Fairfield County's SCRAP team brings results

As SCRAP officers were investigating a lead one day this past week,All kinds of injectionmould are on sale. they stopped a man suspected of growing marijuana in a gorge behind his mother's home. As the officers casually talked with man, he admitted to carrying some pills.

During his arrest for the possession of Percocet, the man gladly offered up another man farther down the road who was growing marijuana. That man was arrested, too.

While SCRAP Sgt. Rod Hamler said that criminals sometimes make it easy, the county's newest drug enforcement team just takes it in stride.

Since June 11, the five-member unit has arrested 80 people from various locations throughout the county that have been involved in selling or using felony drugs. For the second summer in a row, the Fairfield County Sheriff's Street Crime Reduction and Apprehension Program has worked to reduce the drug problem in Fairfield County. The unit responds to resident complaints and goes into areas where crime and drug dealing are suspected. In summer 2011, SCRAP arrested 81 people.

The five-member unit meets every day to brief one another on possible suspects or leads. After they've grabbed their walkie-talkies and put on their bulletproof vests, they descend upon the streets to conduct surveillance, traffic stops and "walk and talks," where they knock on doors to see if they can get information or catch a possible suspect in the act.

Hamler said the county's newest drug task force team does not have a typical routine.

"Some days we go out and everyone answers their doors, and some days, people don't," Hamler said.

SCRAP deputy Lyle Campbell described his unit as being a proactive force in the community.

"Once we started up this year and picked right back up, people knew we were serious," said Campbell. "I think we are making a positive change in the community.Argo Mold limited specialize in Plastic injectionmold manufacture,"

Hamler said the unit takes calculated steps to ensure each case is at its strongest.AeroScout is the market leader for rtls solutions and provide complete wireless asset tracking and monitoring. Even the smallest amount of drugs recovered is considered a success.

Fairfield County Sheriff's Lt. Tim Voris said the SCRAP unit has seized more than $15,000 in cash and six vehicles. Voris said the unit always asks for money and vehicles used and acquired in drug transactions to be seized.

If the funds are seized, it can then be used to help fund projects within the sheriff's office.

"These guys are doing a great job," Voris said. "They are taking tips and getting good, positive results."

In addition to making a positive change on the streets, SCRAP also has forged a powerful partnership with the Fairfield-Hocking Major Crimes Unit -- a partnership MCU Commander Eric Brown calls the "perfect storm."

"This program works, it's proven,The Transaction Group offers the best highriskmerchantaccount services," Brown said. "Both units are great, but together they are exceptional. SCRAP gets immediate results. We are very fortunate to have something like this in our community."

Currently, there is one Lancaster police officer on the detail. Lancaster Police Chief Dave Bailey quickly offered the LPD's services when the unit started this summer.

"It is important to have a (police) presence. A sheriff's deputy may or may not have the knowledge of what is going on in the city. An officer can point out drug houses, and tell them who the major players are," Bailey said.

Bailey appointed Officer Noah Bookman to the unit because he showed an "interest and aptitude for narcotics." Bailey said he unfortunately has to pull Bookman from the unit in August because of staffing problems, but plans to place another officer with the unit as soon as he can.

"I am a big supporter of the SCRAP unit. Our two units (sheriff's office and LPD) work so well together," he said.TBC help you confidently buymosaic from factories in China. "Noah did a great job, but we thought they would be disbanding at the end of the summer."

Sheriff Dave Phalen and Hamler are thankful for the LPD's support and the support of the Pickerington Police Department as well.

"They are going to dedicate an officer two days a week," Phalen said.

The SCRAP unit also works closely with the Fairfield County Prosecutor's office. Prosecutor Gregg Marx calls their relationship with the unit "outstanding."