• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Saturday, July 5, 2025
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Weekly Pickem Updates
    • Results by Week
    • The Leaderboard
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Weekly Pickem Updates
    • Results by Week
    • The Leaderboard
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
No Result
View All Result
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
No Result
View All Result

DEA director visits Platte County

Kim Fickett by Kim Fickett
June 7, 2002
in Platte County
4
SHARES
95
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

In a roundtable discussion held in Platte City on Friday morning, Congressman Sam Graves and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Director Asa Hutchison, heard from area law and drug enforcement officers about their local concerns on the war on drugs.

“The fiercest battles in the war on drugs are right here in Missouri,” said Graves. “To our south, Independence still reigns as the city with the most meth problems. However, rural communities and country roads are not immune to the growing drug trade. Throughout our rural areas, drug dealers are cooking their dangerous concoctions and selling them to our children.”

RelatedNews

Three local judges up for retention Nov. 5

Summer concerts set on courthouse lawn

Free summer concerts begin June 7 at Zona Rosa

Graves and Hutchison were joined by representatives from Platte and Buchanan counties Drug Task Force, U.S. Attorney Todd Graves, Platte City Mayor Dave Brooks, Platte City Police Chief Bill Massock, Platte County Sheriff Dick Anderson and representatives from HITDA.

“This meeting was a perfect opportunity for the people in Washington to hear the problems we’re having here in Missouri. We have a problem with the war on drugs also, and the discussion was a great opportunity for Asa to hear those first hand,” said Graves.

Graves continued about the real effect the Kansas City metropolitan area has seen because of some major roadways through the area.

“Three major drug trafficking Interstates converge in the Kansas City area,” said Graves. “Those interstates act like a pipeline for these terrible drugs. I hope by raising awareness and providing local law enforcement the tools and funding they need we can guard against these dangerous drugs.”

Before the meeting was opened up to a roundtable discussion, Hutchison addressed the area representatives in attendance.

“The DEA wants to be a strong partner in the war on drugs,” stated Hutchison. According to Hutchison some main areas of focus in the war on drugs include methamphetamine and Ectasy.

One way Hutchison said the DEA is working towards that goal is by filling a void that is being vacated in the war on drugs.

“400 FBI agents are being pulled from the war on drugs fight to target terrorism,” said Hutchison. “While I think the FBI is making the right decision to focus all of their efforts on terrorism, the DEA is going to work hard to fill that gap being vacated.”

Hutchison congratulated law enforcement efforts on the war on drugs in Missouri. According to Hutchison so far Missouri law enforcement has seized 2,100 labs.

“Law enforcement is doing a great job seizing labs here in Missouri,” said Hutchison. “It’s important to reaffirm to our local law enforcement how important our role is in the international role of Missouri.”

“The enforcement side will always be essential in the war on drugs. We can never escape the effects of enforcement,” continued Hutchison. “Statistics are showing that the purity of drugs is down by nine percent. That means the drug manufacturers are having a problem; which is a small victory for enforcement when we have impacted that availability.”

Once the meeting was opened up to discussion, there were many areas of concerns raised to Hutchison.

According to Graves some of the key points developed at the meeting include the limitations on grant programs in the fight on the war on drugs. “A lot of times the grants from the federal government are limited two to three years and then law enforcement is relying on the county to respond when that funding is cut off and many times the county isn’t able to provide that type of funding for the drug task forces and programs,” stated Graves.

Another key issue was the shortage of drug dogs available to drug task forces across the State of Missouri. Individuals stated that if more funding could be made available for the funding of drug dogs, then law enforcement could gain more use of them on a local level and possibly see greater results in the war on drugs.

Officials and representatives also stated the importance of ensuring that drug task forces are provided with the funding and equipment they need across the State of Missouri.

During the meeting, Graves expressed his support for President George W. Bush’s budget proposal of $30.2 billion for the Department of Justice that includes significant resources to hire more personnel and improve technology for federal law enforcement agencies.

He also noted his support for the Community Orientated Policing Services in Schools grant program that assist law enforcement agencies in hiring new, additional School Resource Officers to engage in community policing in and around primary and secondary schools.

Tags: Frank Offuttplatte cityplatte countypolicePublic Safety
Kim Fickett

Kim Fickett

Related Posts

Fireworks

Fireworks show in Platte City

by Ivan Foley
July 4, 2025
0

DISPLAY BEGINS ABOUT 10 P.M. FROM SCHOOL CAMPUS Now that the daytime celebration in Downtown Platte City has ended, it's time to focus on the nighttime show. The City of Platte City is sponsoring a nighttime fireworks display again this...

45 Years Ago–July 4, 1980

by Ivan Foley
July 2, 2025
0

Platte County Fair schedule set: carnival, queen contest and other events are planned. Grandstand show each evening, Pony Express, demolition derby, and more activities are planned at the Platte County Fairgrounds in Tracy. The Platte County Sheriff’s Department has received...

30 Years Ago–July 6, 1995

by Ivan Foley
July 2, 2025
0

Laurie Everett, newscaster for KMBC-TV Channel 9 of Kansas City, served as celebrity emcee of the Zed Martin Day parade on Saturday in Platte City. She was assisted in announcing the entries by Platte City residents Bill Brown and Jim...

15 Years Ago–July 7, 2010

by Ivan Foley
July 2, 2025
0

Interstate 29 travelers in Platte County may notice a slower pace of traffic and increased police patrols around mid-day Thursday. President Barack Obama will be in Platte County on Thursday. The president is scheduled to arrive at KCI aboard Air...

Next Post

Farmers' market coming to Platte City

Popular News

  • Golf course at Creekside

    Nine-hole golf course planned at Creekside

    76 shares
    Share 30 Tweet 19
  • Free food, drink ready for July 4th celebration

    22 shares
    Share 9 Tweet 6
  • Fireworks show in Platte City

    11 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 3
  • Fireworks, fireworks shows, foul tasting water

    5 shares
    Share 2 Tweet 1
  • Chick-fil-A coming to Metro North Crossing

    31 shares
    Share 12 Tweet 8
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Call us at 816-858-0363

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe Online
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem
    • Results by Week
    • The Leaderboard
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved