For Immediate Release—November 15, 2002

COPS OFFICE AWARDS $11.7 MILLION TO FIGHT METHAMPHETAMINE

Washington, D.C.- The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) today announced $11.7 million in funding to combat methamphetamine. This funding will support a variety of enforcement, training, child endangerment, and methamphetamine laboratory clean up activities. Grants are being awarded to 57 law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Of the 57 grants being awarded, 44 will go to agencies that serve small and rural communities and lack the resources to adequately respond to their methamphetamine problem. Nine grants were awarded to agencies to assist in the continuation of already successful methamphetamine-related prevention and enforcement programs. Four grants were awarded to agencies to establish model programs that address child endangerment issues related to methamphetamine production and use.

"The safety threats and destructive potential posed by methamphetamine extend far beyond the users," said COPS Director Carl R. Peed. "This drug places entire communities at risk, and we are committed to strengthening the capacity of state and local law enforcement to fight the spread of methamphetamine."

Earlier in 2002, COPS provided $4.4 million to the Drug Enforcement Administration to assist with methamphetamine laboratory enforcement training for state and local law enforcement officers, to improve a national methamphetamine laboratory tracking database, and to assist state and local law enforcement with activities related to clean up of methamphetamine lab sites. Additionally, $1.5 million was provided to the Western Regional Training Center in California to continue providing methamphetamine-related training to state and local law enforcement officers from 13 western states.

Methamphetamine, which is commonly referred to as "meth" or "crank", represents the fastest growing drug threat in America. Primarily a drug that was concentrated in southwestern states, it has spread rapidly to other regions in the nation. It is highly explosive during the manufacturing process, creates hazardous waste, and poses a significant danger to the environment and members of the community.

Since 1995, COPS has invested $9.6 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to 12,800 state and local law enforcement agencies. Of this amount, COPS has dedicated $223.5 million to combat the spread of methamphetamine. For additional information about COPS methamphetamine grant programs and to obtain the list of local law enforcement agencies that received grants, visit COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.