A federally funded multi-jurisdictional
Narcotics Task Force
The North Central Washington Narcotics Task
Force is operated off a Federal Grant called the Byrnes Grant. The Byrnes
Grant runs from July 1st through June 30th each year. There
are currently 20 Brynes Grant Task Forces in the State of Washington but
because of Federal funding cuts there will be Brynes Grant cuts in the
future.
The Task Force staff includes one Office
Manager, one National Guard employee, three Task force detectives and
other Okanogan County Law Enforcement personnel as local agency budgets
allow. Currently, starting in December 2002 the task force has a full time
detective from the U.S. Border Patrol, a full time detective from the
Ferry County Sheriffs Office, a full time sergeant from the Okanogan
County Sheriffs Office, a part time detective from the Brewster Police
Department and another part time detective from the Winthrop Marshals
Office.
Our main objective is the control of illegal
controlled substances to and from the areas of our jurisdiction. The task
force investigates upper level dealers in Okanogan and Ferry County, but
often travels outside these counties to purchase narcotics from suspects
that supply drugs to Okanogan and Ferry County. The task force is
governed by a board that consists of the Sheriffs of Okanogan and Ferry
Counties and all the Police Chiefs in both counties. This board meets
every other month for financial planning and to discuss the direction of
the task force.
Cocaine
has been the main narcotic purchased by detectives over the last few years
but methamphetamine is a close second. The task force also works
border cases involving smuggling, usually marijuana cases. The
Okanogan County Prosecutors Office prosecutes all the task force cases
with an exceptional conviction rate.
(Sgt. Eric Mudgett)
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