By By Lisa Tindell – news editor
The 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force received a “death sentence” this week when word of funding cuts trickled down from the office of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
The 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force is comprised of members may possible by the Escambia County Sheriff's Department, Atmore Police Department, East Brewton Police Department, Brewton Police Department, Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County District Attorney's Office, Poarch Police Department and the Escambia County Commission.
Currently, the Task Force receives 50 percent of its funding from a grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Affairs Division of the United States Department of Justice and which is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Hutchins said.
Jim Plott, a spokesperson for ADECA, said his department received word of the funding cut last week.
The funding cut is one that Stokes said might be hard to overcome.
Stokes said the community has been blessed over the years to have DTF working to fight drugs.
Finalizations of the cuts aren't expected for a few weeks, Plott said. However, the cuts are imminent.
Federal funds are supplemented with funding from the Escambia County Sheriff's Department, Atmore Police Department, Brewton Police Department and the Escambia County District Attorney's Office.