[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 18, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S9]]
                        LINTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

 Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to the 
Linton Police Department and their Chief of Police, Keith McDonald. I 
also want to take a moment to recognize Linton's Drug Task Force 
Officer Joshua Goodman.
  Under the leadership of Chief McDonald, the Linton Police Department 
has increased its drug arrests by nearly 500 percent over the past 5 
years. Most recently, the department executed a drug bust that resulted 
in the seizure of approximately $250,000 worth of methamphetamine--one 
of the largest drug busts in the western part of the State.
  Methamphetamine is currently one of the fastest-growing drug threats 
in the Nation, and the problem is particularly acute in the Midwest and 
Indiana. In Indiana, the number of meth labs has increased 750 percent 
over the last 5 years and the meth industry costs the State at least 
$100 million a year.
  Indiana's epidemic of meth use destroys families, places undue 
burdens on taxpayers, and exhausts child service resources. Hoosier 
families depend on local law enforcement officers to protect their 
children and keep their communities strong. In the face of the growing 
meth epidemic and despite an increasing number of homeland security 
responsibilities, the Linton Police Department and other police 
departments across the State have risen to the challenge. With the help 
of tougher State meth laws, these local police forces have succeeded in 
reducing the number of meth labs across Indiana.
  But they need more support from the Federal Government. Local police 
forces, like Linton's, are already stretched thin as they respond to a 
growing number of homeland security challenges. Nothing short of a 
national commitment with tough, innovative laws will stop the spread of 
this terrible drug that is threatening our communities. For this 
reason, I coponsored the Combat Meth Act in 2004 to provide a 
nationwide approach that gives police officers the tools they need to 
fend off the creation of new meth labs and helps families rebuild their 
lives. I am hopeful that this legislation will help Linton and other 
towns continue to succeed in their fight against the meth scourge.
  I wanted to take the time to recognize the Linton Police Department 
today, because as our Nation faces increasingly uncertain times, 
including the escalation of the meth epidemic, it is our first 
responders who are our primary line of defense. In all areas, but 
especially the fight against meth, Linton's Police Department has gone 
well beyond the call of duty.
  On behalf of the State of Indiana, I thank the Linton Police 
Department for helping keep Greene County's streets safe and its 
community strong and meth-free. It is my honor to enter this tribute in 
the official record of the United States Senate in recognition of the 
Linton Police Department's extraordinary commitment to the citizens of 
Greene County.

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