By Sheriff Walt Wilson

The Sheriff’s Office has received grant funding from the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Domestic Highway Enforcement Program (DHE). The initial award is for $12,250.00 and has been allocated for the purposes of purchasing equipment and paying for overtime hours to more aggressively attack drug trafficking and other criminal behavior taking place on our highways.

The vast majority of this grant will be used to pay deputies to target drugs on our roadways. Interstate 77 and other roadways that run through our County are proven routes of travel for both small and large level drug couriers. In recent years, Tuscarawas County has seen a consistent increase in the use of heroin and the illegal use of prescription drugs as well as the constant presence of marijuana and cocaine. This has a direct negative impact on our community evident by the increase in other types of crime including thefts, burglaries and robberies.

As a result of this grant, we will be able to combine intelligence and manpower with the goal of getting some of these individuals off our streets and prosecuted. The Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office welcomes information from residents about drug dealers and other criminals. Callers may remain anonymous. Our office can be reached at 330-339-2000.

Originally published in the First Half 2011 Newsletter. Download here.