Kids, Drug Problems, Dominate Chamber Discussion
May 9, 2003
Kiowa County Sheriff Forrest Frazee informed local business leaders that a serious drug problem, as well as underage drinking, is facing the community. Frazee was the featured speaker at the Eads Chamber of Commerce’s April 28 meeting.
Frazee stated that members of the Sheriff’s Office have been working aggressively to identify problems, and are working to get parents involved with the issue of underage drinking and drug use. Currently, the department is giving parents one opportunity to handle situations by requiring kids caught with drugs or alcohol to call their parents to be taken home. Subsequent offenses would lead to more stringent measures. Parents have been cooperative and supportive, Frazee said. The kids, however, have resisted the idea, with some wanting to be taken to jail rather than placing a call home.
Officers have also been looking for evidence of methamphetamine use and production in the area. Abandoned buildings are being checked, and a "farm and ranch watch" program will be established to help law enforcement gather information about potential illicit activities. Frazee also stated that his agency, "will not ‘bust’ a [methamphetamine] lab; there are experts who will help us." Undersheriff Randy Richardson stated that the chemicals used in the production of methamphetamines are highly flammable and "worse than hazardous waste."
Outside assistance is available whenever needed, according to Frazee. In addition, communication with neighboring counties is being improved in order to coordinate efforts to crack down on the drug problem.
Captain Chad Ray stated that, "the drugs and dope are here," noting that Eads and Kiowa County, on a per capita basis, have a large drug problem. To emphasize the point, a table loaded with drugs and paraphernalia seized in the area recently, including marijuana from a raid in Haswell during the previous week, was displayed. Ray also demonstrated kits carried by officers which can be used to identify several common drugs. The Sheriff’s Office also has a kit which helps identify a more extensive list of drugs.
Ray stated that "just knowing" about drugs in a particular location is insufficient to prove court cases. A lot of time and effort is spent on surveillance and gathering information so that a search warrant can be obtained to collect evidence, a process that can take months. An investigation started in February led to the recent raid in Haswell.
Richardson encouraged land owners to be aware of what is taking place on their property, especially rental property, and to keep the property clean, which would discourage people from using it for illegal activity.
Ray said that underage parties involving local kids are now including drugs along with alcohol, and concluded, "Our kids are using this stuff, it is an ongoing problem, and we have to have the community’s help."