District Attorney Richard Smothermon expressed his appreciation this week for a contribution from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation that he says will allow for his office’s continuance of drug enforcement.
CPN chairman Rocky Barrett and vice chairman Linda Capps presented Smothermon with a check for $33,000 this week, which Smothermon said is enough to pay for one Drug Task Force agent for a year.
“That’s in addition to the man that they fund,” Smothermon said.
Smothermon’s Drug Task Force is made up of four agents, he said, and they are responsible for all drug enforcement in Pottawatomie and Lincoln counties. One of the four agents is already paid by the CPN, and with their contribution this week the tribe is essentially paying two agents.
“What they do for us is amazing,” Smothermon said of the CPN.
Dramatic federal cuts in Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) this year amounted to a $170,000 loss of funding for Smothermon’s task force. The CPN’s financial assistance helped lessen the outcome.
“That could have been a devastating blow,” Smothermon said of the JAG cuts.
Smothermon said he has recently come to realize just how much the CPN does for his office. This is done, he said, very quietly and with no requests for recognition.
“They funded my Drug Task Force for the past four years to the tune of $277,000,” he said. “They give us vehicles. They give us manpower. They actually give us the building that houses the Drug Task Force and the OHP (Oklahoma Highway Patrol) for the county, and pay all utilities.
“I didn’t realize the significant impact until I totaled up the numbers of what they do for this county.”
Smothermon said all of this is in addition to their assistance to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies.
“They are an unbelievable partner to law enforcement, and I don’t think anybody realizes their contribution,” he said. “Without the CPN assistance in law enforcement, it would by physically impossible for the sheriff’s office and my Drug Task Force office to keep you safe.”
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Jason Smith may be reached at 214-3932.
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District Attorney Richard Smothermon expressed his appreciation this week for a contribution from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation that he says will allow for his office’s continuance of drug enforcement.
CPN chairman Rocky Barrett and vice chairman Linda Capps presented Smothermon with a check for $33,000 this week, which Smothermon said is enough to pay for one Drug Task Force agent for a year.
“That’s in addition to the man that they fund,” Smothermon said.
Smothermon’s Drug Task Force is made up of four agents, he said, and they are responsible for all drug enforcement in Pottawatomie and Lincoln counties. One of the four agents is already paid by the CPN, and with their contribution this week the tribe is essentially paying two agents.
“What they do for us is amazing,” Smothermon said of the CPN.
Dramatic federal cuts in Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) this year amounted to a $170,000 loss of funding for Smothermon’s task force. The CPN’s financial assistance helped lessen the outcome.
“That could have been a devastating blow,” Smothermon said of the JAG cuts.
Smothermon said he has recently come to realize just how much the CPN does for his office. This is done, he said, very quietly and with no requests for recognition.
“They funded my Drug Task Force for the past four years to the tune of $277,000,” he said. “They give us vehicles. They give us manpower. They actually give us the building that houses the Drug Task Force and the OHP (Oklahoma Highway Patrol) for the county, and pay all utilities.
“I didn’t realize the significant impact until I totaled up the numbers of what they do for this county.”
Smothermon said all of this is in addition to their assistance to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies.
“They are an unbelievable partner to law enforcement, and I don’t think anybody realizes their contribution,” he said. “Without the CPN assistance in law enforcement, it would by physically impossible for the sheriff’s office and my Drug Task Force office to keep you safe.”
———
Jason Smith may be reached at 214-3932.
