County, city to discuss drug squad options

Grady County commissioners plan to meet with the Cairo City Council Monday night to discuss the options the two governing bodies have in combating the trafficking of illegal drugs in the community.
The meeting which will begin at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, is being held after commissioners learned that Sheriff Harry Young has not only resigned as the interim commander of the Southwest Georgia Drug Task Force, but is also stepping aside from the drug squad’s governing body, the advisory board.
According to county officials, the opposition to the existing drug squad by Mitchell County Sheriff W.E. Bozeman has caused the multi-county drug squad to disintegrate.
Realizing that a drug problem exists locally, both county and city officials want to discuss the possibility of forming a locally based drug squad or teaming up with other neighboring counties to form a newly organized squad.
Grady County currently funds $120,000 of the SWGA Drug Task Force budget, but the majority of the squad’s operations are funded through a federal grant.
According to county officials, the grant expires June 30 and must be reapplied for. The county has 90 days from the expiration of the grant to give notice of intent to participate and reapply for grant funding or to end the county’s involvement in the effort.