Editor's Note: This is the second of two articles on the local drug task force.

Half of the eight candidates running for sheriff in Kosciusko County say they would seek to revitalize the local Drug Task Force.

In the past two years, the task force was temporarily shelved, saw a reduction in staff and, according to some, had difficulties with the prosecutor's office.

At the same time, the number of felony drug arrests has fallen from 81 in 1995 to 52 in 1997.

Det. Sgt. Sam Whitaker, who created the task force in 1987 but was reassigned by Sheriff Al Rovenstine after a brief suspension in 1996, claims the task force has become virtually inactive.

He said county officers have not made a drug buy in the past two years.

He also claims a $93,000 grant used by the task force could be in jeopardy because only one officer is assigned to the task force.

Whether the county is meeting the grant requirements is a matter of debate. In the past the department dedicated two undercover officers.

In recent months, Det. Larry Holderman has administered the program and said he uses patrolman Craig Bale and his K-9 unit when needed.

Whitaker said he would reinstate another officer into the task force to ensure the county complies with requirements of the federal grant used to fund the task force.

Whitaker also disagreed with a new strategy employed by Rovenstine in which investigators focus on major dealers.

Work by the task force in past years was often highlighted by massive drug raids in which dozens of arrest warrants were served.

But that policy has changed.

Rovenstine said they are no longer going after small users and dealers and buying drugs for the sake of increasing the number of arrests.

Whitaker said the best way to get to major dealers is through users and small dealers.

Aaron Rovenstine, the sheriff's son who is a patrolman in the department and running for his father's office, points out that the number of overall drug arrests, including misdemeanors, has increased in the past year.

The total number of arrests (mostly involving marijuana, cocaine and LSD) include: 299 in 1995, 146 in 1997 and 335 in 1997.

Rovenstine said many of those arrests are coming from patrol activities and the use of the department's K-9 unit.

As for possible changes to the task force, Rovenstine is taking a wait-and-see outlook.

"I would evaluate every division - jail division, patrol division, drug division - and keep what works well and add to what we need to," Rovenstine said.

"But I believe the person down there has to have the highest integrity and moral character and ethics because they have a lot of freedom down there," he said.

Asked if that had been a problem in the past, Rovenstine declined further comment.

Cpl. Steve Knispel said he believes the drug team has suffered from a lack of focus due to reorganizations. There is also a lack of proper training and background.

"We have very capable street officers being asked to perform as drug task force coordinator, and that's something they're going to have to be trained into," he said.

City officers in the program are more familiar with the program, Knispel said.

If elected, Knispel said he would restrict the group's focus to fighting drugs.

Wally Knox, a candidate who worked undercover drug investigations nearly 20 years ago with the Warsaw Police Department, is under the assumption that the drug task force has been substantially derailed.

Without saying exactly what he believes is the problem, Knox said he would "reinvigorate" the drug investigations and expand the detective division.

Department Sgt. Mike Hobbs also said he believes the unit has been troubled and lacks a focus and team members who are genuinely interested in undercover operations.

Hobbs is also running for sheriff and believes changes are needed.

"If we're going to have a drug task force, we need to have one that does the job and right now. That's not being done," Hobbs said.

Jeff Bronsing, another candidate, was a bit reserved about any ideas of changing the task force, but added, "That particular unit needs to be improved upon."

Bronsing, a patrolman, said he would evaluate the task force along with other aspects of the department.

Glenn Canter, a former policeman who worked with departments in Michigan and has worked as a private security guard locally, is another candidate.

Canter said he would work more with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the state police.

He said he would provide more training and use more informants.

Whitaker said drug problems continue to grow locally. He pointed to a recent shooting near Syracuse that allegedly involved crack cocaine.

"Crack cocaine is on the increase and we need to hit it with both feet before it gets out of control and we start having the murder rate they have in Fort Wayne and South Bend," Whitaker said.

The eighth candidate, Ron Barley, could not be reached for comment. [[In-content Ad]]