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Monterey County, CA | June 6, 2006 Election |
Drug Enforcement - A Vision For The FutureBy Vincent R. Earland, Sr.Candidate for Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator; County of Monterey | |
This information is provided by the candidate |
As a candidate for Sheriff of Monterey County, I'm convinced that a reliance on state and federal grant funding to combat the local drug problem is woefully insufficient. In addition to redirecting more localized funding towards narcotic enforcement efforts, I would advocate the creation of a localized task force, employing law enforcement officers from various local, state and federal agencies to address the drug problem countywide.The use, sales, growing and manufacturing of illicit drugs in Monterey County has impacted each of us on a different level. We may have been the victim of Identity Theft, Burglary, Robbery or some other form of assault by a drug user attempting to get money to purchase their next "fix." Worse yet, our local properties and Monterey County's pristine beauty continues to be plagued by the indiscriminate discarding of toxic waste by methamphetamine manufacturers. As a candidate for Sheriff of Monterey County, I'm convinced that a reliance on state and federal grant funding to combat the local drug problem is woefully insufficient. In addition to redirecting more localized funding towards narcotic enforcement efforts, I would advocate the creation of a localized task force, employing law enforcement officers from various local, state and federal agencies to address the drug problem countywide. Similar task forces currently exist in both Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties operating under the direction of The California Department of Justice. Working with the law enforcement administrators in each of these counties, I would also seek to develop a Joint Powers Agreement to combat the illegal drugs on a regional platform. This would serve as a "force multiplier" for law enforcement and substantially increase the risks of detection to narcotics dealers in each county. I believe that the Monterey County Sheriff's Office should exhaust every opportunity to identify these controlled substance dealers, growers and manufacturers as soon as possible, so that they may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This remains as one of my highest priorities. Current Enforcement Efforts The Sheriff's Office is the primary agency responsible for the investigation of drug related crimes occurring in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County. Current efforts include:
Marijuana is grown throughout the county outdoors during the early summer with harvesting in the fall. It is also grown indoors year round. Marijuana is considered the second most significant drug-related problem within the county. It has been found growing on both private and public lands. Large commercial grow sites have been found on public land under the control U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management. Growers shot at Sheriff's deputies outside Salinas two years ago. Cocaine, black-tar heroin and prescription fraud/diversion continues to maintain a presence in the local market. Uncertain Priorities The current administration cites "drugs" as a priority, yet enforcement efforts are largely limited to the state or federal grant funding. In February 2006 the CAO declined to endorse the department's request for a budget augmentation of $119,000.00 for NEUCOM to remain in existence for the rest of the fiscal year. |
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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 31, 2006 12:48
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