Bayh applauds Linton Police Department for record drug busts

U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh has congratulated the Linton Police Department for its work to protect Greene County from the methamphetamine epidemic that continues to ravage Indiana and the Midwest.

Over the past five years, the police department in Linton has increased its drug arrests by more than 400 percent, including one of the largest meth drug busts in western Indiana.

“Hoosier families depend on local law enforcement officers to protect their children and keep their communities strong,” Sen. Bayh said. “In the face of the growing meth epidemic and on top of an increasing number of homeland security responsibilities, the Linton Police Department has risen to the challenge and is taking important strides to reduce meth use in Greene County.”

To honor the work of the Linton Police Department, Chief Keith McDonald and Drug Task Force Officer Josh Goodman, Sen. Bayh entered a tribute into the Congressional Record, the official record of the U.S. Senate, applauding the police department for its commitment to the safety and peace of mind of Greene County citizens.

“It is an exceptional honor to be recognized by Senator Bayh,” McDonald said. “I know all my officers will appreciate it, especially Officer Goodman, who was also named Police Officer of the Year in December. For the past several years, as a small police department, we've made a concerted effort to step up to the plate and do our part. The state and federal police just don't have the manpower. Since my first year as chief, we have quadrupled the number of drug arrests, and we've kept up that pace ever since. That's the kind of effort it takes.”

To help battle the meth epidemic, Bayh co-sponsored the Combat Meth Act to help local law enforcement agencies and communities currently struggling with the exploding costs of meth prevention and rehabilitation. The legislation is designed to cut off access to meth ingredients and offer support for families recovering from meth's devastating effects. Over the past two years, Bayh has secured roughly $3.45 million for the Indiana State Police to combat the meth problem.

Methamphetamine is currently one of the fastest-growing drug threats in the nation, and the problem is particularly acute in the Midwest. Meth production and use has dramatically increased in Indiana in a few short years. In Indiana, the number of meth labs is up 750 percent over the last five years, and the meth industry costs the state at least $100 million a year.