Washington—Senator Evan Bayh today announced that the Carmel Police Department has been awarded an $89,435 grant from the Department of Justice to support the work of the Hamilton/Boone County Drug Task Force. The grant was awarded as part of the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program, which helps the justice systems of local communities.

“The battle to keep drugs off our streets isn’t fought from behind desks in Washington. It’s fought by our local police who are in the trenches, risking their lives to arrest drug dealers and make our communities safer,” Bayh said. “This grant will help keep illegal drugs out of our neighborhoods and away from our kids.”

The Hamilton/Boone County Drug Task Force targets midsize to large-scale drug operations to halt trafficking activities and arrest and prosecute drug dealers. The funds will be used to help maintain an offsite facility to house the task force and support its operations, including gathering criminal intelligence and establishing confidential informants.

Established in 1990, the Hamilton/Boone County Drug Task Force is operated by the Carmel Police Department and includes officers from Fishers, Noblesville and Zionsville.

“This grant will help the Task Force further our efforts in the war against drugs,” said Major Lee Goodman, director of the Hamilton/Boone County Drug Task Force. “We are grateful to the Justice Department and to Senator Bayh for helping secure these funds, which we will use to continue to target and halt the drug operations that threaten our communities.”

Senator Bayh has been a strong proponent of Senate efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs. He supported reauthorization of the Drug-Free Communities Act in 2001 and 2006 and cosponsored the Combat Meth Act, requiring that pseudoephedrine—a main ingredient in methamphetamines—be sold behind the pharmacy counter and in limited quantities.

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