Township grant money for drug unit costs

A request for Bloomfield Township Police to receive reimbursement from Oakland County for a High-Intensity Drug Traffficking Area (HIDTA) grant was unanimously approved by the board of trustees at their meeting on Thursday, March 12. The grant, for which Oakland County receives money from the state, would reimburse overtime for officers who work on Oakland County's Narcotic Enforcement Team (NET), which is under the direction and supervisor of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. Bloomfield Township currently has one officer in that unit, whose participation Bloomfield Township Police Captain Dan Edwards called vital. NET is a multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement task force with participation from several Oakland County law enforcement agencies. Bloomfield Township is responsible for providing one full-time employee to participate in the unit and for all costs associated, including overtime. Edwards said Bloomfield Township's portion of the reimbursement would total $4,875 for the officer's overtime. The objective of High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area grant is to reduce drug trafficking and drug production across the country. Trustees unanimously supported Bloomfield Township Police's participation and overtime costs.