Drug Enforcement at the Henry County Sheriff's Office

    Drug Enforcement in Henry County has undergone many changes over the years.  Prior to 1991, the investigation of drug crimes was pretty much up to local agencies.  While this was somewhat effective on a local level, it was becoming evident that drug activity was taking place across a much broader area.

    In March of 1991 the Henry/Mercer Drug Task Force was formed as a cooperative effort by the Sheriffs of Henry and Mercer Counties, the Police Departments in Geneseo and Kewanee, and the Illinois State Police. It enjoyed considerable success using undercover agents and informants, and resulted in many arrests and sizeable drug busts.  Funding for the program was discontinued in 1996, and formal operations were drawn to a close in December of that year.

    Henry and Mercer Counties carried on anti-drug efforts together for a time, but monetary and staffing requirements also caused an end to formal operations.  Henry County continued to fight drug crimes with a Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) made up of former Task Force agents, Emergency Response Team members, and investigators from various local agencies.   Informal operations with surrounding agencies also continued.

    Eventually the DEU became a part of the Investigations Division at the Sheriff's Office.  This allowed drug enforcement to draw directly on the resources of the Investigations Division and the Sheriff's Office in general.  The Investigations Division works closely with other local law enforcement agencies, and actively investigates drug crime in Henry County using informants and undercover operations. This has been responsible for many arrests and property seizures, and has a very good conviction rate for cases that go to court.

    A new drug enforcement program was begun in 2000 called "Aggressive Criminal Enforcement", or A.C.E.  This program combined drug enforcement with everyday patrols to give all deputies information on drug activity.  It has resulted in several drug enforcement arrests.

    Below are snapshots of some of the larger drug busts within Henry County.  These were all the result of various investigations beginning with the Drug Enforcement Unit through to today.

     If you have any further questions about drug enforcement at the Henry County Sheriff's Office, please call the Investigations Division at (309) 937-3906 or send us E-mail at sheriff@henrycty.com.

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The Henry County
"Wall of Fame"

091293 - 1 oz cocaine, 3/4 lb cannabis	Tasha the Drug Dog
071995 - 1/2 lb cannabis, $375 cash	March 1997 - 30 lbs cannabis
082198 - 1 gram opium, 2 oz  crack cocaine, $1040 cash	101798 - 7 oz cocaine
020199 - $20,980 USC	020899 - 80 grams crack cocaine, $550 cash
030299 - 3 grams cocaine, $4,961 cash	031799 - 10 lbs cannabis
053199 - $10,000 cash	062199 - 100 lbs cannabis
082699 - 8.9 oz crack cocaine	101499 - 75 grams crack cocaine
092100 - 798 grams cocaine, 1904  grams cannabis, .380 cal. handgun  $7,702.00 cash	020702 - K-9 Deputy Thompson and partner Riley with 45 lbs cannabis
020702 - another pic of Deputy Thompson and Riley. Above - the 45 lbs of cannabis.  The yellow color was due to it being wrapped in mustard, an attempt at hiding the scent...	090102 - 320 lbs. cannabis

Know of illegal drug activity in your area?  Call Crime Stoppers of Henry County toll free at 1-800-227-2324, or 309-937-2324, and leave your tip.  You will not be asked for your name, and you could receive a cash reward.