U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that Daviess County was chosen for inclusion into the Appalachia High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. Operating under the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the HIDTA program provides federal support to law enforcement agencies in designated counties.
Inclusion into the program provides coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug production and trafficking. Daviess County is one of only six counties nationwide to receive a new HIDTA designation this year.
Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson expressed his excitement about the news.
“Our entire community is so ecstatic about the fantastic announcement of our designation as a HIDTA county,” he said. “The combined efforts from the city, county, FBI, DEA, and all others showed our need and how important it is to receive this federal support. Special thanks to Senator McConnell and his talented staff for their energy to make this happen. We are so grateful to be one of only six new designations in the country.”
Daviess County Sherriff Keith Cain believes that entry into the program will play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges that illegal drugs pose to the community.
“Today’s announcement is a long-sought recognition of the challenges facing our community from illegal drugs. Understanding the scope of the problem is the first step to tackling it,” he said. “By investing critical resources and promoting law enforcement collaboration, we can help save lives from this dangerous scourge. This HIDTA designation is the result of years of substantial efforts by many dedicated individuals. Senator McConnell was a constant champion for our cause, and I’d like to thank him, former U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman, and all the others who helped us reach this important goal.”
Senator McConnell added that this level of collaboration among community leaders will create a safer Daviess County.
“Kentucky law enforcement has proven time and again the value of the HIDTA program in keeping our families safe from illicit substances. In recognition of the pressing dangers facing Daviess County, I worked closely with strong leaders, including Mayor Tom Watson and Sheriff Keith Cain, to deliver this important federal recognition and critical assistance,” he said. “With the resources and coordination to track down and stop the worst drug traffickers and abusers, Daviess County can help reduce violence across the region, protect law enforcement officers in their critical work and continue to make this a safe community for everyone who calls it home.”
In March, Senator McConnell contacted the Acting ONDCP Director, commonly known as the Drug Czar, to support Daviess County’s application. Nearly half of all Kentuckians now live in a HIDTA county.
Nearly 300 million dollars of federal funding have been diverted to Kentucky’s prevention, treatment, and enforcement efforts. Other Appalachia HIDTA counties across the state include Jefferson, Hardin, Nelson, Madison, Montgomery, Powell, Boyd, Clark, Logan, Simpson, Boone, Campbell, and Kenton.
To boost federal law enforcement’s presence in Western Kentucky, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agreed to open offices in Paducah. The agencies signed a 15-year lease for the Paducah office last November, which will also house the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
