LEBANON — A year after wrangling with commissioners for operating funds, the Warren County Drug Task Force has asked the county to nearly triple its contribution for next year.

        Saying the task force has made significant progress in an effort to shut down mid- and upper-level drug dealers, commander John Burke has asked for $245,975 to keep existing agents on the payroll.

        He said he would like more consistent funding rather than relying on fund-raising efforts each year to keep the task force afloat.

        “I feel we have been very effective with the amount of personnel in the time we're talking about,” Mr. Burke said. “I think it can easily continue, but we have to be able to have adequate personnel and funding.”

        He submitted a summary of task force activities to commissioners this week to back up his point.

        Commissioner Mike Kilburn said he hasn't reviewed the report, but he doubts the county will pay what Mr. Burke wants.

        Last year, commissioners rejected Mr. Burke's request for nearly $400,000 to fund the entire operation through 2001, saying communities that benefit should contribute. The county ul timately paid $98,000 to match the money Mr. Burke raised from local governments.

        “My position and I think the board's position is that if all the communities share in this effort, then they've got some ownership in the drug task force program,” Mr. Kilburn said. “The communities didn't like the idea because it was more cost on them. But (this) is more cost on us.”

        This year's funding combination allowed the hiring of two full-time investigators and a clerk. In addition, Warren County Sheriff Tom Ariss donated a deputy for two years. Mr. Burke, whose $58,000 salary is paid annually through a grant, secured another grant to pay for a fourth detective through Dec. 31,.

        So far, the four agents have secured felony indictments against 98 people, Mr. Burke said.

        The task force also completed several major investigations that shut down methamphetamine labs and long-time cocaine or marijuana trafficking operations in Franklin, Lebanon, South Lebanon and Deerfield Township, Mr. Burke noted.

        Most of the activity occurred since June when the task force staff began operating at full strength, he said.

        That staffing level has allowed the task force to wage an attack on drug traffickers in Warren County, said Prosecutor Tim Oliver, a member of the task force's policy board.

        Before Mr. Burke's hiring in late 1999, the drug squad used officers on loan from local police agencies for specific operations and had a history of arresting low-level dealers and users.

City's Olympic flame doused
Group wants to put submarine on riverfront
Three officers testify against Caton
Closing arguments Monday in Jorg case
Once-fired officer to be promoted
Profiling lawsuit could play key role
Fuller rewrites campaign rules
Poll puts Luken ahead; Fuller gains over week
Council hopefuls line war chests
United Way beats the buzzer
Expert: Cincinnati area prepared
FAA chief says airport needs luggage scanners
Annexation law's fate up to voters
Drug task force wants raise
Levies in western suburbs reflect growth
Local Digest
Loveland superintendent to resign
McNUTT: Renovating Miami's ballpark
West Chester promotes police levy
Police, teens share viewpoints
Rape victim's word is forgive
SAMPLES: Have paint, will join protest
Charges could hurt candidate in Boone Co.
Erlanger woman 'hero'
Talk focuses on anthrax prevention
Truck drivers may face new rules
Elk herd makes itself at home
Judicial center built for growth
Kentucky Digest
Kentucky Education Notes
Loans, grants punctuate Kentuckian's swearing-in
No deal on smoking bill
Patton juggles finances
Patton looks at pollution allowances
Rogers' Somerset office reopens