OLYMPIA — Snohomish County lawmakers are asking the state to help fund a special police team to shut down methamphetamine labs and drug houses.
Thirteen state representatives have asked for $600,000 to get the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office meth strike team up and running.
"This will bring attention to something that destroys lives. This is a great vehicle to approach a very serious problem, "said state Rep. Brian Sullivan, D-Mukilteo.
Sullivan and a dozen other representative sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting the money.
A work group including representatives from the County Council, the sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices and community groups have concluded that adding the strike team is a key component to tackling the meth problem, according to the letter.
The team would include eight sheriff’s deputies and two sergeants, according to Sheriff Rick Bart. The yearlong pilot project will target neighborhood drug houses, not top-level dealers..
"We just don’t have the resources to go after those," Bart said.
With the strike team, Bart is hopeful other deputies will be freed up to work the ever-increasing calls for service.
"Our service will stay the same or get worse if we don’t do something about the workload, which is directly linked to drug abuse," Bart said.
The state Department of Ecology says Snohomish County reported 98 meth lab incidents in 2003, up from 83 incidents in 2002.
The team will cost about $1.2 million. If the state agrees to fund half the cost, the county is expected to cover the other half, Bart said.
"Without the state money, it will be a real struggle to fund all 10 positions," he said.
Reporter Diana Hefley:
425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
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