Drug task force adds 2 part-timers

By D.A. Wilkinson

wilkinson@vindy.com

LISBON

Detective Dan Downard said the Columbiana County Drug Task Force has added two part-time members.

He announced the addition Wednesday while talking with the Columbiana County commissioners.

The task force has a member from the Lisbon police department and the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office.

Its new members include two part-time workers: one Salem officer will work three days a week fighting drugs, and a Leetonia officer will be working for the task force two days a week.

The Columbiana County Drug Task Force was formed in 1992 and at one point in the 1990s had 13 members.

Communities have cut their budgets, and the task- force program has shrunk as departments have cut or not replaced officers.

Downard told the commissioners that his annual operating funds are $75,000 including about $18,000 in in-kind services.

The task-force finances are administrated by the commissioners.

Jim Hoppel, the president of the commissioners, said the task force spends money on its activities, and the commissioners then reimburse the task force.

Hoppel said the funding is a constant circle.

“They spend the money and then get reimbursed and then spend the money and then get reimbursed,” he said.