Sheriff stresses prevention thru treatment

Oconee narcotics officers remain on the search today for the remaining suspects in their new phase of a countywide drug sweep. In what is called phase two of “Operation Infinity,” the narcotics officers target 23 suspects wanted for various drug offenses. Phase one in April targeted 25 individuals. Anyone who heard Sheriff Mike Crenshaw on the campaign trail last year will remember the emphasis the then candidate for Sheriff placed on prevention through treatment. He says that very high plank on his platform is being emphasized now, especially since the public schools have reopened. The class schedule will give his office the opportunity to go into the schools to teach the non-illegal drug way of life. “We’ve got a drug education program put together that our resource officers will start teaching,” Crenshaw said. The first-year sheriff also holds this tea leaf out to those who are drug-addicted. “If they want some help with that addiction, the Sheriff’s Office can steer them in a direction that hopefully can break that cycle,” he said.