NCJ Number
197253
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 69 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2002 Pages: 107-110,112-113,114
Date Published
October 2002
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article describes the National Drug Intelligence Center’s (NDIC) Field Program Specialist (FPS) initiative, created in 2001.
Abstract
The FPS program was created to rapidly gather and disseminate drug-related information. The NDIC contracted with 39 retired career law enforcement officers and assigned them to gather and exchange information on drug-related issues with local law enforcement personnel across the country. This opens up the channels of communication between the intelligence analysts and law enforcement officers on the street that can provide pertinent drug trend information. Information gathered from one-on-one personal interaction and networking, along with the most recent intelligence from Federal law enforcement and health and human service agencies, is integrated to form a comprehensive national drug threat assessment. NDIC is able to rapidly disseminate critical information to local law enforcement, warning of emerging problems. NDIC incorporates information supplied by State and local law enforcement officials into publications that influence national and State policy makers. Personal interaction with law enforcement agencies by field representatives allows NDIC to reduce time delays in producing its publications. Field program specialists interact with a broad cross-section of law enforcement authorities from large urban centers to small, rural communities. Local authorities often provide the field representatives with intelligence so timely that NDIC uses it to produce information bulletins that quickly alert the Nation to unique drug threats. Field specialists also play a pivotal role in reporting and verifying information for one of NDIC’s newest products available to law enforcement officials--the Narcotics Digest Weekly. They frequently share information about dance clubs called raves where drug use is often prevalent. They are also integral in relaying timely information from local treatment providers to various departments. Information provided by field program specialists could also be valuable educational and training aids to law enforcement agencies across the country. The NDIC publication “Illicit Drugs and Youth” has been used to educate school administrators, teachers, parents, and students about the drug abuse problems affecting schools and children.