The South Eastern Illinois Drug Task Force representatives outlined drug trends and the need for more enforcement help when meeting with area State Senators and Representatives this week.
The task force is currently made up of state agents and officers assigned by Salem and Robinson Police and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department. Salem Police Chief Sean Reynolds says the regional approach is needed to address the drug problem.
“Meth and fentanyl are major issues in our area right now and if we can get some type of state support to help local agencies be able to afford to put officers in the task force it will help communities to further drug cases beyond just simple arrest for possession whenever we have people dealing this and in some cases, large amounts.”
State Senator Jason Plummer sees the problem.
“One of the big things that came up is the poor job the State of Illinois does in terms of funding this program. This is a program that we see real results and a positive impact on families and communities. But it isn’t assigned the correct amount of resources they should be and that is what we as legislators need to work on.”
Plummer says working on the drug problem helps in other ways.
“When you’re taking a drug dealer and drug distribution off the streets, you are taking money and weapons off the streets and you’re attacking some of those other criminal activities that impact our communities in a negative way.”
Plummer feels if the state legislature fixes funding issues other communities in South Eastern Illinois that have financial issues with joining but see the benefits will become part of the task force and allow it to do more work.
Representatives of State Representative Blaine Wilhour and Congresswoman Mary Miller were among the other legislators represented. Three representatives of the State Police including the Director of the drug task force also participated.
