Junction City Commissioners have given their approval for the JCPD to apply for a federal grant that could provide funding to hire an employee to assist with Drug Task Force efforts. The cost to the City if the grant is received would be $41,641 spread over a three-year period. The grant would provide 75% of the necessary funding for that amount of time.
Police Chief John Lamb said said in Junction City the average is one opioid case per month. "This position will have an impact on not only the caseload, but more importantly they are going to be the fentanyl and opioid spearhead that's going to be on the more proactive side.
Lamb added this employee would be the point of contact to go into the middle schools and high schools to educate the youth on the dangers of such drugs as opioids and fentanyl. "This person's main focus will be actually education. " The individual could also assist with investigations, if necessary.