The Buchanan County Drug Strike Force will continue to operate, even if federal funding evaporates in mid-2009.
Sheriff Mike Strong and Strike Force Capt. Mike Donaldson said this past week that they foresee a worst-case scenario of rolling the costs into the Sheriff's Department budget. A large federal grant could shrink significantly next year.
"We've told the task forces that they can expect a 60 to 70 percent cut (after July 1)," said Terri Durdaller, communications director for the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
However, with a new White House administration, some signs indicate the funding could be restored to its full 2006 levels.
The federal Byrne/JAG funds pay for drug treatment and enforcement, and they typically contribute more than $250,000 to the Drug Strike Force. The Byrne program had doled out $900 million in 2001, but was down to about $166 million this year.
Congress overwhelmingly voted to restore the program to more than $1 billion for next year. Yet, when it came time for federal appropriations this fall, the program wasn't fully funded.
Mr. Donaldson said the Byrne/JAG grant could be added back into the federal funding come March 2009.
"If the Byrne grant goes away, I'll float the Drug Strike Force," Mr. Strong told the Buchanan County Commission on Friday.
Mr. Strong said earlier last week that he would not have to cut current sheriff staff to absorb the 10 Drug Strike Force employees. Those employees technically are already under the sheriff, although their salaries are tracked separately.
"It's essential, essential to this community that we sustain the Drug Strike Force," Mr. Strong said. "It cannot go away."
For now, Mr. Donaldson said, the Drug Strike Force is in a holding pattern. Officials are working with other lawmakers and politicians to sustain operations, even with potential cuts in funding.
"There are measures on the state level that already are being looked at to make up for the funding," he said.
The looming white elephant in the room is, if the grant fails to be added to federal funding, will the cuts mean losing Drug Strike Force officers?
"I know those people down there worry about it a little bit," Mr. Strong said of the Drug Strike Force employees. "They're kind of in no-man's land."
Mr. Donaldson said he won't know what the effects will be until the results are in.
"It all depends on how far the cuts go," he said. "It's possible we'll lose three to four officers."
Until the fate of the grant is decided, nothing is final.
"It's up in the air right now," Mr. Donaldson said. "We're just hoping the grant will go through in March."
Joe Blumberg can be reached at
joeblumberg@npgco.com. Andrew Gaug can be reached at andrewgaug@npgco.com.
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WhoisJohnGalt says...
http://www.cato.org/raidmap/
There ya go Micheal, read that. That ought to give you something to ponder for a while. After you finish that, google "civil forfeiture abuse." There is a subject that will cause you some sleepless nights.
December 21, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoisJohnGalt says...
For what it's worth, the mention of civil forfeiture was presented as a national trend, not as a specific problem in Buchanan County. I have not heard of many cases locally. An informed populace is a vigilant populace. Those items were simply mentioned as an overview. Where you got racism from that, I have no idea.
December 22, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
megafrog says...
Merry Christmas. Drug users are losers. Lay off the drugs. Merry Christmas.
December 22, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
10377586 says...
Seems only fair to me if people are committing a felony they should have to give up however much property it takes to pay for their incarceration. Us non pot head law abiding gun toting citizens shouldn't have to pay the bill for a bunch of dope smoking do littles to have three hots and a cot.
December 22, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoisJohnGalt says...
10377586, the problem with the ABUSE of civil forfeiture, is it is not used to punish drug dealers or even the normal run of the mill pothead, it is used to steal money from the citizenry. If you carry cash in your pocket, you are vulnerable. Whether you are arrested or not, convicted or not, your money and property can be legally stolen by the government.
MichealH, I can see the racism part if you are refering to the Anslinger era. That was not referenced in your previous post.
I brought up the forfeiture and the Cato study in reference to the heavy hand of government nationally.
December 22, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
"The heavy hand of government" is and will continue to be felt, locally and nationally, through the increased abuse of "Eminent Domain." Once limited by the "Takings Clause" of the Fifth Amendment, the seizure of private property for public use now seems to be unlimited due to the Supreme Court opinion in Kelo v. City of New London. I think this will occur at a breathtaking pace once the Global Climate Change fanatics are fully in power.
December 22, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoisJohnGalt says...
Wright you are, WW! ;)
At least if we know about it and talk about it, we won't be totally blindsided when it occurs.
The problem is that these "takings" always happen to someone else, and therefore don't matter ...... until it happens to us.
December 22, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
Shopping for a bargain...The Federal government employees are being given an extra holiday with pay for the Friday after Christmas at a cost of $450 million. Instead of using the $17.5 billion in bailout funds for auto makers, we could keep the government shut down for 39 work days or nearly two full months. Which would benefit the country the most?
December 22, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
devinbroncs123 says...
Why don't we just fund our own task force? I do think we need a drug strike force in Joe Town. We're by no means run over by drugs. I've seen cities that have been. You ever get that nervous feeling while driving outside of your element?
I know your discussion has gone elsewhere from the article at hand. Nice comments though. I looked into a few of them. It's amazing how political this world is. It's also amazing how stupid it all is.
December 22, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
MichaelH...Oscar Wilde said "Work is the curse of the drinking man." Does that go for potheads, too? Just kidding; everybody seems to want to take offense from my jibes lately. Come to think of it, Wilde would fit in the discussion on another current message board.
My previously stated position of not being in favor of legalization of mind-altering drugs still holds. Heritage took exception with my moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages saying they too were mind-altering. However, I consider my use of them only mood-altering and perhaps that is the euphoria experienced by cannabis users.
I think the crime attendant with drug use is the MUCH more serious matter. Case in point: In a nearby community three young thugs broke into the home of an elderly widow, pistol-whipped her into a coma which resulted in a long hospitalization for her and escaped with just a few dollars and some belongings to cash in for drugs. Thank goodness the perps were caught; two were tried as adults and got long prison sentences, the other was a juvie so we don't know how he fared. The lady did recover from her injuries.
The theft and property damage associated with drug use is an economic drain on the entire population even if covered by insurance.
For these reasons I will continue to favor strict enforcement of drug laws and do support early education on the dangers of drug, alcohol and tobacco use.
December 22, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
MichaelH..I wasn't looking for any concession from you, only stating my views on the subject as it exists TODAY. Nor am I trying to impose my belief(s) on anyone, but as far as I know having views and beliefs that are held by many, probably the majority, and supported by law is not un-American.
December 22, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
StJoeMoe says...
I'd like to see exactly what the strike force has accomplished, to date, and at what cost, before I make any decision one way or another.
December 22, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
devinbroncs123 says...
I totally agree with Michael. 3rd party audits can be manipulated. It's hard to call whether I would trust them or not. That would all depend on their own opinions (preferrably none but thats darn near impossible).
I do wish I had the stats. There's a lot of things we are funding that I would like to know the inside scoop on. This kind of stuff should be mandated by a 3rd party in another country. Also that mandating company should be completely anonymous (to prevent any "complications").
December 23, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
10377586 says...
I have a dear friend who has a brother doing a nickel at Leavenworth for selling two ounces of pot to an undercover cop in Iowa. It was the third time he'd been caught with pot. Not a violent man, actually a really nice hard working guy that has an addiction problem but he broke the law....repeatedly. My friend says it's unfortunate that his brother is a slow learner but isn't bitter at law enforcement in any way, they were just doing their job. Had it been his third DWI he would have been treated about the same but maybe with a couple less years in the slammer. I don't agree or disagree with the legalization of marijauna but until the law is changed it is what it is.
December 23, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shelby_81 says...
I think we need more officers to get these low lifes off the street!!
December 23, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
megafrog says...
MH, quit smoking the wreath and get in the holiday spirit. . . Gosh!
December 24, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )