MONTGOMERY— Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded grants totaling $219,000 to combat illegal drugs and drug-related violent crime in two northwest Alabama counties.
The funding will support drug task forces in Lauderdale and Lawrence counties. The task forces conduct undercover operations to arrest and prosecute drug offenders, find and dismantle dangerous methamphetamine laboratories and assist with other violent crime investigations.
“Illegal drugs are a threat to the safety of our communities,” Bentley said. “I commend the efforts of these task forces to aggressively pursue and prosecute drug offenders.”
A $124,000 grant will support the operations of the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force. The unit comprises members of the District Attorney’s Office, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the police departments of Florence and the University of North Alabama. Local matching funds of $41,333 have been committed to the unit.
The Lawrence County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force will use a $95,000 grant to continue its operations and investigations. The task force, established in 1990, works with local police departments and the county Sheriff’s Department to enforce drug laws and investigate drug-related violent crime. Local matching funds of $31,666 have been committed to the unit.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Justice Department.
Bentley informed Florence Mayor Bobby Irons and Joey Hargrove, chairman of the Lawrence County Commission, that the grants had been approved.
Contact: Mike Presley, Larry Childers