SCOTT COUNTY DEDICATES DEPUTIES TO NARCOTICS

BENTON -- Makers of methamphetamine in Scott County know who Bobby Sullivan is.

Sullivan takes pride in this.

"I've heard that me and my partner's names have been passed around, and they're saying 'watch out for these guys,'" said Sullivan, referring to himself and Bobby Penrod, deputies for the Scott County Sheriff's Department.

For about a year, Sheriff Bill Ferrell has used Sullivan and Penrod to test a theory he has held for years: The county needs deputies dedicated to narcotics investigation.

"This is a different crime than what we ordinarily handle," Ferrell said. "Most police work is reactionary, but with narcotics we have to be proactive and work on cases that haven't happened yet. So we need information in advance."

This means a lot of overtime, which Ferrell said Sullivan doesn't mind.

"I've been out working every night this week," said Sullivan, who also worked day shifts on patrol. "My wife would tell you this is a normal week."

With only 30 employees in the sheriff's department, including clerical staff, dedicating any deputies to narcotics work is a large commitment of resources, Ferrell said. Few other departments are willing to do this.

Penrod and Sullivan have done an exceptional job, said Lt. James Chambers. Drug arrests have jumped 200 percent in the past three years, and much of the credit goes to the two deputies.

Most of the time, drug cases will develop about the time Sullivan is scheduled to get off work, Ferrell said.

Tips come from other deputies, regular informants and curious neighbors who have noticed strange smells, Sullivan said. Typically, deputies work their own cases, Ferrell said. Narcotics are the exception.

"If they're going to give us the information, it's our job to work with it," Sullivan said.

In the past week, Sullivan and Penrod have found one methamphetamine lab and conducted two search warrants for cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

In the seizure of drug paraphernalia, a Sikeston business had been selling roach clips, water bongs and other items from a back room, Sullivan said.

"They had some big, nice bongs," he said. "There were 300 different pieces."

Sullivan's drug experience has mostly come on the job, and from two short courses on methamphetamine from the state Department of Natural Resources.

He also relies on words of wisdom from his brother, Billy Sullivan, who works for the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force.

"A day doesn't go by that we don't talk on the phone," the deputy said. "We'll talk about drug dealers we've run across, and he may have something on file that I can use."

Most of Sullivan's narcotics investigations are in the southern part of Scott County, where he works as a road officer. He and Penrod handle all the drug cases, but they also have to patrol the county, Ferrell said.

Narcotics cases differ from burglary, assault or other investigations because a criminal needs to be caught with drugs, Sullivan said.

Although marijuana, cocaine powder and abuse of prescription drugs are prevalent, methamphetamine makes up the bulk of the arrests.

"When they take $200 in components, make meth and triple the value, that explains its popularity," Sullivan said.

Often, prescription drugs and meth go together, he said.

"A lot of meth users need prescription drugs," he said. "It helps take the edge off after they're coming down from a high."

It's the smell of anhydrous ammonia that gives methamphetamine offenders away, he said.

Sullivan sees the same people committing these crimes. They keep getting out of jail.

"Especially with meth, they're not kept in the Department of Corrections long enough," he said.

Because methamphetamine is so addictive, users almost always return to it, he said.

"As soon as they're out, they're right back to it," the deputy said.

Sullivan isn't bothered by arresting the same people on the same charges time after time.

"I know what my job is here," he said. "If I do that, I've done all that I can do."