Marijuana Policy Project

POPLARVILLE - A pilot program initiated two months ago has law enforcement agencies hopeful the war against illegal drugs can be intensified.

Combining the abilities of three agencies—the Pearl River and Lamar County sheriff's departments and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, along with the District Attorney's office—the two-month operation made over 50 felony cases, Sheriff Joe Stuart told county supervisors Monday morning.

The program will expand the work of the Major Crimes Task Force by adding the power of the state Bureau of Narcotics, District Attorney Claiborne "Buddy" McDonald said. One of the problems in the past in coordinating operations of multiple agencies has been administrative issues, McDonald said.

By bringing in expertise of the Bureau of Narcotics into operations of multiple agencies, McDonald said these difficulties can be handled better. He said the drug and narcotics problem "bleeds over into other states and other counties." He said that was an advantage in partnering with the Bureau because it was not bound by county boundaries.

In the past, one problem with task forces has been administration.

"They (county task forces) honestly don't have enough administrative training to be able to handle the money, the budget—to organize and to get the people out working the way they ought to be working," McDonald said.

The Narcotics Bureau policies and procedures are set up to handle many of the problems that arise in these type cases, McDonald said. He said task forces in agreements of this nature would be set up with a Bureau of Narcotics agent as its commander.

McDonald and Pearl River County sheriff Joe Stuart want to get a formal working agreement between the two sheriff's departments and their respective county boards.

McDonald said there would be no county expenditures involved.

"We'll donate our people, they'll donate their people. Whatever forfeitures come out of it primarily go to the county where the were had."

He said the Bureau wants to formalize the current agreement and continue the operation, possibly for up to a year.

"If that's successful, they intend to go statewide with this concept."

Stuart said there would be no additional salaries needed because there were already two county people being paid for narcotics work and additional training would be made available.

Issues of liability would be covered by each county, McDonald said, noting that, that had been an issue with previous joint operations.

Board attorney Nova Carroll raised that question of county liability coverage and asked if current liability insurance would be sufficient for certain instances such as false arrest or false imprisonment charges.

"If you don't have insurance coverage like that now, you haven't got insurance coverage, and whoever your agent is, is not adequately representing you," McDonald said. "If the coverage that you have doesn't cover false arrest and things of that nature, it should cover it because that's one of the common allegations made … ." McDonald said.

Pearl River County chief deputy Aaron Russell said current insurance coverage should be adequate, but that he would get a letter stating that from the insurance provider.

The board then voted 5-0 to approve a motion agreeing to support the program, pending a review by Carroll and Russell of insurance coverage and other questions.

In other matters, the board:

--After holding a advertised hearing where no comments were received on a partial closing of Giddens Lane, the board voted 5-0 in favor of the closing.

--Approved by a 5-0 vote to accept three personnel changes in the Sheriff's Department, moving one employee from part-time to full time and accepting two resignations; received a report on an inmate/prisoner phone service where inmates can make collect calls from the jail cells. The service has been in use for approximately four years; approved 5-0 a declaration of forfeitures of guns, money and vehicles.

--Discussed a request from the sheriff to run interior wiring at the new jail for hookup to a 180-foot radio tower before completion of jail ceilings. This led to a discussion of continuing problems with radio service at certain points of the county, despite years of maintenance and upgrades by ComSouth. Hales and Thigpen wanted to explore proposals from other providers. It was noted the wiring would be generic in nature, not restricting its final hookup to the new tower. The board later approved installing the generic wiring system.

--Discussed a 50-60 residence water system extension project for Pearl River Water Association with Carey Aldridge of Alford Engineering. Thigpen questioned who would pay payment for the project, noting that a another project had problems with who would ultimately pay for the work involving right-of-way easements. The board took no action until the county engineer could be consulted.

--Granted a planning and development department variance request to reduce the required subdivision regulation easement of 60 feet to 30 feet in the subdivision of a particular 3.23 acre parcel of land. Supervisor Troy Stockstill attempted to amend the motion to prevent any future subdivision of the remaining 2.23 acres, but was unsuccessful. The board voted 4-1 to grant the variance with Supervisor Robert Thigpen voting against the motion.

--Voted 5-0 to approve some form of in-kind support for designating the Shaw House as a heritage site.

--Voted 5-0 to send a letter to Gov. Haley Barbour requesting help in getting I.N.S. prisoners in the new county jail.

--Voted 4-1 to receive a $25,000 grant for a backup computer system to be placed in the emergency communication trailer. Emergency management director Bobby Strahan said every county in the state was offered one through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The board voted 4-1 to accept the grant, with Thigpen voting no, saying, "they are going crazy with our tax money."

--Acknowledged the monthly road report; discussed the need for two new crew trucks for the road department after learning the current vehicles each have more than 250,000 miles on them, but took no formal action.

--Discussed a personnel policy for the tax office with tax collector Gary Beech, but took no formal action; approved an approximately $640 reimbursement on a tax office assessment error covering three years.

--Approved signing a bond resolution for the new jail sewerage treatment facility; accepted a letter of acceptance of the sales resolution for the sewerage treatment facility; approved payment for legal work on drafting the two previous resolutions.

--Went into executive session on personnel matters.