County Sheriff's Department is Joining Drug Task Force

Effingham County Sheriff Dave Mahon Monday announced that the sheriff's department in joining the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force. As of January 1, a deputy from the sheriff's department will be assigned to the Task Force on a full-time basis.

(SHERIFF DAVE MAHON)

The Task Force was formed in 1989 and covers approximately 2,031 square miles of central and southeastern Illinois. The Task Force provides local law enforcement agencies with an organized approach to address street level drug trafficking. The union formed by the participating agencies is designed to improve communication between those agencies and enhance their ability to carry on more effective and efficient drug investigations in their jurisdictions.

Sheriff Mahon said, "It has been one of my goals since taking office a year ago to assign one of our deputies to the Drug Task Force. I truly believe one of the best ways to combat the heroin problem in our community is through a joint effort from all law enforcement agencies, coupled with the cooperation of the general public."

Mahon thanked the County Board for granting the funding to assign a deputy to the Task Force. Another deputy will be placed on duty for the sheriff's department to replace the deputy assigned to the Task Force. The sheriff said, "This will allow our office to draw on more of the resources of the Illinois State Police and the Drug Task Force to help combat the heroin problem that is plaguing our community and the country."