This unit is the largest in the Division. The unit presently has eighteen officers and four sergeants, with two details assigned to the morning relief and two details assigned to the afternoon relief. The unit is supported by a substantial evidence fund, which is used to meet investigative expenses such as drug buy money and payments to confidential informants. The unit initiates investigations based on information received from a variety of sources including street officers, community members, confidential informants, and other law enforcement agencies.

 

 

The primary objective of the unit is to conduct investigations with the purpose of arresting drug dealers and seizing assets acquired through illegal means. The primary focus of the enforcement effort is directed towards mid-level (wholesale) drug dealers. However, investigations range from arresting street level dealers, shutting down crack houses, and arresting kilogram level dealers. The Drug Investigation Unit investigates all types of illegal narcotics including marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and illegal prescription drugs.

 

In October 2001, the Drug Investigations Unit was reorganized, adding one sergeant and 3 officers who were previously assigned to the Marijuana Task Force (MTF). Officers from the Oregon State Police, Clark/Skamania Drug Task Force and the Portland Police Bureau had been staffing MTF, created in 1995 to interdict domestic marijuana growers. Due to personnel shortages, the partner agencies were forced to withdraw from the Task Force and only PPB officers remained. As a result, the MTF personnel have been reallocated to general narcotics assignments.

 

 

 

 

The year 2000 saw a dramatic increase in methamphetamine lab seizures. This continues a five year trend of increasing methamphetamine lab seizures. In 2000, DVD utilized resources obtained through COPS Methamphetamine Initiative Grant to implement a variety of strategies to attack the growing methamphetamine problem.

One such strategy was to hire a methamphetamine drug analyst to help support investigations. Using link analysis, the analyst has been able to track the methamphetamine dealers in the Portland area. The information provided by the analyst has enabled the investigators to target dealers and attempt to significantly impact the methamphetamine trade in the Portland area. Grant monies were also used to provide the necessary technical support for methamphetamine investigations. Purchases included a computer for the analyst, cameras, and laptop computers for investigators to take into the field.

 

DVD will increase investigation and enforcement of methamphetamine manufacturers, distributors, and precursor suppliers. Efforts will be made to educate the public, including business owners to help identify over the counter purchases of methamphetamine precursors, and also help identify and track suspicious thefts of chemicals used to make methamphetamine. Internal training to help investigators stay current with new trends will also be enhanced.

 

2000 also brought a methamphetamine drug analyst to the Drugs and Vice Division. Using Grant funds, an analyst was hired to support methamphetamine investigations. The primary function of the analyst is to coordinate information flow and provide statistical analysis to identify targets for investigators. The goal is to attack the methamphetamine business at all levels and slow down the rising use of the drug in the Portland area.

 

Using the Methamphetamine Grant funds, the Drugs and Vice Division has added a much-needed resource, which in the past as been has unavailable because of budget constraints. The addition is having a major impact.

 

Since its relocation from the K-9 unit to the Drugs and Vice Division (DVD) in 1999, the Drug Dog Detection Program added a second dog team in May of 2003.

 

The primary role of the Drug Dog Detection Program is to assist in narcotics investigations by using the unique capabilities of the dogs' noses as an investigative tool. The dogs assist investigators in locating hidden drugs and money that may not otherwise be found by their human counterparts. The two dog teams also assist in providing probable cause to apply for search warrants when they alert on cars, packages, luggage, storage units, safes and other items.

 

Officer Alex Fyfe and his K9 partner Xwodin are completing their sixth year as a Detection Dog Team. They are assigned to the DVD afternoon shift. Xwodin and Officer Fyfe have logged over 1265 hours of training, had over 1050 deployments and have found over $7.5 million in drugs in their career. Xwodin's alert has contributed to issuing over 32 search warrants for in drug investigations. Officer Fyfe has provided drug detection dog support to over 20 federal, state and local agencies.

 

Officer Jay Bates and his K9 partner Xtro are starting their third year together. They are currently assigned to the DVD day shift and to the Portland Interdiction Team (PIT). Officer Bates and Xtro provide essential support to PIT interdiction efforts in the Portland Metro area. Officer Bates and Xtro have logged over 480 hours of training, over 500 deployments and have located over $3 million in drugs.

 

The dogs have both been trained as 'aggressive alert' detection dogs which means they scratch and/or bite at the source of narcotic odor. Both dogs have been trained to locate the odors of marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.  Drug dealers go to great lengths to conceal not only the drugs, but also the odor of the drugs from the dogs. The dogs have documented many drug finds despite out of the ordinary packaging methods such as concealed in vacuum sealed plastic bags with coffee grounds, buried in laundry soap, and wrapped in layers of plastic with various odors in-between the layers. The dogs commonly alert to drug odor even when packaged with ground pepper, axle grease, mustard, dryer sheets and other odors.

 

The two dog handlers spend a considerable amount of time conducting maintenance training with their dogs in order to remain proficient in narcotics detection. Both dog teams are required to take and pass the Oregon Police Canine Association (OPCA) Detection Dog Standards Test twice each year. Both teams are also required to take and pass The Pacific Northwest Detection Dog Association Certification Test once a year. These tests certify the dog teams as proficient and reliable at locating narcotic odor.

In addition to being a drug dog handler, Officer Fyfe is a State Certified Detection Dog Trainer for the OPCA. In this role, Officer Fyfe regularly offers training and testing to dog teams throughout Oregon. Officer Fyfe is also an Executive Board Member for the OPCA and assists other police agencies in setting up Detection Dog Programs. Officer Fyfe regularly instructs a Drug Dog Deployment course at the Basic Police Academy in Monmouth and at the Portland Police Advanced Academy.

 

The Drug Dog Detection Program has recently established a trust fund to assist in the cost of replacing and training a new drug dog when Xwodin or Xtro retire. If you are interested in contributing to the fund or have any questions about the Detection Dog Program, contact Officer Alex Fyfe or Officer Jay Bates at 823-0246.

 

Since 1996 DVD has been involved in Operation Weed and Seed which is administered by the Justice Department. This program seeks to target drug trafficking in specific high crime areas. Search warrants and street level missions with other divisions are the typical methods used by DVD. In the year 2000, DVD partnered with Northeast Precinct in operation "Neighborhood Relief". This operation targeted street level crack cocaine dealers by conducting controlled buys utilizing testifying informants. DVD investigators working hand in hand with Northeast Precinct officers coordinated this effort.

In addition, DVD conducted its own search warrant operations on multiple locations within the designated Weed and Seed areas. The combined missions resulted in the arrest of 95 individuals on drug-related charges, and the seizure of controlled substances.

 

DVD will develop a money laundering investigations program using the Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) review process. The goal will be to identify and track suspicious financial transactions in order to uncover illegal drug sales. As part of this effort, Financial Investigator Bob Azorr has joined the newly created SAR Task Force formed to investigate money-laundering cases. Azorr received a special commission from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office to become a deputy for the purpose of conductiong these investigations.