Overcoming Hurdles
RELATED ARTICLE
There are many obstacles when it comes to fighting the drug scourge.
One of the most evident is the numbers game, said Kentucky State Police Detective Zachary Bryson.
“One difficulty I encounter is the number of people who are actively working narcotics; that’s the main hurdle,” Bryson explained. “With the number of people who are selling methamphetamines (versus) the number of detectives available … there is no shortage of cases. We cover such a large area, and there is not enough of us.”
Law enforcement agencies must work together to mitigate the shortage of officers.
“The most important thing is getting the information out there,” KSP Sgt. Nathan Moore said. “Awareness and information are critical.”
On the surface, passing on needed information seems easy enough. However, in reality, information sharing is not to the degree it needs to be.
“Everybody is collecting information, and it’s a challenge, just within our agency, to keep information sharing available where we’re so spread out across the state,” Moore said. “It’s always a challenge to keep everyone on the same page. You extrapolate that out to other agencies throughout the state, and it can be quite a challenge to make sure everybody is aware of everything and try to work together.”
Criminal Trends
The sharing of information is vital on many fronts. It can tell you the when and where’s, and it can also give insight to tactics used by criminals, Moore said.
“It’s so dynamic,” Moore opined. “As soon as we figure out their methods on how (drugs are) being imported, those methods change. We were able to monitor (the leads we had on meth labs) and see the Sudafed distribution, which gave law enforcement the great ability to track. And, we saw a decline in labs.
“Now, you can go out and purchase crystal meth, and there’s less risk. You’re getting more product,” he continued. “Naturally, everything is going to change. To be able to keep up with it can be a challenge.”
An emerging tactic used by drug dealers is technology, according to Moore.
“We generally think they’re separate,” he pointed out. “We view technology as fraudulent-based scams. There is an old saying that better mousetraps only yield smarter mice. As law enforcement continues to rely on technology, so too will criminals. They are learning how to obfuscate the investigative techniques.”
The KSP sergeant pointed out that the current generation has been raised using technology.
“They’ve grown up using it,” Moore continued. “They understand it better than some of the younger people currently working in law enforcement. They are going to utilize it to further criminal activities. I feel like we are seeing more instances of the dark web drug markets as viable to receiving narcotics outside the cartels.”
Some of the ways technology is being used doesn’t leave a proverbial paper trail, Bryson said.
“Many times, dealers will not want to communicate through phone calls,” he explained. “They’re using “WhatsApp” or using a line of communication that is easily removed as soon as the conversation is over. Many people use these Facebook-type messenger apps. It is an audio phone call. It is not a legitimate landline to be able to tie this person back to (the case).”
Dealers, over time, are beginning to recognize the types of recording devices police are using, so law enforcement has to adapt continually.
“It’s a constant hurdle of adapting and evolving with the recording devices we use during deals,” Bryson added. “We constantly have to adjust.”
Situational Awareness
Aside from technology, Moore and Bryson also stress that situational awareness is vital in successful cases and, most importantly, officer safety.
“What I have seen is the presence of firearms and violence associated with (crystal methamphetamine),” Bryson said. “Firearms go hand-in-hand with meth trafficking. I think it is attributed to the overall environment, attitude and effects of addiction to the drug. I think officers are becoming complacent, and it is something that I have to remind myself. You are in a dangerous environment when people are buying and selling methamphetamines.”
The number of officer-involved shootings has drastically increased, and that is a direct result of the methamphetamines, Moore explained, adding the importance for officers to keep up-to-date on training.
“Having the information and being aware of the trends of what may be down the pipe cannot be understated,” Moore concluded.
