Officers laud work of narcotics task force

Law enforcement officers from two counties praised the work of the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Drug Task Force when they met with the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

Wahkiakum commissioners haven't funded the county's membership fee in the organization for a couple of years, and Wahkiakum Sheriff Jon Dearmore and the other officers suggested the commissioners should fund the membership fee and negotiate to catch up with the county's $150,000 unpaid fees.

Speaking on the issue were Cowlitz Sheriff Mark Nelson, Kelso Police Chief Andy Hamilton, Longivew Police Captain Robert Huhta, Wahkiakum Undersheriff Mark Howie and Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow.

All the officers commented that large scale drug investigations, which are the assignment of the task force can overwhelm a small department.

Over the years, Sheriff Nelson said, members of the task force, which was founded in 1987, have developed a good working relationship among themselves and with other law enforcement agencies.

Wahkiakum County plays a crucial role, he said, for its membership allows the task force to obtain certain grant funding.

"It's imperative that we remain partners," he said.

Chief Hamilton commented that as an officer in the Kelso department he had worked undercover cases in Wahkiakum County. The county might be small in size and population, but it has had drug activity that led to regional organization.

Capt. Huhta, the current task force commander, said the task force focuses on regional activity, and it has seen expansion of that activity.

"We follow the leads where ever they may go," he said. "It's amazing to see some of the information from the East Coast and its ties to this region.

"If we don't have partnerships in this day and age, we won't get the job done," he said.

"These major task forces are an essential component to law enforcement in the region and across the nation," Bigelow said. "We need it and we need to support it."

Commissioners Dan Cothren and Blair Brady--Commissioner Lisa Marsyla was unexpectedly called away--said they supported the work of the task force but acknowledged that the county had to cut some programs because of a decline in revenue.

"You know where we are," Brady said. "We just haven't had the budget for several years."

Cothren pointed out that the county has had to borrow for two years from the County Road Fund to cover expenses of the Current Expense Fund, which covers law enforcement.

Cothren said the commission would set up a workshop with officers in January to discuss the matter further.