," Hoelscher said. "I've talked to sheriffs in small counties and they all have some sort of drug issue.

"All it takes is one person to move in and start offering the stuff."

Shake-and-bake

Law enforcement personnel said it takes only 15 minutes to make meth, using a do-it-yourself formula that includes a two-liter bottle, a few cold pills and some household chemicals.

With the complex and dangerous process of constructing meth labs no longer necessary, even the basic bathroom stall could become a makeshift drug factory.

"They've clamped down on the pills, but the other ingredients are fairly easy to come by and highly addictive," said Steeleville Police Chief Lyn Thies. "(Meth) seems to be making a comeback. Five or six years ago, it was really big and they passed laws regarding the pills that slowed it down a lot."

The federal government, along with dozens of states, passed restrictions on pseudoephedrine in 2005 that barred customers from buying more than 9 grams (roughly 300 pills) per month.

"Back when I first became sheriff, we didn't have a drug force," Hoelscher said. "We have a multi-agency task force now and it's wonderful what we've been getting done."

Priority No. 1

Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey told the Herald Tribune that "drug enforcement" was the community's No. 1 concern in a recent public safety survey.

"This has been identified as priority No. 1 by both our staff and the community," Coffey said. "Not only do we recognize it in law enforcement, but the community recognizes a need to prioritize in that regard."

Front-line fighters

In the war on drugs, not all front-line fighters wear a badge.

Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker is on the prosecution end of the long arm of the law, working with local and county agencies to get search warrants and other things officers need.

"If we are going to do a purchase of drugs where there's going to be an audio or video device, they can get that approval from me," Walker said. "It used to be you could only get that from a judge, but they changed that so that the state's attorney can give a 24-hour approval."

Walker said search warrants still require a judge's approval, but he conducts "strategy sessions" with law enforcement agencies to make that process easier.

"The state's attorney's office is probably one of the most important cogs in the wheel," said Officer Ralph Jones of the Sparta Police Department. "Jeremy Walker has done a phenomenal job at prosecution and the Sparta Police Department works real close with Chester and other agencies."

D.A.R.E. plays a part

In his 25 years of working with Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), Hoelscher said he has worked with "thousands" of area youths.

According to its website, DARE's vision is creating "a world in which students everywhere are empowered to respect others and choose to lead lives free from violence, substance abuse and other dangerous behaviors."

"Last year, we taught 403 kids through DARE," Hoelscher said. "We keep combating drugs because it's a war we don't want, but a war we want to win."

The game-changer

A key part of the Chester Police Department doesn't speak English, walks on all fours and might even shed a bit.

Canine officer "Sabo" has made a difference in the CPD's recent string of drug arrests. The nearly two-year-old Belgian malinois works closely with Officer Brandon Crain, who is the dog's handler as part of the city's K-9 unit.

"It's a big difference," Crain said. "During traffic stops when people wouldn't allow us to search the vehicle, (Sabo) can alert on the vehicle and that lets us into it.

"Basically, on any traffic stop we can get inside the vehicle if there's drugs inside of it."

The purchase of the dog was approved by Chester City Council in June and Crain said the partnership has gone well thus far.

"We argue a little bit here and there, but otherwise, things are good," Crain said. "There's no complaints on my end."

Sparta has its own K-9 unit and Jones said he was contacted by the CPD regarding purchase of a canine officer.

"Chester called and asked me where we got our dog and where we went for training," Jones said. "I've trained with the Chester officer (Crain) and he's very eager.

"He's got a good dog and they'll be a phenomenal team."

Egos aside

All agencies contacted for this story stressed that egos are not a problem when drug cases stretch across jurisdictional lines.

"I don't think there's a department in the county that has the resources to handle everything themselves," Thies said. "It's never only Sparta's problem or only Steeleville's department.

"I think it's a must that departments work together."

Vigilance is key

As dealers become more resourceful in the distribution and concealment of their products and activities, law enforcement agencies encourage community members to be vigilant for any suspicious activity.

"It's a team effort," Coffey said. "That's community-wide too and I don't mean just our staff."

Walker said it helps investigations when citizens are willing to let law enforcement know if something is going on.

"There's always tell-tale signs with high-traffic areas," he said. "People coming into a residence and going out, not staying more than a few minutes."

For meth, law enforcement encourages store employees to be aware of people purchasing large quantities of cold tablets, batteries, starter fluid, gas additives and matches.

A "large quantity" is described as more than three at a time.

Often, the items will be purchased at the same time and sometimes criminals will steal the items required for meth production rather than buy them outright.

Displays of erratic behavior are another potential sign of meth abuse.

"Don't hesitate to call," Walker said. "It takes time to put a case together.

"We've got to find someone willing to make a buy and sometimes it's pure luck in a traffic stop. I don't want the public to ever think we're not working, because we are."

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