2012 Annual Report - Hamburg Township

Drug Enforcement
The Hamburg Township Police Department continued with a proactive approach to addressing
drug issues in and around our community in 2012. We remained committed to an aggressive
drug enforcement strategy, while at the same time, we continued to be active in the community
and joined in with community groups, events and programs in an effort to reduce the adverse
effect of drugs on our community.
Our drug enforcement strategy in 2012 included the following:
DEA Task Force
The Hamburg Township Police Department maintained an officer assigned full time to a Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force in 2012. A federal task force, such as this, is a
group of officers from various federal, state and local agencies who combine resources under
federal authority to combat specific types of criminal activity. The DEA Task Force conducts
investigations into major drug trafficking organizations and also provides assistance to local
agencies with major cases.
Having an officer assigned to a DEA Task Force helps ensure that the Hamburg Township Police
Department is at the forefront of battling major drug dealers who bring drugs into our
community and also allows our department access to many federal resources.
Additionally, having an officer assigned to a federal task force permits Hamburg Township to be
the recipient of proceeds from assets seized during investigations pursuant to various asset
forfeiture laws. The funds are then used to purchase law enforcement-related items such as patrol
cars and weapons. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, the Hamburg Township Police
Department received $225,521.35 in federal drug forfeiture funds.
LAWNET
The Hamburg Township Police Department also maintained an officer assigned full time to the
Livingston and Washtenaw Narcotics Enforcement Team (LAWNET) in 2012. LAWNET is a
multi-jurisdictional unit comprised of personnel from state, county, and local law enforcement
agencies within Livingston and Washtenaw counties. LAWNET officers work as a team
conducting county-wide surveillance and drug operations.
Through November 30 2012, LAWNET had initiated 169 drug investigations in Livingston
County, including 9 cases in Hamburg Township, resulting in 96 arrests.
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