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Snohomish County Regional Narcotics Task
Force by Commander Al Shelstad |
April 1999 |
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The
Snohomish Regional Narcotics Task Force was originally established in 1988 with a regional
emphasis on representing every jurisdiction in Snohomish County. The surrounding agencies
are currently represented and participate financially based on their population in order
to supplement the awarded Federal Bryne Grant. The Snohomish Task Force presently consists of: 1 Commander During the past eleven years the Task Force has managed to work Class I and II violators up to 70% of the case load work done by the detectives. This significant accomplishment has allowed the members of the Task Force to successfully infiltrate major drug trafficking organizations in our jurisdiction (county); as well as taking down numerous meth lab operations. The Task Force has also been able to provide training to other agencies in all areas of narcotics enforcement. Our unit is further enhanced by having a dedicated in-house prosecutor. By having such close prosecutorial coordination on our cases, the processing time it takes from arrest to adjudication is virtually cut in half. The cases are charged expediently and the suspects go to jail in a timely manner. Recently the Task Force has applied for and received HIDTA funds for 1998 and 1999. Our Task Force consistently uses HIDTA’s Watch Center to make inquiries when new active investigations are initiated. This no-cost service is invaluable; providing necessary and critical information to our cases. We have incorporated HIDTA into our every day operations; especially when in comes to using the Deconfliction system. Organizationally, in the near future, we are working
towards unifying the Everett Police Department Narcotics unit with our Task Force. This
combining effort would further utilize the tools HIDTA provides – making a deeper
impact on the war on drugs. |
