Board of Delegates meeting in Washington, D.C., 1999

Content for this online newsletter was taken from the official printed version of The Coalition Newsletter.

ATTN:
The next delegate meeting will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana. June 29th through July 1, 2000 at the Westin Downtown Hotel. Rates have been tentatively set at $65.00.

History of the National Narcotic Officers' Associations Coalition

NNOAC Background

The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition is comprised of 33 individual state narcotic associations, representing more than 50,000 narcotic law enforcement officers.

NNOAC actively researches, monitors and supports legislative initiatives designed to increase the effectiveness of narcotic law enforcement and law enforcement in general.

Over the past four years, NNOAC has been responsible for reestablishing the formulation of the Byrne Grant Fund, and assisted in passing legislation associated with the assault weapon ban and the crime bill.

They have also participated in policy meetings with other law enforcement organizations on asset forfeiture, the national drug control strategy, national methamphetamine strategy and national heroin strategy.

NNOAC has also been responsible for increasing the President’s awareness and focus more towards state and local law enforcement participation. NNOAC has testified on Capitol Hill on a variety of drug issues, including the Byrne Grant hearings, asset forfeiture hearings, crack cocaine sentencing hearings, and Mexico certification hearings.

A member of NNOAC was part of the President’s Law Enforcement Steering Committee, which consists of national law enforcement groups, The committee is responsible for advising the President on key law enforcement issues. As NNOAC continues to grow, it will have an even greater impact on national legislation.

From the Office of the Chairman

Dear Delegate:

 I had hoped to write to each of you sooner, however, the business of the coalition, along with my job as a Task Force  Commander and my other duties with the California Narcotic Officers’ Association have kept me extremely busy. I want to start by saying that I was both humbled and pleased to be anonymously selected to succeed Tim Nelson as the Chairman of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition. By  accepting the Chair, I pledge to you that I will work alongside the other executive board members and delegates to help the coalition grow in membership and in stature during my term. As most of you know, this term is interim and is intended to complete the remainder of Tim’s term. I will, however, be seeking election to a full two-year term at our January meeting be held in Alabama. At that time, I will be asking each of you to support me in that endeavor.

Our mid-year conference that was held in Washington was an outstanding success. Our members made more than 100 office visits, briefed members of Congress and our staff on the NNOAC’s legislative agenda, including such important issues as asset forfeiture, restoration of the Byrne funding, the development of workable encryption legislation, and legal sanctions against countries that refuse to cooperate on drug kingpin extradition.

During the delegates’ meeting, we were briefed by this nation’s senior drug policy makers, including Office of National Drug Control Policy Director, Barry R. McCaffrey, and DEA Administrator, Thomas Constantine. The fact that we were able to attract these and many other senior officials proves that the NNOAC is looked upon as an important voice in our nation’s capitol. That prestige is based upon the fact that we represent 30 state associations and more than 50,000 law enforcement professionals and upon the very credible work that our delegates have done in representing the coalition on drug policy issues.

During the next two years, I believe that our singlemost important project is to increase our association membership because with membership comes influence and access. While we will continue to have a standing membership committee chaired by Doc Tomasetti, it is the duty and responsibility of each delegate to attract new member associations and to help states with the formation of new state associations. ONDCP Director Barry McCaffrey has repeatedly reminded us that we could dramatically increase our influence over drug policy and legislation if we represented all 50 states in this nation. Our second most important project will be to ensure 100% participation by each of our member associations. The meeting in Washington D.C. allowed us to have a tremendous amount of influence, however, we would have had an even greater impact if each of our associations had sent a delegate. I know that time and money are important considerations for each association, however, I cannot stress enough the importance of scheduling and budgeting to ensure that a delegate from each association attends each of the coalition meetings. Your own state association members look to you for representation on important federal issues. You cannot adequately represent them on important federal issues without being present and participating in the delegate meetings.

Because we only meet twice a year, it is important that we have the ability to contact each other at a moment’s notice on breaking issues of importance to this nation’s narcotic officers. For that reason I have asked delegate Bob Deimer, from the Florida Sheriffs’ Association to develop a comprehensive list of delegates, and of association presidents and designated delegates. It is important that each association communicate with Bob to ensure that that list remains current and accurate at all times. I have also appointed Bill Burka to chair our newsletter committee. This newsletter is of crucial importance in ensuring that our members are aware of our activities and for use in informing members of Congress and their staff on the coalition’s activities. I have enclosed a magazine article that I wrote for the California Narcotic Officers’ Association (CNOA) magazine to inform CNOA’s members regarding the coalition’s activities. The support by the rank and file membership at each state association is important to the ongoing success of the coalition. Should you wish to reprint this article or one that is customized for your association in your magazine or newsletter, please contact me and I will be happy to send it to you on disc or as an e-mail attachment for your use. I would urge each association that has a magazine or newsletter to reprint this article to ensure continued support by your own members.

I want to thank each of you for the hard work that you put forth to support professional narcotic enforcement in this nation and to ensure that our members receive the representation that they deserve.

Remember that no one person can make this coalition successful. It takes the efforts and dedication of each of us if we are going to successfully achieve our stated goals. Thank you again for your support and I look forward to speaking with each and every one of you before our Alabama meeting.

Executive Direcor's Report

Dear Delegate,

I want to thank all of you who attended the Coalition meeting in Washington D.C., last June. Our meeting was a tremendous success due to the quality of our program and the excellence of our speakers. We were able to accomplish much in our meetings with congressional leaders and their aides.

 I want to congratulate Ron Brooks on his election as chairman of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, filling the vacancy left by Tim Nelson’s resignation, due to work constraints. Tim deserves credit for his outstanding contributions and tireless efforts in bringing the coalition to the level it is today. I know that Ron will work hard to retain the level of excellence that the Coalition now enjoys, and continue to move forward with the support of each and every one of us.

Sincerely,

Richard M. Sloan, Executive Director

NNOAC and Chairman Ron Brooks mentioned in Congressional Record

Our NNOAC association achieved national attention this past June in the U.S. House of Representatives. In a narcotics­-related speech from the floor of the House, Representative John L. Mica, a Republican from the 7th District of Florida (Winterpark) mentioned his conversation with NNOAC Chairman Ron Brooks. Mica  used the occasion to comment on the severity of the meth problem in the U.S. Below is an excerpt from the Congressional Record in which Mica mentions NNOAC and his contact with Ron Brooks.

How to Join NNOAC

To become a member of’ NNOAC, you must first either establish or have a local or state narcotic association. The membership fee is $300 for new member associations and a minimum of $200 every year thereafter. For more information on on how to become a member, or for additional information on NNOAC, please contact:

Serving the Needs of Narcotic Officers Nationwide

By:  Ronald E. Brooks, Chairman

Since the beginning of the drug epidemic, law enforcement officers across the nation began to realize the transient nature of narcotic traffickers and the need to network and exchange information if they were going to be able to effectively fight this growing and very mobile threat.   Narcotic investigators began meeting locally and then regionally, to exchange information and receive training on new investigative techniques and methods.  In many states, those regional information-sharing meetings grew into statewide narcotic officers’ associations. The vast majority of the other narcotic officer’s associations have grown in membership and professionalism.  Most of the associations are now involved in providing drug enforcement training for law enforcement officers and drug resistance education to the public.  Additionally, many associations developed strong legislative advocacy programs.  By working closely with their own state legislatures and criminal justice policy organizations, state narcotic officer associations have developed strong state drug laws and policies.  These statewide narcotic officers’ associations deserve the credit for enhancing the professionalism in narcotic enforcement and for many of our tough and effective state drug laws.

Although many of the narcotic officers’ associations were very successful in representing the needs of law enforcement officers within their own state, they realized that they were not especially effective in working with Congress or federal criminal justice policy agencies. 

The NNOAC has been responsible for increasing the awareness of the Administration and Congress regarding state and local drug enforcement issues. NNOAC delegates have testified before the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on a variety of drug-related issues, including the Byrne hearings, asset forfeiture, minimum mandatory sentencing, medical marijuana, funding for the National Guard, Extradition of Drug Kingpins and the Certification of Mexico.  NNOAC delegates have participated as briefing team members for congressional delegations,  members of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and other relevant groups.  In addition, a NNOAC delegate was a member of the “President’s Law Enforcement Steering Committee” which consists of national law enforcement groups. This committee is responsible for advising the President on key law enforcement issues.

During June 1999, the NNOAC held its mid-year conference in Washington, D.C.  Prior to the conference, our state delegates and other members of state association executive boards scheduled office meetings with members of Congress from their home state and the Congressional leadership.    The state delegations took briefing packets with NNOAC position papers explaining our position on a variety of important federal issues.  These included the continuation of the Byrne funding, funding for the Regional Information Sharing System projects, our opposition to the Hyde Asset Forfeiture Reform Legislation, our support of legislation requiring law enforcement access to encrypted communications.  These delegates conducted an impressive 120 office visits.  

The conference was held with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, which has supported the NNOAC since its inception.  Many interesting and influential speakers made presentations and met with our delegates.  These included Congressman Asa Hutchinson (R-AK), Staff Director and Chief Council Robert Charles of the House Criminal Justice Drug Policy Sub-Committee, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Barry R. McCaffrey, Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Tom Constantine, Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson of the Office of Justice Programs, and Drug Policy Historian Jill Jonnes.  The purpose of this agenda was to allow our delegates to receive high-level policy briefings from our nation’s law enforcement, congressional and drug policy leaders.  These briefings will allow our delegates to make relevant and informed decisions when conducting NNOAC business or when advising the executive boards of their own state associations. 

The minimal investment in time and money that is required for state narcotic officers associations to participate, makes participation in the NNOAC a bargain.  There is no other way that our nation’s narcotic officer’s associations could receive this level of professional and dedicated representation in Washington D.C. While our member associations fight to obtain adequate funding and tough drug laws at the state level, the NNOAC is working to obtain similar results at the federal level.  

It is important to remember that our state narcotic officer associations and the NNOAC are volunteer organizations.  They are only as strong as the involvement of their members.   I would urge any members to contact an Executive Board member should you identify areas of concern or possible legislation that would be appropriately handled at the federal level through the NNOAC.  As the NNOAC continues to grow, so will its participation in legislation and drug policy.  To learn more about the NNOAC and our positions regarding federal drug policy and legislation, please visit our web site at www.natlnarc.org. 

NNOAC Insight

The Official Position of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations Coalition

FEDERAL ASSET FORFEITURE

The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations Coalition (NNOAC) is comprised of 33 state narcotic officers associations representing more than 50,000 police officers nationwide.  As law enforcement professionals, we are deeply concerned with efforts that are currently underway, which would reduce law enforcement’s ability to successfully seize and forfeit drug profits and the tools used to facilitate the drug trade.  

The NNOAC recognizes that drug abuse and drug-related crime threatens the security of the nation.  We strongly support a comprehensive drug policy, including drug treatment, drug resistance education, and the strong enforcement of state and federal drug laws.  As police officers, we have been mandated by law, and empowered by the citizens we serve, to stop drug trafficking organizations from distributing their poison in our communities.  The only purpose of drug trafficking is for the drug sellers to make a profit and to amass great wealth for personal use and to further their illegal activities.  

The NNOAC strongly believes that no person should be allowed to profit from selling a substance that destroys our communities, kills thousands of young people each year, and threatens our very way of life.  

The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition believes that one of law enforcement’s most effective weapons in the fight to stop drug trafficking is the use of existing civil asset forfeiture laws which deprive drug dealers of the proceeds from their illegal activities.  Financial and asset forfeiture investigation is an integral part of law enforcement’s ongoing anti-drug operations.  

Those who advocate changing our asset forfeiture laws cite cases in which there have been abuses of law enforcement’s seizure authority.  The fact is, no property may be forfeited, unless it is legally determined to be a tool for, or the proceeds of illegal drug sales or money laundering.  The civil forfeiture laws contain numerous protections for innocent parties whose property has been seized.  Current law provides that no property may be seized unless the government meets the standard of “probable cause.”  This is the same standard of proof required to arrest a person or secure a search warrant.

With illicit drug use increasing among high school students and young adults, this is not the time to remove this important tool from law enforcement.  The use of civil asset forfeiture is a tested and effective method of dismantling drug trafficking organizations.  By taking the profit motive away from the crime and depriving these drug gangs of the capital necessary to replenish their narcotic supply, we can break the backs of drug trafficking organizations.  

The loss or reduction of forfeitures would also reduce the amount of forfeited property and money that is currently distributed to law enforcement agencies and other government entities.  This money is being used, very effectively, to help victims of crimes, and to enhance the ability of law enforcement agencies to protect the public and increase the quality of life in their communities.

The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations Coalition joins with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and many other law enforcement groups to oppose any legislation or policy which would weaken current federal asset forfeiture laws or otherwise reduce law enforcement’s ability to successfully seize and forfeit drug profits and the tools used to facilitate the drug trade.

CONTINUED FUNDING 

FOR THE EDWARD BYRNE 

ANTI-DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM

The NNOAC strongly opposes any reduction in the current funding level for the highly successful Edward Byrne Anti-Drug Abuse Program.  As law enforcement professionals, we recognize that drug abuse and drug related crime poses a serious threat to the security of the nation.  The most vulnerable victims of this plague are our nation’s most valuable asset: it’s young people.  The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations Coalition strongly supports a comprehensive drug strategy, including drug treatment, drug resistance education and the vigorous enforcement of state and federal drug laws.  

The “Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program” of the United States Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) was created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.  It was named in memory of a brave young New York City Police officer who was murdered by members of a violent drug gang while serving the citizens of New York.  The Byrne Formula Grant Program is a partnership among federal, state, and local governments to create safe communities and improve criminal justice systems.  Since the Byrne Program was founded, it has successfully funded drug education and enforcement programs through discretionary funds issued to public and private agencies and formula funds disbursed to state and local units of government.  Thecurrent Byrne Program is funded at $552 million for FY 1999.  These funds are currently allocated to each of the 50 states and is administered by the state government to fund multi-jurisdictional task forces, drug education programs, such as DARE, and other vital anti-drug efforts.  The majority of the funds in each state are passed on to local and regional units of government.  

The Administration’s FY-2000 budget proposal contains a $93 million reduction of funding for the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program.  This proposed reduction, if implemented, would seriously impair the effectiveness of the program nationwide. This reduction would seriously impair drug education and enforcement efforts across the country.  Many states rely almost entirely on Byrne funding for their local and regional drug enforcement and drug resistance education programs.  Reduction to their budgets might prove fatal to anti-drug efforts in those jurisdictions.

Americans, when polled, continue to list drugs, violent crime, and gangs among their major concerns.  We as Americans have a right to live in drug- free, safe environments.  From 1979 to 1992, through a policy of drug education, drug treatment and strong drug law enforcement, we reduced illicit drug abuse in America by 50 percent.  This was an overwhelming success by any standard.  In 1992, we began reducing assets and resources available to our anti-drug efforts.  With the reduction of those assets, drug abuse, especially among our young people, began to climb.  Now is not the time to reduce our efforts in the area of drug education and enforcement.  Rather, it is the time to strengthen our resolve to provide the funding and resources necessary to allow state and local governments the opportunity to make their communities safer places in which to work, live, and raise their families.

The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations Coalition strongly opposes the Administration’s FY-2000 proposal to destroy the Byrne Program by removing $93 million in much-needed funding.  We join with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and many other professional law enforcement groups in asking the Congress to increase, or at least fully restore, the funding for this vitally important program. 

EXTRADITION OF DRUG KINGPINS

As narcotic enforcement professionals, the members of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations Coalition believe that the United States and all Americans are currently under attack from foreign-based enemies.  We are faced with daily acts of terrorism that make the bombing of the Murrah building in Oklahoma City or the World Trade Center in New York pale by comparison.  With the cost to Americans reaching more than $50 billion annually and thousands of lives lost each year, it is clear that the greatest threat to the security of this nation is drug abuse and the crime, violence, and social ills that accompany it.  Quite simply, drug trafficking is an act of terrorism.  

Between 1979 and 1992, through a strategy of drug education and the strong enforcement of our nation’s drug laws, we reduced drug abuse in this country by 50 percent.  That is a victory by any standard.  But sadly, interest in the war on drugs has steadily diminished during the past several years.  The fight against drug abuse no longer seems to be a priority for our government.  Yet when polled, average Americans continue to describe drug use, violent crime, and gangs as their major concerns.  Every American deserves the opportunity to live and raise a family in communities that are safe and drug-free.  

This foreign threat that we face is particularly evident in California and throughout the remainder of the Southwest border.  America is especially vulnerable to the terrorism waged by international drug cartels operating along our very porous 2,000-mile border with Mexico.  An explosion in the migrant work force, and reduced scrutiny of commercial vehicles at points of entry as a result of NAFTA have resulted in a tidal wave of illicit drugs entering the United States from Mexico.  Twenty-three metric tons of cocaine is smuggled into the U.S. annually, of which two-thirds enter across the U.S.-Mexico border.  Fourteen percent of this nation’s heroin is now produced in Mexico.  The Drug Enforcement Administration currently estimates that eighty percent of the methamphetamine in the United States is either manufactured in Mexico or in the United States by Mexican National drug criminals working under the command and control of drug lords operating from the relative safety of Mexico.  

The United States and Mexico have had a mutual extradition treaty since 1980, yet the Drug Enforcement Administration reports that the major cartels in Mexico, the Arellano-Felix, Carrillo-Fuentes and Caro-Quintero organizations continue to expand their power and operate with virtual impunity.  The government of Mexico has long described itself as an ally of the United States in the fight against illegal drugs and narco- terrorism.  If Mexico is our ally, a true proof of their counter narcotics cooperation would start with the actual extradition of major Mexican drug traffickers to the United States.  This would be the singlemost important contribution that Mexico could make.  Every significant drug kingpin operating a drug trafficking organization in the United States has been indicted by United States courts.  United States law enforcement has done a good job in arresting U.S.-based drug traffickers.  But we will never achieve true success until non-cooperating governments aggressively search out, arrest and extradite these drug kingpins to the U.S.  The return of Mexican drug kingpins and other major narcotic traffickers to the United States to stand before the bar of justice is the single most important way to destroy these drug mafias.  To date, the government of Mexico has never conducted a legal extradition to the United States of any drug kingpin.  The only way that we are going to deliver a death blow to the drug trafficking organizations operating outside  the borders of the United States, is to have the key leaders of those organizations arrested and extradited for prosecution.

The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations Coalition (NNOAC) believes that extradition is one of the most effective weapons we have in dealing with foreign nationals involved in drug trafficking in the United States.  Organizations in many parts of the world, including Mexico, Colombia, Burma, Cambodia, Nigeria, and elsewhere have used violent means to pursue their deadly trade.  They are the common enemy of all civilized nations and we need to work together to meet this threat.  We must bring the power of this nation to bear upon all countries that refuse to come to our aid to stop the narco-terrorists that threaten the citizens of the United States and people everywhere.  The NNOAC strongly supports legislation introduced to the United States Senate by Senators Coverdell and Feinstein which would expand the “Emergency Economic Powers Act” to include specially designated narcotic traffickers.  This act would completely isolate targeted drug traffickers by making it illegal for persons who do business with the cartels to also do business in the United States.  The NNOAC believes that Congress needs to codify this act and expand it to address any narcotic trafficker who poses a threat to the security of this nation.  

We would encourage the United States House of Representatives to pass companion legislation to that introduced in the Senate in an effort to force the extradition of drug kingpins.  The NNOAC also suggests that the Congress consider a system of economic sanctions against those countries that refuse to aggressively search out, arrest, and extradite significant drug violators.

FUNDING FOR NATIONAL GUARD 

COUNTERDRUG PROGRAM 

AND THE NATIONAL INTERAGENCY 

CIVIL – MILITARY INSTITUTE (NICI)

The NNOAC greatly appreciates the counter-drug assistance provided to law enforcement by the National Guard.  We strongly support long-range Congressional funding for the National Guard Bureau’s Counter-Drug Program.  

Cities across the United States are being ravaged by drugs that are smuggled into our country by air, land and sea.  Some of our states have become  “source countries” for illicitly manufactured methamphetamine and domestically grown high-grade marijuana.  The Southwest Border is particularly vulnerable to the vast quantities of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and precursor drugs being smuggled into the U.S. across our very porous 2,000-mile border with Mexico. And many of this nation’s major drug manufacturing or distribution groups are being operated from command and control centers in Mexico. The task of stemming the flow of drugs into our country exceeds the resources of our federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  If we are going to be successful in protecting our citizens from the threat of illicit drugs, the National Guard must continue to receive adequate funding in or to maintain their counter-drug partnership with civilian law enforcement.     

Our mission, as narcotic officers, is to stop the flow of illicit drugs into our communities.  We are mandated to improve the quality of life in our towns and cities.    Yet we live in a time where those of us in law enforcement face yearly budget cuts.  We are frequently asked to do more with less.  One of the ways that we have been able to continue our success in the daily fight against drugs is through the partnership that we have formed with the National Guard’s Counter-drug Program.  Narcotic officers across the nation have greatly benefited from the counter-drug support provided by the Guard.

On any given day, the National Guard has approximately 3,000 soldiers and airmen on full-time counter-drug duty.  These dedicated individuals possess unique skills that are used to support federal, state, and local law enforcement and community-based demand reduction organizations in every state and territory in the nation.  The National Guard’s drug prevention and demand reduction programs, in partnership with organizations such as the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) and the CNOA Narcotic Educational Foundation of America, reach almost 10 million young people in this country to help motivate them to reject the use of illegal drugs.  We in law enforcement have embraced the fundamentals and principals of community-based policing.  For this same reason, we must support the National Guard.  They are truly a community-based resource and solution.  These “citizen solders” are on the front lines of their own communities in this war on drugs.

For the last five years, the National Guard “Governors’ Counterdrug State Plans” budgets have been on a roller coaster.  The NNOAC recommends continued support to return the National Guard Governor’s Counterdrug State Plans funding to at least the FY-97 level of $180 million.  The NNOAC requests that this level be maintained, with annual adjustments for cost increases, to support the 4,000-troop ceiling that Congress has authorized for counter-drug support through the fiscal years 2000-2004.  Since the Office of National Drug Control Policy has now been placed in a five-year budget cycle, we would recommend placing the National Guard counter-drug budget in the same cycle.

The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations Coalition expresses our appreciation for the critical assistance provided by the members of Congress in securing $20 million from the FY-99 emergency supplemental defense appropriation to increase funding for the National Guard Governors’ State Counterdrug Plans. The original FY-99 budget was grossly inadequate and would have severely reduced the ability of the National Guard to provide consistent, effective support to the National Drug Control Strategy.  The supplemental funding has enhanced the National Guard’s ability to accomplish its Congressionally directed mission to support drug law enforcement agencies and community-based drug demand reduction organizations.

The NNOAC also supports the National Interagency Civil-Military Institute (NICI) to receive line item funding at $3.9 million.  Since 1989, at the request of Congress, NICI has provided tremendous assistance to law enforcement and the entire U.S. anti-drug effort by offering national training and research services on the conduct of military supported operations and programs.  NICI conducts export courses and uses distributive learning techniques to provide wider access to its programs.  NICI is an activity of the National Guard Bureau (NGB), and counter-drug training and research services are currently funded through the National Guard Governor’s State Counterdrug Plans.  Students attend from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and community coalitions from across the country, as well as the active and reserve military and the National Guard.  We recommend that NICI receive DoD counter-drug funding of $3.9 million in FY-2000, with continued funding at that level through at least FY-2004.  DoD has directed that NGB Counterdrug Directorate fund the Institute for no more than $2.5 million for FY-99.  This amount does not allow NICI to maintain its previous level of training or identify and develop additional training to meet future requirements.

The NNOAC recommends that NICI, which is a valued asset to the law enforcement community, receive the same consideration as the other National Guard Counterdrug Training Centers.  There are four NGB counter-drug training organizations currently funded under the appropriation for Drug Interdiction and Counterdrug Activities.  Three of these schools receive line item funding and are included in the President’s Budget: the Northeast Regional Counterdrug Training Center (added in 1998), Ft. Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania; the Multi-jurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training, St. Petersburg, Florida; and the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy, NAS Meridian, Mississippi.  Though NICI, located at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, is the oldest of the four training centers and is the only counter-drug training institute that conducts interagency training for both civilian and military personnel, it is the only training center that does not receive line item funding.

In addition to the outstanding counter-drug training provided by NICI, it also offers courses on military-supported disaster response to acts of terrorism.  The Department of Defense Appropriations for FY-98 and FY-99 specifically included funding to devise a comprehensive, long-term training regimen for appropriate National Guard and civilian emergency personnel in the area of weapons of mass destruction.  The Committee stated that the “existing National Guard training structure for the counter-drug mission” should be used to conduct “joint interagency training for Federal, State, and local responders on domestic military operations/weapons of mass destruction.”  To date, no funding has been provided to the existing counter-drug schools to meet this training requirement for FY-99.  NICI has been directed to cancel these scheduled courses for the remainder of FY-99 due to lack of funding.

NICI has trained over 10,000 individuals who are playing a critical role in reacting to the threat of drugs, major natural and man-made disasters, and responding to the current threat of acts of terrorism which plague our country. The NNOAC supports the continued funding for the training programs and services provided by the National Interagency Civil-Military Institute. 

The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition appreciates the consideration and support of the U.S Congress for maintaining adequate levels of funding for the National Guard’s Counterdrug Program and line item funding for NICI.

REGIONAL INFORMATION SHARING 

SYSTEMS PROGRAM

The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition (NNOAC) strongly supports the funding and use of the Regional Information Sharing Systems Program (RISS).  In 1974, Congress initiated an effort to aid state and local law enforcement agencies by establishing the Regional Information Sharing Systems Program (RISS).  The RISS program is comprised of six regional centers serving law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in the 50 States.  Their goal is to assist law enforcement in the identification, targeting, and removal of criminal conspiracies and multi-jurisdictional criminal activities.  The six Centers are the Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN), Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center (MOCIC), New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN), Regional Organized Crime Information Network (ROCIC), Rocky Mountain Information Network (RMIN), and the Western States Information Network (WSIN).

As law enforcement professionals, we understand the need to be able to access a single source agency that is able to act as a clearinghouse for the coordination and timely sharing of criminal intelligence information.  Since their inception in 1974, the six RISS projects have done an outstanding job of providing that service. The RISS projects have greatly enhanced officer safety, by identifying known violent offenders and serving as a deconfliction system to help prevent undercover operations from overlapping.  The NNOAC believes that through this system of deconfliction, the RISS system has prevented officer injuries and deaths that might otherwise have occurred.  The RISS systems are essential to providing a safer work environment for our nation’s law enforcement officers.  By providing timely and accurate intelligence information, the RISS projects have also greatly enhanced  law enforcement’s ability to more effectively dismantle criminal organizations.  The results of these successes can be measured in the number of violent career criminals that are removed from our communities and the reduction of illicit drugs that are available to our young people.    

The major premise underlying the establishment of the RISS Centers is that law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in various regions of the country need to instantaneously communicate and coordinate the sharing of criminal intelligence information.  The Centers are designed to assist that cooperative relationship in a structured, efficient and responsible manner.  Presently, services are provided to more than 700,000 sworn criminal justice officers in more than 5,000 law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in the United States.

In keeping with the mandate of Congress and the needs of the law enforcement community, the RISS Centers have created a nationwide computer network which houses databases containing information on known or suspected criminals and their related identifying information.  Member agencies may submit information and make queries to the database through any RISS center.  Intelligence information from additional sources may also be accessed through RISS Intelligence Technicians.  The RISS Network includes the following four components:

The RISS Secure Intranet

1.                  Utilizes Internet technology providing a secure, private Intranet” that connects the six RISS centers and member agencies.

2.                  Ensures inexpensive connection to the Intranet by all RISS member agencies.

3.                  Provides secure electronic mail (email) for RISS center staff and member agencies.

4.                  Provides secure access by RISS member agencies to all authorized databases located on the RISS Secure Intranet.

5.                  The Criminal Intelligence Database Pointer System (RISSNET), the RISS National Gang Database, (RISSGang) and the RISS Investigative Leads Bulletin Board (RISSLeads) are located on the secure Intranet for easy accessibility.

Criminal Intelligence Database Pointer System

1.                  All six RISS Center’s criminal intelligence databases, collectively called RISSNET, are electronically connected.  An electronic inquiry to one center can lead to an inquiry and search of all six center databases.

2.                  RISS member agencies now have the option to access their respective center databases via the RISS Secure Intranet.

RISS National Gang Database (RISSGang)

1.                  A crime-specific database used to track information on street and prison gangs.

2.                  Images of gang members can be stored for dissemination.

3.                  Access permitted by RISS member and non-member participating agencies, which have signed a participation agreement and have obtained the security package.

4.                  Developed through a series of focus group meetings in each of the RISS regions involving local, state, and federal law enforcement and Department of Corrections personnel.

RISS Investigative Leads Bulletin Board (RISSLeads)

1.                  RISSLeads is a collaborative computer server, often called a bulletin board system (BBS) or a news group server.

2.                  Allows law enforcement agencies to post information on the secure RISSLeads regarding a particular case or other law enforcement issue.

Since the RISS Network was implemented, over 2,400 law enforcement personnel have been activated and are using the network on a daily basis.  Connections to the websites on the RISS Network are averaging 33,000 hits per day either searching or entering critical information into the system.

The RISS Network was created for full inter-operability of existing systems.  The network architecture was designed to ensure that diverse technology systems, with little modification, could utilize the network.  This nationwide network, and its information databases, can be used by state and local law enforcement agencies as their own system, thus eliminating duplicative databases.

The RISS program is requesting $30 million in funding for fiscal year 2000 to continue providing and enhancing our capability to share multi-jurisdictional information on narcotics, violent criminal activity and gang information. These monies will be used to purchase computer terminals configured for RISS Network and installed at state and local law enforcement agencies.  We will also increase the number of agencies enrolled for electronic connection and direct access to the RISS Network, and electronically link local, state, and federal criminal intelligence systems to the network.

Since 1794, 14,600 law enforcement officers have died in the service of our nation.  At the current rate, one police officer is killed every 54 hours in the United States.  An additional 65,000 officers are violently assaulted each year.  Nowhere is violence more prevalent than in the enforcement of our nation’s drug laws.  The National Narcotic Officers’ Associations Coalition would request that Congress provide the requested funding to support this essential program.  Failure to provide adequate funding and support for this crucial program could cost lives.  Not only among our country’s peace officers but among the thousands of young people that die each year as a result of drug abuse.