Day & Date:  2-22-10
Release: immediate                        Contact:  CCD Ron Cameron
                                       360-417-2570
                                       360-460-4303


OPNET ELECTS NEW CHAIRMAN


The Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team is a multijurisdictional unit that is made up of detectives and investigators from participating law enforcement agencies in Clallam and Jefferson Counties. Their mission is essentially to target major drug dealers, suppliers or manufacturers of illegal substances that are operating in our communities. 

Currently, OPNET has agents from Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Port Angeles Police Department, Sequim Police Department, US Border Patrol and the Washington State Patrol that participate in the daily operations of the program.  Other area agencies from state, local, tribal and federal departments participate as well when needed. The program is directed by a board made up of agency heads from these departments, as well as the Prosecutors from Clallam and Jefferson Counties.

Annually, the board elects a chair and co-chair to lead quarterly meetings that aid in administrative decisions for OPNET and help create and direct policy. Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict has served as the chair for the last couple of years while the co-chair position was unfilled.  Last week, the board met and elected Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez as OPENT Chair for 2010 and Sequim Police Chief Bob Spinks as co-chair.

All members of OPNET continue to commit themselves to their mission to investigate those organizations that introduce or sell illicit drugs in our neighborhoods.