The CBI supervises the Seventh Judicial District Meth/Drug Task Force. The CBI lab is moving from its current site at Montrose Memorial Hospital after more than 30 years in the community and Montrose’s bitter bidding war to retain it in 2005.
But task force operations are housed separately, Montrose Police Chief Tom Chinn said. As chief of police, Chinn is chairman of the board overseeing the DTF. Plans are to retain the task force’s current location, which, though small, enjoys low rent.
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“They’re planning on being right there. It will not be affected by the CBI move, even though it’s being supervised by a CBI agent. That agent has been dedicated to the task force and will remain here in Montrose.”
That agent, Jim Fuller, could not be reached for comment.
The task force’s overhead costs are funded by a federal Byrne grant. Though consistently low in the past years, the most recent congressional appropriations bill called for $89,000 for the Seventh’s task force Byrne grant. It was awaiting the president’s signature last week.
Agencies from the seventh judicial district contribute a paid officer and his or her equipment. Smaller agencies who cannot afford to dedicate an officer might be able to contribute some funding, Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee, also a task force board member, said.
McKee also said he would like to see the Legislature restore task forces’ authority to seize and sell property used in, or obtained by, the drug trade.
Funding remains critical. “We’re looking at getting a full-time secretary or records clerk,” Chinn said. “We’re looking for contributions from the Seventh Judicial District’s law enforcement (agencies) to step up to fund these types of things, as well as the normal funding for utilities and rent.”
Chinn said increased Byrne grant funding could help the task force buy much-needed electronic equipment. The board would also like to assist the district attorney in the hiring of an additional deputy prosecutor who could be dedicated to the task force — something for which the Byrne grant is insufficient.
“That has been one of the issues that we’ve been wanting to see happen for a long time,” he said. “I think the DA, with all of the budgetary concerns, it’s not something he’s able to do right now. It’s not even something we can all do collectively. But I think we’re getting closer.”
Both Chinn and McKee say the DTF is making strides in addressing the regional drug problem.
“It’s better today than it was six months or a year ago. Our drug task force has made major arrests in the last two or three months,” Chinn said.
“I think we have made a real difference in the amounts of meth available on the street. I think we have dried up some of those markets in Delta and Montrose counties in the last several weeks.”
McKee said addicts reported a deep drop in availability earlier in the year. “They said at the time, that the availability was way down, that they were having to leave the area to procure their drug of choice.”
Tomas Navarrete (name previously given as Naverette) was arrested in November at a local convenience store. Fuller alleged he was a “significant trafficker” and said the task force seized a kilo of alleged cocaine.
On Nov. 16, the task force and the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office nabbed suspected drug courier Michael Garcia. A search warrant executed on his vehicle yielded 250 pounds of suspected marijuana, the SMCSO said in a news release issued Dec. 20.
The task force also arrested Nichlous Triantos in November, after he allegedly took part in a methamphetamine transaction.
“We have to be vigilant. Somebody will step in and fill these shoes,” McKee said.
“It’s an ongoing war.”
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