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Tales from the West Texas Dust - Page 3

© Coy Holley

Now we also have the distribution of wealth because we have to spend on law enforcement--but not just the law enforcement level of a sleepy town of 25,000. We have to spend on law enforcement on the level of a much larger municipality. We have to participate in computer networks statewide--we can't just remain a backwater police force. Our police officers and administrators have to have the same level of training as much larger municipalities. And were this not the truth, criminals would flood to rural or pioneer areas and leave thecities where the police officers were the best trained and equipped. Unless we want to be a real crook magnet, we have to distribute our tax money not only to prepare and train our law enforcement officials; but our fire officials, too.

A well-known fact--crack labs blow up. A well known fact--municipalities that don't have waste disposal abilities, that don't have sanitary landfills are targets for widespread dumping that criminal or drug-producing activities that are out in the deep woods of some of the sparsely populated areas, the plain wilderness or desert of some sparsely populated places in Texas--we have uncovered massive toxic-waste dumps; we've uncovered places that have had a massive amount of illegal drug production.

So that's what has to happen--even in a small town such as Plainview. Not only that--but you look at by being privy to information--you learn that individuals who are selling illegal drugs are not selling them just in the area of town which used to be the favorite haunts of individuals looking for nefarious, evil, dark, and nasty activities. We've found that individuals, even in a very small town who are distributors of illegal drugs don't just have a crack house or a bootleg joint where rich folks can go and slum, so to speak. The distributors of such drugs are well-connected through cell phones and pagers. So not only do you have a problem related to law enforcement that is spread fairly evenly all throughout town, but you have the fantastic cost of trying to interdict or fence drugs out...

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Next time--the conclusion of our interview with Mr. Parker! Until next time, take care!!

From your faithful reporter in the West Texas dust,

Coy Reece Holley

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