Amador County - Barbara Boxer, Untied States Senator from California, announced Friday the funding of over $500,000 to be used by the Amador County Sheriff’s Office to fund officers assigned to the Amador County Combined Narcotic Enforcement Team (ACCNET). “I am very pleased to let you know…that Amador County will receive federal funding from the Department of Justice to help prevent and combat drug-related crime,” said Boxer in a release. ACCNET was created with the assistance of Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan to help combat the growing drug problem in Amador County and the surrounding foothills. The agency recently made a number of arrests related to large marijuana grows and methamphetamine-related crimes. Boxer said “ACCNET faces serious issues because the county is often used to both manufacture and transport” methamphetamine. “Many people assume that drug problems are associated with urban areas. However, drug crimes too often infect rural areas like Amador County,” said Boxer. Under the new funding, “officers will be tasked with increased surveillance and intelligence investigations, and increasing interdiction and prosecution of drug offenders.” Boxer said the funding will also be of benefit because “ACCNET works with the Amador County Child Protective Services because children are too often at the site of drug manufacturing and transport.” ACCNET is one of the 48 regional narcotic task forces operated by the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. The Amador County Combined Narcotic Enforcement Team is a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Amador County Sheriff's Office, Amador County District Attorney's Office, Amador County Probation Department, Amador County Child Protective Services, Jackson Police Department, Sutter Creek Police Department, Ione Police Department, Mule Creek State Prison, and the Amador Area Office of the California Highway Patrol. Boxer said this funding “can help…local residents as they deal with drug activities and the crimes associated with them, and curtail the overall production and transport of illegal drugs.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.