2005-354 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Application for Funding Assistance Florida Department of Law Enforcement Justice Assistance Grant - County-wide t Project Summary The Multi-Agency Criminal Enforcement Unit (M .A . C . E . ) is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Indian River County Sheriffs Office , the Vero Beach Police Department and the Sebastian Police Department . The M .A. C . E . Unit focus is two-fold , conduct investigations and gather intelligence that leads to the arrest and conviction of major drug suppliers , thus limiting the availability of illegal drugs to the street level dealers . Secondly, aggressively combat the street level distribution of drugs that deteriorate the quality of life for the citizens of Indian River County . Activities of the unit are overseen by a governing board that meets on a bi-monthly basis . The Board is comprised of the Sheriff and Undersheriff of Indian River County , the Chiefs of Police of the City of Vero Beach and the City of Sebastian , and the Captain of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Indian River County Sheriffs Office . All program reports are submitted to Colette Heid , (Grant Manager) Executive Director of the Substance Abuse Council of Indian River County, Colette Heid submits all the program reports to Office of Criminal Justice Grants , Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The members of the task force are housed in an off-site location , away from local law enforcement facilities . Members are provided with unmarked vehicles that allow them to blend in with the general population without detection of their official job function . The work area for the task force is equipped with necessary work items such as telephones , computers , and office supplies . No JAG/Byrne Grant dollars are utilized for the funding of confidential informants or drug buys . Indian River County's agricultural acreage makes an enticing target for the illicit growth and cultivation of marijuana . Members of the M .A. C . E . Unit routinely conduct marijuana eradication investigations with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration ( D . E .A . ) , Florida Department of Law Enforcement ( F . D . L . E . ) , and the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (O .A. L. E ) . The M .A. C . E . Unit assigns one detective to the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force . This detective has received extensive additional training to enable the federal prosecution of major drug suppliers . He has also been cross-trained and equipped to safely respond and dismantle clandestine methamphetamine labs that are located within the region . The M .A. C . E . Unit also assigns one detective to investigate diversion and fraud involving illegally obtaining prescription medications . These investigations have resulted in multiple arrest and convictions . Application Ref # 2006-JAGC-223 Section #2 Page 2 of 2 Contract 2006-JAGC- INRI -3- M8-