Since 2004, the Vice/Narcotics Unit of the Council Bluffs Police Department was involved in a continuing drug task force covering Pottawattamie, Mills and Harrison Counties. This Task Force consists of members of the Council Bluffs Police Department, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Department, the Mills County Sheriff's Department, the Glenwood Police Department, the Harrison County Sheriff's Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The Task Force was busy with a wide variety of investigations in 2004, with most of them being narcotics cases. A number of these were joint investigations with other agencies such as the Omaha Police Division, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Task Force is still working with one less investigator than in previous years.

2011 Annual Report

For the calendar year 2011, the Vice/Narcotics Unit of the Council Bluffs Police Department, aka the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, continued to be the main narcotics investigative unit in Southwest Iowa. The Unit consists of members of the Council Bluffs Police Department, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Department, the Mills County Sheriff's Department, the Glenwood Police Department, the Harrison County Sheriff's Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and an Iowa National Guard analyst. The Unit also works closely with the FBI, DEA, ATF, OPD, and Iowa's DHS, and assists any agency in southwest Iowa that requests assistance.

The Unit continues to work one detective short of our authorized strength, and we continue to receive limited funding from a state grant. We currently receive grant reimbursement to cover 75% of wages and benefits for two Task Force investigators; one Mills County deputy and one Council Bluffs Police officer.

The Unit continued working closely with Iowa DHS this year with the Drug Endangered Children program. This program puts special emphasis on the welfare of any child that is found during an investigation where children and narcotics are present. During 2011 we had 8 referrals to DHS.

Methamphetamine continues to be the drug of choice in the area, although due to several large seizures, the amount of Meth seized was actually lower than the amount of Marijuana seized. The Unit seized 10.4 pounds of the Meth and investigated 3 Meth labs, which is down from the previous year when we had 6 labs. Much of the Meth in our area is still coming from Mexico. We also observed a significant increase in the total amount of Cocaine seized this year, seizing 2.1 pounds of Cocaine. No Crack Cocaine was seized in 2011. The Unit also seized 888.8 pounds of Marijuana, 51 Marijuana plants, 28.5 grams Psilocybin Mushrooms, 203.0 grams Hashish, 62.0 grams K-2, 1.0 ounce Heroin, 6.5 grams Ecstasy, and 27 assorted pharmaceuticals.

The Unit worked a total of 194 narcotics cases in 2011, which resulted in 140 people being arrested on 264 charges. In addition to these numbers, 27 subjects were referred to the Department of Revenue. Task Force officers continue to testify in Federal court here in Council Bluffs instead of traveling to Des Moines. There were 21 subjects indicted on Federal charges this year.

In the course of these investigations, over $6,809,646 worth of drugs was removed from the streets. Street prices for the pharmaceuticals and K-2 are unavailable; therefore those drugs are not noted in the following price breakdown list, or in the aforementioned total.

The following is the value breakdown of the top drugs seized or purchased, based on the latest price list received from the Iowa Counterdrug Task Force.

The Unit served 16 search warrants and conducted 5 consent searches. As a result of these investigations, 2 vehicles and 13 firearms were seized. The total amount of currency seized was $59,862.00, with $26,914.81 being the net amount forfeited by the courts and returned to the Task Force in 2011. The Unit also conducted 35 controlled buys and 2 buy/busts.

In addition to the narcotics investigations, the Unit also conducted 1 alcohol compliance check. There were 10 businesses checked with 5 being in compliance and making no sale to the minors. The Unit, in conjunction with the FBI, conducted five prostitution stings in 2011. These joint stings were interstate prostitution operations which resulted in 36 arrests with numerous charges including drug charges, pimping, pandering, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, interstate transportation for prostitution, and use of internet to aid in unlawful activity.

In 2011 the Task Force processed 132 liquor license renewals and 10 new liquor license applications.

For a complete breakdown of the 2011 statistics along with last years stats, see the attached chart.

2010/2011 Comparison

Future

As the Task Force continues to work with less manpower and continued budget cuts, the forecast for this Task Force is that of elimination. This community would most definitely suffer if this should happen. Overall crime would undoubtedly increase because drug abusers will do anything to get money for their next fix. Numerous suspects arrested for forgery, burglary, and theft state the principle reason for their behavior is a methamphetamine habit. We all know the link between drugs and other criminal behavior, but we cannot fully determine the extent to which the quality of life in the community would be diminished by this drug related criminal behavior. We experienced this violent behavior first hand in Glenwood, Iowa while conducting a search warrant. Officers of this Unit still experience the aftermath that an officer involved shooting has. Another incident occurred here in Council Bluffs as this Unit again was serving a search warrant when officers were shot at. No one was injured and the suspect was taken into custody. These are just examples of the violent behavior that this Unit experienced within the last year as we work short handed and with less money. We are the only drug task force in southwest Iowa and are constantly being asked to assist other agencies in areas outside the Task Force counties. In the spirit of cooperation and coordination, this Task Force is always there to help. With little to no funding for undercover drug purchases and confidential informant payments, the effectiveness of drug enforcement would be severely limited. I would hate to see the fight to eliminate illegal drugs from our Task Force area stymied by the lack of funds.