Amador County – Amador County was reportedly among a list of dozens of drug and narcotics task forces that could lose Department of Justice funding, though the Amador County Sheriff’s Department is ready for the potential impact.

Undersheriff Jim Wegner said the Department of Justice did not cut funding for the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team. Wegner said: “They do not control any of the task force finances or grants. The ACCNET council does.”

Wegner said the Department of Justice “suffered massive budget cuts which has led them to discontinue their participation in numerous anti-drug and anti-gang task forces state wide, including ACCNET.” The Justice Department “participated as a partner in ACCNET and provided a Special Agent Supervisor to oversee the day-to-day operations of ACCNET.”

Wegner said “ACCNET will not be terminated due to (Department of Justice) funding issues or withdrawal of their supervisor. This is something that was foreseen, and as such,” Sheriff Martin Ryan “already had a plan ready to present to the ACCNET Council to address the daily supervision of the unit.”

The Council and the Sheriff’s department will adapt to the loss of funds with a resolution that has been planned, Wegner said. He said the narcotics and gangs taskforce will continue, with local supervision, which does not necessarily mean decreased levels of service to the community. He said it could in fact increase the services of ACCNET.

Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team is one of the 48 regional narcotic task forces operated by the California Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. The Amador team’s members include the state office; offices of the Amador County Sheriff, District Attorney and Probation; Amador Child Protective Services; police departments in Jackson, Sutter Creek, and Ione; Mule Creek State Prison; and the Amador Unit of the California Highway Patrol.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.