Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)-On July 20, 2022, the South Eastern Illinois Drug Task Force (SEIDTF) held an informative meeting with legislators, prosecutors and local law enforcement leaders to discuss drug trends in Southeastern Illinois. Topics discussed included methamphetamine and fentanyl trends impacting the region and the financial support for critical grant needs associated with Task Force operations. The rehabilitation needs of the community is at the forefront of SEIDTF and the impact associated with narcotics use within the communities served. The presentation of the information to the legislative body provided relevant insight into the current climate in narcotics law enforcement initiatives and allows stakeholders to make informed decisions that impact the citizens of Southeastern Illinois.
State Police Master Sergeant Brian Gray was the presenter at this meeting. He stated that lots of the local drug issues are meth related, and that Evansville and St. Louis are the biggest source of the drug issues here locally. He also stated that drug dealing used to be somewhat small scale is now more professionally handled and is on a bigger scale. The Task Force is also limited by the amount of funding they receive, or lack thereof. The lack of funding has pushed some of the costs onto local agencies. Gray also shared that there is a dwindling number of officers to fill these roles in the Task Force, putting more strain on everyone else.
In a statement, Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns said: “Our entire region benefits from the work this Task Force does. It is good to be a member of such a group, a group that is greater than any one of it’s members alone.”
The SEIDTF leadership would like to thank the following attendees for their interest in the meeting: Senator Jason Plummer of the 54th District, Senator Steve McClure of the 50th District, a representative for Senator Darren Bailey of the 55th District, a representative for Congresswoman Mary Miller of the 15th District, legal aid from Illinois State Representative Office of Adam Niemerg with the 109th District, legal aid from Illinois State Representative Office of Blaine Wilhour of the 107th District, Clay County State’s Attorney Phil Givens, Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns, Salem Police Chief Sean Reynold, Robinson Police Chief Chad Weaver, and the Illinois State Police Department of Criminal Investigations Zone 8 Captain Ryan Shoemaker, Lieutenant Holly Finney and SEIDTF Director Master Sergeant Brian Gray.
The membership of the South Eastern Illinois Drug Task Force is comprised of the Illinois State Police, the Salem Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Robinson Police Department.
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