Shared information helps streamline war on drugs

HERALD STAFF

The Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force provides a formal network of shared information and coordinates drug-related law enforcement activities throughout Snohomish County.

The local task force also assists smaller police agencies with limited resources with narcotics enforcement within their cities.

"The concept comes out of the Los Angeles area, with a population of 15 million and 175 police agencies," said Jerry Adams, program coordinator with Northwest HAIDA — High Intensity Drug-Trafficking Area Program in Seattle — which coordinates information for police agencies in five Northwest states.

One police agency can be working on the same case as another agency, Adams said. If they aren’t sharing information they can waste time and taxpayer money.

It’s a way to work smarter," Adams said. "And advance planning keeps the public safer."

The task force provides training to police departments along with narcotic enforcement and detection. Two of the goals of the task force are sharing information and ensuring officer security.

Funding comes from U.S. Department of Justice grants and annual fees paid by local jurisdictions based on their percentage of Snohomish County’s population.

Everett, with a population of 87,500, pays the task force $18,534 per year. Darrington, with a population of 1,280, pays about $271 per year.

Other municipalities on the roster include: Edmonds, Sultan, Gold Bar, Lynnwood, Bothell and the Tulalip Tribes and other Snohomish County cities.

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