Intra-Agency Drug, Vice Task Force Proposed

Duluth and Suwanee police departments and several other Gwinnett law enforcement agencies are planning to form an inter-agency drug and vice task force as a result of the Service Delivery Strategy Settlement.

The Gwinnett Metro Task Force would investigate and prosecute the offenders through mutual aid where violations occur within the named cities in the agreement. Any case that occurs outside the city or leads to violations outside the city will be turned over the Gwinnett County Police. The cases made by the Gwinnett Metro Task Force would be turned over to the appropriate court system.

-- Do you think this task force is a good idea? Tell us in the comments below.

Other agencies that would be involved are the Lawrenceville PD, Lilburn PD, Loganville PD, Snellville PD, and the Gwinnett Sheriff's Department. Approval by the respective city councils is necessary.

The task force is aimed at street-level crimes in residences and businesses, according to Suwanee Police Chief Mike Jones. The nature of the inter-agency agreement means that some officers from the various police agencies would be patrolling and responding to crimes inside other participating city limits.

Other agencies would be welcome to join.

Plans call for Lawrenceville Police Chief Randy Johnson to be the board chairman, and Jones to be secretary-treasurer. Board meetings would be held the fourth Tuesday of each month, according to Suwanee documents. Dallas Stidd of the Gwinnett Sheriff's Office would be the initial commander. Each agency would determine the number of investigators and/or analysts assigned to the force.

The Gwinnett Police Department still will handle such crimes in unincorporated areas.