LOSS OF FEDERAL GRANT WOULD PUT CRIMP IN COUNTY DRUG WAR

KINGMAN - Three Mohave County drug fighting prosecutors could be out
of a job next summer when a federal grant funding most of their
salaries is cut.

At stake is vital part in the war on drugs, three deputy county
attorneys and a legal secretary who work with the Mohave Area General
Narcotic Enforcement Team.

MAGNET includes officers from the county sheriff's office, Bullhead
City, Kingman and Lake Havasu City police departments and the state
highway patrol office.

The cost of the salaries and benefits for the attorneys and staff is
more than $293,000.

A federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program pays
$235,000 while the county contributes more than $58,000.

The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, which administers federal
grants, told Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith to expect a 63 percent
cut starting July 1.

"When these cuts take effect and the state doesn't pick up the
difference, we could lay off three prosecutors and support staff,"
Smith said. "This is coming from the federal Republican
administration, which is kind of strange. You don't foresee
Republicans cutting law enforcement."

Smith current has 21 prosecutors in the county attorney's office. The
three specially trained prosecutors handle mostly drug cases.

Smith said drug cases are the bulk of his office's work load. His
prosecutors work on a "proactive basis" setting up sting operations
on organized drug gangs.

Without the three prosecutors, his office reverts to a "reactive
basis," stopping attempts to arrest drug dealers.

"It will be crippling to us if they don't get some funding for this
program," Smith said.

District 3 state Rep. Nancy McLain of Bullhead City said she does not
know where the funding to make up the grant's cut would come from.

McLain doubts the state will be able to make up the funding.

"That's the problem relying on federal grants," McLain said. "We have
permanent programs based on temporary funding."

Bullhead City recently passed an ordinance restricting the sale of
pseudoephedrine, commonly used in producing methamphetamine.

The Mohave County supervisors have also recently pressed state
legislators to pass similar laws throughout the state.

Unincorporated areas of the county outside of city limits are
governed by county and state laws.

McLain supports the restriction of pseudoephedrine statewide but said
there is opposition from both sides.

With the rapid growth of Mohave County also comes the equally rapidly
increase in drug crimes, adding to the increasing workload for law
enforcement and prosecutors, Mohave County Manager Ron Walker said.

The cycle of crime revolves around drugs, which leads to theft,
burglaries and more violent crime, Walker added.

Walker said the county will seek funds from Arizona Attorney General
Terry Goddard and Gov. Janet Napolitano to make up the difference
when the grant is cut.