Minutes
July 23, 2004, meeting
Narrows
Welcome and introductions
Co-chairman Bill Brown called the meeting to order at 11 a.m. He and Narrows Police Chief Tommy Gautier welcomed the group to Giles County.
Special presentation:
Lt. John Leeper of the Pulaski Police Department on meth labs
Pulaski police have been involved with nine meth labs since Halloween 2003, when the state's first official meth-related fire broke out at Meadowview Apartments.The drug, a stimulant made from cold medicine and common household chemicals, is the most unqiue drug to hit the area. Unlike other drugs, the people who cook and sell meth are also using it.
There is no profile of a meth user.
"The thing about this drug is it doesn't know any race. It doesn't know any gender. It doesn't know any age. It gets everyone."
The state has had 48 official meth labs, although the unofficial total is closer to 60. Leeper expects the state to see 100 meth labs this year and 200 next year.
The drug is still and up-and-coming problem for most of the New River Valley, and Leeper warned that once localities find their first lab, they'll probably quickly find several others.
In reference to the Dublin girl who was injured on a riding lawn mower earlier in July, Don Simmons of the Roanoke Times asked if there was any better way for the media to get information about accidents on private property. Sgt. Mike Conroy of the Virginia State Police said police do not file reports on accidents occuring on private property unless there is a death. Police should be able to give the time, date and address of the incident, but the rest is up to the reporter to ferret out.
In reference to the Radford drowning earlier in July, Radford Fire Chief Lee Simpkins thanked everyone who came to help with the search.
Paging system:
The group agreed to switch our current media paging system to the one used by the Roanoke-area media-public safety association. We will send out detailed instructions via email when the switch is complete.
New stuff:
Bill Brown started a 50-50 drawing that will be held at each meeting. The goal is to inject a little more fun into the meetings and gather some "seed money" the group could use to treat guest speakers to lunch or whatever other purpose the group deemed necessary.
REMSI's John Casey agreed to be treasurer and hold the money for the group. The first ticket sales netted $28 with half, $14, being won by Pulaski Police Chief Gary Roche.
Next meeting:
Will be set over lunch in late October at the Radford Fire Department. Members of the New River Valley Water Rescue and Recovery Association will be on hand to display equipment and talk about their efforts to date. Stay tuned for an exact date.
Those attending the July 23rd meeting were:
Blacksburg Police Chief Bill Brown, co-chair
Roanoke Times Reporter Shay Wessol, co-chair
Sgt. Michael Conroy, Virginia State Police
Heather Brown, public information officer for the town of Blacksburg
Rachel DePompa, WDBJ/7
Narrows Police Chief Tommy Gautier
Lt. Willie Lucas, Giles County Sheriff's Office
Sgt. Bentley Ratcliff, Narrows PD
Montgomery County Sheriff Tommy Whitt
Radford Police Chief Gary Harmon
Radford Fire Chief Lee Simpkins
Roanoke Times reporter Don Simmons
Pulaski Police Chief Gary Roche
Montgomery County Public Information Officer Bobby Parker
Joey Trigg, REMSI co-director
John Casey, REMSI co-director
Debbie Akers, Western Virginia EMS Council
1st Sgt. Frank Parris, Virginia State Police
Rich Creek Police Chief Kevin Buckland