Grays Harbor County Drug Task Force honored

By The Daily World • July 14, 2022 1:30 am
Members of the Grays Harbor County Drug Task Force display the award presented by the Western States Information Network. Front row: Support Specialist Mendi Stump. From left, second row: John Martin (WSIN), Hoquiam PD Interim Chief Joe Strong and GH Sherriff Rick Scott; third row: Aberdeen Interim Chief Dale Green and GHSO Chief of Investigators Darrin Wallace; Back row: APD Deputy Chief Jay Staten, GHSO Chief Criminal Deputy Kevin Schrader and GH Senior Deputy Prosecutor Scott Gripp. Submitted photo
Members of the Grays Harbor County Drug Task Force display the award presented by the Western States Information Network. Front row: Support Specialist Mendi Stump. From left, second row: John Martin (WSIN), Hoquiam PD Interim Chief Joe Strong and GH Sherriff Rick Scott; third row: Aberdeen Interim Chief Dale Green and GHSO Chief of Investigators Darrin Wallace; Back row: APD Deputy Chief Jay Staten, GHSO Chief Criminal Deputy Kevin Schrader and GH Senior Deputy Prosecutor Scott Gripp. Submitted photo

The Grays Harbor Drug Task Force has been recognized by the Western States Information Network as the Agency of the Year for Western Washington, Region 1.

Region 1 includes the following counties: Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Mason, Thurston, Lewis, Cowlitz, Clark, King, Pierce, Skamania, Wahkiakum, Kitsap and San Juan.

According to a press release from Kevin Schrader, Chief Criminal Deputy for the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office, the information network is a national resource center that helps law enforcement agencies safely investigate and solve their cases, covering three main areas:

• Providing investigative support

• Providing secure information and intelligence sharing

• Providing officer safety support and deconfliction.

The GHDTF was established in 1988 and is comprised of detectives from the Aberdeen Police Department, the Hoquiam Police Department and the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office, as well as a records specialist from the sheriff’s office.

Schrader, a prior drug task force officer, currently serves as the GHDTF Commander. Schrader recently replaced Hoquiam Interim Chief Joe Strong. Schrader is the liaison between the GHDTF and the governing body, which consists of Aberdeen PD Interim Chief Dale Green, Hoquiam PD Chief Interim Chief Joe Strong and Grays Harbor Sheriff Rick Scott.

The GHDTF’s primary goal is to target mid to upper level drug dealers who are poisoning our community with the import of large quantities of illicit narcotics, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl.

According to current Aberdeen PD Detective Sergeant Darrin King, who supervises the GHDTF, “the GHDTF has been doing great work for many, many years. It is nice to be recognized for all the hard work. The current GHDTF members accept this award not only for the hard work they do themselves, but also for the hard work of past task force members through the years.”

King points out the GHDTF relies heavily on tips called in by alert residnets in the community. The task force also receives assistance from Patrol and Investigations from all local law enforcement agencies, as well as utilizing the formed partnerships with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and other drug task forces from surrounding counties.

Tips for the GHDTF may be called in to 360-500-4141.