OFFICERS SPLIT BETWEEN CARNAHAN AND ASHCROFT

Several sheriffs, prosecutors and other members of law enforcement in Southeast Missouri have signed an open letter to Missouri residents criticizing Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan for not committing more state money to fight methamphetamine.

The letter states that Carnahan has approved less than 4 percent of funding requests to fight methamphetamine by the Missouri Highway Patrol since 1994.

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan, a Republican, called Carnahan hypocritical for chastising Republican Sen. John Ashcroft's record on methamphetamine control as weak.

At a press conference at the Common Pleas Courthouse, Jordan said that Carnahan has only sought federal funds to fight methamphetamine, and this money has come to Missouri chiefly through the efforts of Ashcroft and Sen. Kit Bond.

In rural counties like Bollinger, only outside assistance from the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force allows sheriff's deputies to deal with their meth problem, county prosecutor Steve Gray said at the press conference.

"We are the kind of place where cooks want to come to produce meth because we only have eight deputies," Gray said. "And then the Task Force has to volunteer their time to make cases because the money to pay them isn't there."

Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf questioned why Carnahan hasn't come to speak with the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force since 1990.

Highway Patrol superintendent Col. Weldon Wilhoit said he has been satisfied with Carnahan's efforts against methamphetamine. Even though money specifically directed toward meth enforcement has been small, overall expenditures have made up the shortfall, he said.

He said that approximately 175 road officers have been added since 1994. With 30 percent of meth labs being discovered during an initial traffic stop, this has helped the patrol in drug enforcement, Wilhoit said.

Scott County Sheriff Bill Ferrell, who did not sign the open letter, said Carnahan has been the only governor consistently supporting funding to fight methamphetamine.

Carnahan has allocated more funds overall to the patrol's budget than Ashcroft did as governor, said Tony Wyche, a Carnahan spokesman.

During Ashcroft's years as governor, his funding for the Highway Patrol increased by 49.6 percent. Carnahan's appropriations have grown by 65 percent, Wyche said.

On Wednesday, the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police gave its endorsement to Carnahan over Ashcroft in their U.S. Senate race. The state's largest law enforcement organization cited Carnahan's efforts to lengthen sentences for violent criminals and put more police on the street as keys for its support.

Nevertheless, the governor's office has not aggressively sought all federal meth money that is available, Jordan said.

He pointed to a $6 million federal grant received by the state to battle methamphetamine in April. Jordan was given discretion for distributing $2.4 million of the Department of Justice funds, while $3 million went to the Drug Enforcement Administration to pay meth lab cleanup bills for Missouri law enforcement. The remaining $600,000 was given to the Department of Natural Resources.

However, to get the money, applications had to be filed, Jordan said. The state DNR's application was filed Aug. 24, and it was incomplete, Jordan said. This means the $600,000 cannot be obtained until the next fiscal year, he said.