For professionals that may be in the “pill mill” business or thinking about heading that way, they may want to think twice. Doing that type of business and getting away with it likely just became a bit harder.

 

This morning during a press conference inside City Council Chambers at the Bridgeport Municipal Complex, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration announced that a 14-member Tactical Diversion Squad – the second in West Virginia – will be located and put into operation in Clarksburg and utilized throughout the region to focus on opioid abuse.

 

Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder announced today that the TDS will have 14 DEA employees that will be part of the squad. The goal of the group, which could take up to six months to implement, is to combine DEA resources with those of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in an innovative effort to investigate, disrupt and dismantle those suspected of violating the Controlled Substance Act or other appropriate federal, state or local statutes pertaining to the diversion of licit pharmaceuticals and/or chemicals.

 

Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker, who is on the front line of the drug battle in the area as chairman of the Greater Harrison County Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, said today’s announcement is a big deal.

 

“This is a huge asset for our part of the country,” said Walker. “There are agencies and communities throughout the nation that are trying to get this accomplished … It’s going to make a big difference in our community.”

 

The possibility of getting a TDS to the Harrison County area began in July of 2015. At that time, former DEA employee and new Bridgeport City Council member Lowell “L.J.” Maxey asked Bridgeport City Council to support a resolution asking for the squad to come to the northern district of West Virginia.

 

Council readily agreed to support the resolution. The City of Clarksburg followed suit and Bridgeport Mayor Robert “Bob” Greer asked mayors and municipalities throughout the region to do the same. And unlike many resolutions that are more sound than fury, this one made a difference.

 

“Perseverance and dedication and not accepting no as an answer,” said Colder as to one of the key reasons this resolution resulted in in bearing fruit. “I call Lowell Maxey the ‘resolution man.’

 

“I was aware of that resolution … It took dedication and hard work, even on our end. There were days when you wondered if people believed what you were saying (about the problems here),” Colder continued. “It was really huge to have the President of the United States to come into Charleston to talk about this problem. He brought along the DEA administrator. When you have that, now (the problem) becomes a reality.”

 

Colder is hoping “seasoned” DEA agents will come in and work in West Virginia. He said that getting veteran diversion investigators to be part of the new TDS would make the process much easier.

 

“We need experience to come in and then it’s up to our state and local counterparts that want to participate and provide their resources. Hopefully, they can bring in experienced people at the local level to help in this task force,” said Colder.

 

Medical professionals, from doctors and dentists to pharmacists will join law enforcement in training issues. Colder said it’s best to work with everyone that is involved with the ongoing drug problem.

 

“They’re all included. This is a problem across the board,” said Colder. “ … We have to train our doctors. They’re not trained in addiction. They’re trained to save lives and to cure people and to relieve them of pain. That’s what their job is."

 

Training will be done through PDAC (Prescription Drug Awareness) Conferences. The training focuses on prescribing practices, the work in the process with U.S. Attorneys on the prosecution of cases and those involved in law enforcement at the state and local level.

 

“The fact that we were able to have a Tactical Diversion squad sent here tells us a couple of things. One, we have a significant drug problem in northern West Virginia,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District William J. Ihlenfeld, who also praised Maxey for keeping this issue on the front burner. “Two, we’ve got some really strong advocates for West Virginia in Washington … beating the drum every day for West Virginia.”

 

Ihlenfeld said this allows the problem with opioid abuse to be tackled at the root. He said the problem with a boom in prescriptions of opioids such as oxycodone is coming down, but still has a long way to go.

 

“This squad is going to help us make sure deviant distributors are held accountable,” said Ihlenfeld.

 

As part of the presentation, a young lady from St. Albans – Brittany Farley – talked about how her trip into drug addiction began with pain medication and rolled into heroin. Today, she said, was her 102^nd day of being clean after having a life filled with potential that she said was robbed by her own addiction.

 

The goal of the squad isn’t to punish people like Farley that become addicted. Instead, it’s the suppliers that will be the focus of this group.

 

“We’re going to prosecute those responsible. We’re not have to prosecute those that are victims,” said Colder. 

 

Ruth Carter, the DEA Diversion Program Manager, echoed much of what Colder said.

 

“They will target anyone who is illegally distributing pharmaceutical controlled substances … Doctors who write prescriptions for illegitimate purposes or they’re operating as criminals are no different than a drug dealer. The only difference is they’re wearing a white coach,” she said. “Pharmacists who fill prescriptions that are not legitimate aren’t different than a drug dealer. Actually they’re worse. They know better and they’re violating the public trust.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo is of DEA Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder, while Bridgeport City Council member Lowell "L.J." Maxey and his wife Amy are shown listening those talking today in the second photo. In the third photo, Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker addresses the crowd. At the bottom, Walker is shown talking with U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld, left, and Bridgeport Council member John WIlson following today's presentation.