DRUG TASK FORCES DIVVY UP MONEY

A federal grant of $3.1 million to fight methamphetamine has helped narcotics officers in Missouri win a tougher battle -- finding money for their work.

A $127,567 grant to the Bootheel Drug Task Force has allowed a new narcotics officer to start work in a new vehicle, said Tommy Greenwell, Pemiscot County sheriff and head of the task force.

But if Greenwell got money to hire an additional 10 drug officers to cover Pemiscot and Dunklin counties, he said he'd have work for them.

Requests for portions of the $3.1 million grant from 37 state law enforcement agencies exceeded $4.3 million, said John Jordan, Cape Girardeau County sheriff.

"We just looked over the requests and made our strikes," said Jordan, who was chosen to coordinate the grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. "The panel decided we needed to get the money out there to those who need it as soon as possible."

A panel of five sheriffs representing Missouri geographically looked at the requests, Jordan said. Priority went to drug task forces, which could receive up to $200,000 for two years. Sheriff's departments could request $100,000.

Only two of the 37 agencies that applied were turned down, Jordan said.

"We looked at the number of labs taken down as far as making a funding decision," he said.

The VPAM Drug Task Force from Audrain and Pike counties received $185,561, the largest amount of any agency. The panel took into consideration that the task force is relatively new, and that the two counties have experienced increasing thefts of anhydrous ammonia without having the manpower to investigate, Jordan said.

The Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, which covers 13 counties, received $146,386. The task force had requested $200,000, Kevin Glaser said, but any money is welcome.

AREA SHARES OF GRANT MONEY

The following Southeast Missouri law enforcement agencies received money from a $3.1 million grant designated exclusively to battle methampheatmine:

* Bootheel Drug Task Force: $127,567

* Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force: $146,386

* Bollinger County Sheriff's Department: $74,222

* Madison County Sheriff's Department: $79,235

* Ripley County Sheriff's Department: $80,489

* Stoddard County Sheriff's Department: $97,612

* Wayne County Sheriff's Department: $74,281