THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2000
Sheriff leaves regional drug enforcement unit
By Jefferson Wolfe
Staff Writer
The Seneca County Sheriff's Office has quit the Seneca County Drug Task Force -- METRICH Enforcement Unit.
METRICH is a nine-county drug-enforcement organization centered in Mansfield. It provides funds to make undercover drug purchases and for confidential agent services, as well as the use of vehicles and other equipment. The task force had involved the sheriff's office, Seneca County Prosecutor's Office and the Tiffin and Fostoria police departments.
"We felt a need to make a change that would result in closer attention to crimes against county residents and residents of the villages," Sheriff H. Weldin Neff said.
As recently as March 30, Neff had said the sheriff's office would continue to be active in the task force.
Neff announced his office will be part of a new unit &emdash; Seneca County & Village Enforcement Network. He says SeVEN is to provide increased enforcement and investigation of illegal drug activities as well as property crimes and other assaults against county residents.
Much of the METRICH activities revolve around the cities of Fostoria and Tiffin, Neff said, and SeVEN will allow a closer focus on the needs of the county and the villages.
Tiffin Police Chief Tom Steyer, chairman of the Seneca County METRICH unit, said he was surprised by Neff's announcement.
"He never brought it to our attention that he wasn't satisfied with what we were doing out in the county," he said.
Steyer said the sheriff's office got free use of a car, money for drug buys, staffing and equipment from the task force. The sheriff's office, Tiffin and Fostoria police departments and the Seneca County Prosecutor's office each pay $2,100 annually to belong to the task force.
"The last two years, I put in the money for the sheriff and the prosecutor's office and I will continue to keep putting in the same amount," County Prosecutor Kenneth Egbert Jr. said. This is to ensure that the task force can continue to receive the same benefits, he said.
Steyer said Seneca County's task force received about $29,000 last year from the METRICH unit.
"As the Tiffin Police Chief, there's no way I could justify pulling out of METRICH," he said.
Steyer is a candidate for sheriff in the November election, as are Neff and former Seneca County Jail Administrator Dennis Brady.
"I don't know how they (the sheriff's office) can supply the equipment and money that it takes to do that kind of investigation," Brady said. If elected sheriff, Brady said, the office would become more involved in the task force.
Brady said that his experience in drug investigations indicated that drugs don't originate in Seneca County. He said the ties to other agencies help trace the drugs to their source, attacking not just the street pushers, but the bigger suppliers.
Egbert said another of the benefits of the task force is that it facilitates communication between the various agencies in the county.
A press release issued Tuesday by Neff stated that the village police chiefs were enthusiastic about SeVEN.
Attica Police Chief Jeff Briggs said he had not heard about SeVEN until Wednesday, when he received a phone message in the morning from a deputy. Briggs said he called back Wednesday afternoon and was told about the organization.
"Apparently, we are enthusiastic about the plans I just heard about today," he said.
Briggs is not going to commit to the organization until he has a chance to sit down and talk to the sheriff about it. He said he spoke to Neff at the Seneca County Sheriff and Law Enforcement Officers' Coalition meeting May 10 and nothing was said about SeVEN at that meeting.
Bettsville Police Chief Gary Holland said he was not aware of the organization until Wednesday. He had been in a school all week. He attended a SeVEN meeting Wednesday night at the sheriff's office.
"I think what they want to do as far as involvement with the villages is a good thing," Holland said. "I've been saying that for years."
He said it is important to have good communication between the villages and other agencies.
"I stated that I didn't think that withdrawing from METRICH was the way to go," he said.
Holland has questions about the availability of funding and tactical equipment. "Hopefully, over time, we can get those questions answered," he said.
Holland said he has gotten help from the METRICH agents on a number of occasions, especially in conducting warranted searches.
If more activity is needed in the villages, the matter could have been brought to the task force's board of directors, Egbert said. The sheriff's office could participate in the task force and continue with SeVEN as well, he said.
"We would welcome him if he wants to reconsider," Egbert said.
There will be a special board meeting next week to discuss the sheriff's office leaving the task force, he said. Neff is to be invited to the meeting.
A press release from Neff stated he had sent a letter to the Seneca County Drug Task Force thanking the other agencies and officers. The letter also stated his office would continue to provide assistance to the other agencies if they requested it.
Steyer said Wednesday the task force had not received the letter.