Intra-Agency Drug, Vice Task Force Proposed

The Lilburn Police Department and several other Gwinnett law enforcement agencies are planning to form an inter-agency drug and vice task force, as a result of the Service Delivery Strategy Settlement.

The Gwinnett Metro Task force will investigate and prosecute the offenders through mutual aid where violations occur within the named cities in the agreement, according to officials.

Any case that occurs outside the city or leads to violations outside the city will be turned over the Gwinnett County Police Department. The cases made by the Gwinnett Metro Task force will be turned over to the appropriate court system.

-- How do you feel about this agency? Tell us in the comments below.

Other police departments involved are Duluth, Lawrenceville, Loganville, Snellville, Suwanee and the Gwinnett Sheriff's Department. Approval by the respective city council bodies is necessary.

The task force is aimed at street-level crimes in residences and businesses, according to officials. The nature of the inter-agency agreement means that some non-Lilburn officers will be patrolling and responding to the crimes inside Lilburn city limits.

Plans call for Lawrenceville Police Chief Randy Johnson to be the board chairman, and for Suwanee Police Chief Mike Jones to be secretary-treasurer. Board meetings will be the fourth Tuesday of each month, according to documents. Dallas Stidd of the Gwinnett Sheriff's Office is the initial commander.

Each agency will determine the number of investigators and/or analysts assigned to the force. However, the Gwinnett County Police Department still will handle such crimes in unincorporated areas.

(Editor's Note: .)