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Show Recommendations mode to help fight drug war j By SCOTT SUMMERILL PARK CITY--Officials from across the state handed down a list of suggestions which included setting set-ting mandatory minimum seatenc- ing for drug dealers, enhanced officer offi-cer training and development of a statewide intelligence network to help battle drugs in Utah. The proposals came after a two-day two-day brainstorming summit at Pro spector Square last week where nearly 250 officials from city and county law enforcement agencies, city prosecutors and judges and corrections cor-rections officers broke into groups and discussed what could be done about the growing drug problem in the state. A list of suggestions from the summit will be compiled and distributed to agencies by the Department of Public Safety. The recommendations include: More intensive training of cadets in drug identification and prosecution procedures should be adopted by the Police Officers Standards and Training agency (POST), which trains and certifies police officers. -- Development of strict drug testing of cadets at the entry level. -- Statewide mandatory minimum sentencing of drug dealers should be established along lines conforming with federal guidelines. -- The establishment of a statewide drug intelligence network between all agencies to allow officers offi-cers and prosecutors access to information in-formation concerning drugs. Drug task force agencies with extended jurisdiction need to unify efforts, and training for participating par-ticipating officers should be mandatory man-datory within 90 days of appointment. - Central computers should be f set up to monitor and identify ' I prescription drugs to help combat the growing abuse of such drugs. i r A Drug Abuse Resistance Ed- ucation program should be established estab-lished in schools, and drug-free zo- nes should be enforced and expanded beyond schools. -- Enhancement of programs . connecting educators with law enforcement en-forcement officials to help control the drug problem in Utah schools. Agencies responsible for a drug bust should get a percentage of the money seized equal to the amount of their participation. The effectiveness of law enforcement en-forcement agencies' special drug programs should be reviewed, and development of such programs should be coordinated with other agencies. |