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Senator McConnell Announces Nelson County’s Inclusion into National Anti-Drug Program

McConnell: ‘Tragically, this iconic county, world famous for the song ‘My Old Kentucky Home,’ has become a haven for drug trafficking… The threat continues to be high.’

October 10, 2014

BARDSTOWN, KY – During an event in Bardstown, Kentucky, U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced that Nelson County is now included in the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. A HIDTA designation provides agencies with coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug production and trafficking. Earlier this year, Senator McConnell spoke directly with the Acting Drug Czar Michael Botticelli to advocate on behalf of Nelson County’s HIDTA designation. 

At the event, Senator McConnell said he believes Nelson County’s HIDTA designation “will be a significant moment in this community’s ongoing fight against those who seek to benefit from the misery wrought by illegal drug use. I want to thank HIDTA Executive Director Frank Rapier for his leadership. I also want to thank our hosts, Chief Rick McCubbin and Sheriff Stephen Campbell. We are glad today to announce that Nelson County has been included in the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, or ‘HIDTA’ program.”


Photo Courtesy of Fallon Glick of WDRB-TV

Senator McConnell’s prepared remarks are below:

“I’m pleased to be in Bardstown today to mark what I hope and believe will be a significant moment in this community’s ongoing fight against those who seek to benefit from the misery wrought by illegal drug use. I want to thank HIDTA Executive Director Frank Rapier for his leadership. I also want to thank our hosts, Chief Rick McCubbin and Sheriff Stephen Campbell.

“We are glad today to announce that Nelson County has been included in the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, or “HIDTA” program.

“Far from just another federal government acronym, the HIDTA model is one that works. It couples federal law-enforcement personnel with state and local task forces, and supplies needed training and technology to this fight. That is why when Kentucky cops and prosecutors sought my assistance in getting Nelson County included in the HIDTA program, I was all in.

“As each officer in this room can unfortunately attest, Nelson County has seen a significant increase in drug-related crime over the last few years. As is the case in other Appalachia HIDTA counties, methamphetamines, prescription drug abuse, and heroin pose a significant threat to Kentucky law enforcement and those they are sworn to protect.

“Nelson County is contiguous to Hardin County, which I was proud to see included into the HIDTA Program in 2012, and is only a few miles from the Commonwealth’s largest municipality, Jefferson County, which is also part of HIDTA. The Bluegrass Parkway which runs through Nelson County connects with I-65 and leads to Lexington where I-75 and I-64 are accessible. These are main travel routes for drugs coming into and out of this community.

“Tragically, this iconic county, world famous for the song “My Old Kentucky Home,” has become a haven for drug trafficking. The county saw a dramatic rise in methamphetamine production from just three clandestine laboratories dismantled in 2011 to 29 in 2012. The threat continues to be high.

“That threat is exemplified by the tragic May 2013 assassination of Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis. Officer Ellis was killed when he was en route home from his shift, in uniform and driving a marked vehicle. It is believed he was ambushed by someone who deliberately placed debris in the roadway, causing Officer Ellis to stop and exit his vehicle.

“As Officer Ellis removed the debris, the killer or killers opened fire from a nearby hilltop, shooting him multiple times and killing him instantly. The crime remains unsolved, but case investigators believe his assassination was retaliation from drug traffickers against him or the police department as a whole. Officer Ellis was one of the department’s top officers when it came to drug arrests.

“I know that Kentucky law enforcement will not rest until this murder of their brother officer is brought to justice.

“At the same time that drugs are ravaging this region, we face an unprecedented debt and spending challenge in Washington. Across the full spectrum of government, we must be prepared to do more with less. That is why I have invested so much time working with the nation’s drug czar, Michael Botticelli, just as I did with his predecessor.

“A few years ago, the former Drug Czar accepted my invitation to visit Kentucky and see firsthand the scope of our problem, and to explore how best to leverage every federal dollar we spend to maximize our impact. This effort is what eventually led to Hardin County being included in the HIDTA program, and now Nelson, and Madison far to our east.

“Drugs are no respecter of borders or county lines. Given the force multiplier effect that inclusion in HIDTA will bring to Kentucky law enforcement and those they serve and protect, my hope is the decision we’re celebrating today will have positive ripple effects not only throughout the county but across the Commonwealth.

“Out of respect for Officer Ellis’s legacy and to protect families across this county, we must do all we can to combat the scourge of illicit drug use. The lives of our fellow Kentuckians and the future of our neighborhoods and communities are at stake.

“Today with the inclusion of Nelson County in the Appalachia HIDTA program, I believe we are making a positive difference. Thank you.”

Senator McConnell Announces Madison County’s Inclusion into National Anti-Drug Program

October 9, 2014

Richmond, KY – During an event in Richmond, Kentucky, U. S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced that Madison County is now included in the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. A HIDTA designation provides agencies with coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug production and trafficking. Earlier this year, Senator McConnell spoke directly with the Acting Drug Czar Michael Botticelli to advocate on behalf of Madison County’s HIDTA designation. 

At the event, Senator McConnell said he believes Madison County’s HIDTA designation “will be a significant moment in this community’s ongoing fight against those who seek to benefit from the misery wrought by illegal drug use.”

Senator McConnell’s prepared remarks are below:

“I’m pleased to be in Richmond today to mark what I hope and believe will be a significant moment in this community’s ongoing fight against those who seek to benefit from the misery wrought by illegal drug use. I want to thank HIDTA Executive Director Frank Rapier for his leadership. I also want to thank our host, Sheriff Mike Coyle.

“We are glad today to announce that Madison County has been included in the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, or “HIDTA” program.

“Far from just another federal government acronym, the HIDTA model is one that works. It couples federal law-enforcement personnel with state and local task forces, and supplies needed training and technology to this fight. That is why when Kentucky cops and prosecutors sought my assistance in getting Madison County included in the HIDTA program, I was all in.

“As each officer in this room can unfortunately attest, Madison County has seen a significant increase in drug-related crime over the last few years. As is the case in other Appalachia HIDTA counties, methamphetamines, prescription drug abuse, and heroin pose a significant threat to Kentucky law enforcement and those they are sworn to protect.

“Madison County is only a few miles from Lexington in Fayette County, the Commonwealth’s second-largest city and a central location for the drug trade. Fayette County connects with I-75 and I-64. These are main travel routes for drugs coming into and out of the community.

“Tragically, this wonderful and vibrant community has therefore become a haven for drug trafficking. The county saw a dramatic rise in methamphetamine production, with a reported 540 percent increase in meth labs from 2010 to 2012. The threat continues to be high.

“The violent crime rate in Madison County is more than triple the state average and close to double the national average. Property crimes have increased. Prescription drug importation and distribution have reached a level never before experienced within this region.

“In September of 2013, a heroin overdose led to the death of an Eastern Kentucky University student. Unfortunately, this is far from the only overdose death in the area. More shockingly, in March of 2014, the director of a day care center was arrested on heroin trafficking charges. Let me repeat that: this March, the director of a day care center was arrested on heroin trafficking charges.

“At the same time that drugs are ravaging this region, we face an unprecedented debt and spending challenge in Washington. Across the full spectrum of government, we must be prepared to do more with less. That is why I have invested so much time working with the nation’s drug czar, Michael Botticelli, just as I did with his predecessor.

“A few years ago, the former Drug Czar accepted my invitation to visit Kentucky and see firsthand the scope of our problem, and to explore how best to leverage every federal dollar we spend to maximize our impact. This effort is what eventually led to Madison County being included in the HIDTA program, as well as Nelson County far to the west.

“Drugs are no respecter of borders or county lines. Given the force multiplier effect that inclusion in HIDTA will bring to Kentucky law enforcement and those they serve and protect, my hope is the decision we’re celebrating today will have positive ripple effects not only throughout the county but across the Commonwealth.

“To protect families across this county, we must do all we can to combat the scourge of illicit drug use. The lives of our fellow Kentuckians and the future of our neighborhoods and communities are at stake.

“Today with the inclusion of Madison County in the Appalachia HIDTA program, I believe we are making a positive difference. Thank you.”

 

McConnell: Drug Czar Includes Nelson and Madison Counties in Federal Program to Combat Illegal Drugs

‘’Senator McConnell has consistently championed the efforts of drug enforcement in Kentucky in their efforts to fight the ravages of drugs in our communities. This would not have happened but for him,” said Frank Rapier, Executive Director Appalachia HIDTA and 49 year law enforcement veteran.

September 29, 2014

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was contacted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Acting-Director Michael Botticelli who advised that due to the magnitude of the drug threat, both Nelson and Madison Counties have been included in the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), as sought by Senator McConnell. 

Last month, Senator McConnell spoke with the Acting Drug Czar to advocate on behalf of Nelson and Madison Counties’ HIDTA designation. In 2012, Senator McConnell was also successful in pushing for Hardin County to be included in HIDTA.  In designated HIDTA counties, the program provides agencies with coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug production and trafficking. 

“A HIDTA designation allows us to efficiently leverage federal resources along with those of state and local partners to directly benefit particularly hard-hit counties such as Nelson and Madison. I regularly hear from KY law enforcement that this program provides the tools and training to make a real difference in efforts to protect Kentucky families from illegal drugs,” Senator McConnell said. “Nelson and Madison law enforcement officials are working overtime to combat drug trafficking in the region. I know that in Nelson County the community is still reeling from the senseless loss of Bardstown Officer Jason Ellis, who was renowned as a champion for getting drugs off our streets.”

“Senator McConnell has consistently championed the efforts of drug enforcement in Kentucky in their efforts to fight the ravages of drugs in our communities. This would not have happened but for him,” said Frank Rapier, Executive Director Appalachia HIDTA and 49 year law enforcement veteran.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a report that found that the number of deaths due to opioids nationwide had increased nearly fourfold from 2009 to 2011. Kentucky has the nation’s third-highest mortality rate from drug overdoses, which is largely driven by prescription painkillers. According to the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, about 1,000 Kentuckians a year fatally overdose on drugs—more than are lost to car crashes. Heroin deaths continue to climb and accounted for 32 percent of the drug overdose deaths last year.

Senator McConnell has a long history of helping raise awareness of the issue of prescription drug abuse by working closely with federal, state and local medical authorities, treatment centers, and law-enforcement offices. In 2011, Senator McConnell brought then National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske to Kentucky to witness firsthand the scope of the problem.  He also fought for the expansion of the Appalachia HIDTA to hard-hit Jefferson County in 2009 and Hardin County in 2012. 

Senator McConnell has also worked to secure federal grants for many community prevention and treatment efforts, and helped to successfully convince the FDA to take an important step toward limiting the abuse of generic crushable prescription pain pills. In May 2014, Senator McConnell testified before the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control on heroin and prescription drug abuse following a listening session he held in Florence, Kentucky, earlier this year. 

Most recently, Senator McConnell introduced the Protecting Our Infants Act in the U.S. Senate, which is designed to address maternal addiction and the scourge of opiate withdrawal in newborns.

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