Governor Nixon Seeks Funding for Drug Strike Force
By: Sarah Hatten
Updated: February 15, 2013
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Governor Nixon is proposing a funding increase for drug task forces across the state of Missouri. If not to add more agencies, just to maintain the ones already in place.
"If the federal cuts are extensive, that money may just be able to keep us afloat at the current level," said Mike Donaldson, of the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force.
Donaldson is hoping to keep his department up and running. With the possibility of federal budget cuts looming in the distance, he says he's worried.
"I don't know how that's going to affect the [Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant] Byrne JAG grant, which supplies a good portion of our funding," he said.
To make up for money potentially lost, Governor Nixon is proposing a 3 million dollar increase at the state level for drug task forces, including the one in Buchanan County.
"Providing resources they need to win the war on drugs, especially in meth," said the Governor.
In Buchanan County last year, the Drug Strike Force made 300 arrests at the state level. Thirty-seven led to federal indictments, spanning a wide range of substance abuse.
"Some people have the conception if someone is abusing a drug, they're only abusing one drug. Usually what we see is they're experimenting with several different ones," said Donaldson.
"They fight this fight because of the dangerous and deadly consequences that drug crimes have on Missouri," said Governor Nixon.
But Donaldson says it's a war that can't be won, only contained.
And without a task force, he says the consequences could be extremely dangerous.
"You would obviously see an increase in drug use, drug crimes, and also all the crimes associated with drugs, people who are stealing, robbing, just to get money to purchase drugs. You may see a spike in the violence that's associated with drugs," said Donaldson.
Donaldson says if funding is cut, it would result in downsizing the staff, but the department would seek alternative options to maintain a smaller force.
There are more than two dozen drug strike forces in Missouri.
The Northwest Missouri Inter agency Team Response Operation (NITRO) in Grundy County would also see part of the funds if the proposal is approved.
"If the federal cuts are extensive, that money may just be able to keep us afloat at the current level," said Mike Donaldson, of the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force.
Donaldson is hoping to keep his department up and running. With the possibility of federal budget cuts looming in the distance, he says he's worried.
"I don't know how that's going to affect the [Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant] Byrne JAG grant, which supplies a good portion of our funding," he said.
To make up for money potentially lost, Governor Nixon is proposing a 3 million dollar increase at the state level for drug task forces, including the one in Buchanan County.
"Providing resources they need to win the war on drugs, especially in meth," said the Governor.
In Buchanan County last year, the Drug Strike Force made 300 arrests at the state level. Thirty-seven led to federal indictments, spanning a wide range of substance abuse.
"Some people have the conception if someone is abusing a drug, they're only abusing one drug. Usually what we see is they're experimenting with several different ones," said Donaldson.
"They fight this fight because of the dangerous and deadly consequences that drug crimes have on Missouri," said Governor Nixon.
But Donaldson says it's a war that can't be won, only contained.
And without a task force, he says the consequences could be extremely dangerous.
"You would obviously see an increase in drug use, drug crimes, and also all the crimes associated with drugs, people who are stealing, robbing, just to get money to purchase drugs. You may see a spike in the violence that's associated with drugs," said Donaldson.
Donaldson says if funding is cut, it would result in downsizing the staff, but the department would seek alternative options to maintain a smaller force.
There are more than two dozen drug strike forces in Missouri.
The Northwest Missouri Inter agency Team Response Operation (NITRO) in Grundy County would also see part of the funds if the proposal is approved.
