Chief Ken Burge commended on drug elimination efforts

Steadily, quietly, determined and with good support, Alcoa Police Chief Ken Burge is moving to eliminate the illegal drug sales problem that has been a longtime issue in one of the city’s major neighborhoods.

Virtually the entire neighborhood is fully in support of his efforts to eliminate the drug trade that has prevailed. Ridding the neighborhood of the blight will not be easy and there is still a lot remaining to be done.

A number of factors have been effective thus far. Foot patrols, information provided by residents, and cooperative efforts of the Fifth Judicial District Drug Task Force. The latter is operated by Sheriff Jim Berrong’s office and includes members of both the Alcoa and Maryville police departments as assigned by their respective chiefs, Burge of Alcoa and Tony Crisp of Maryville. This task force covers the entire county and as a result can often uncover leads that are unexpectedly helpful to the police departments in the two cities.

The highest profile act which occurred recently was to obtain a temporary injunction in Blount County Circuit Court from Judge Mike Meares, permitting the city of Alcoa to board up and take possession of a residence at 112 E. Newcomen Street which has been deemed a nuisance by the city.

The city took the action after having answered more than 200 complaints to the area of the residence since 2005. Drugs, fights and heavy traffic, apparently of individuals seeking to purchase drugs, were the most common complaints.

The city filed a petition for abatement of nuisance in an attempt to get a permanent forfeiture on the house. The next hearing will be on Dec. 19.

Under the temporary injunction the house has been vacated and boarded up with no trespassing signs on the property.

Neighbors have estimated it will take another two years to complete the riddance of the drugs in the neighborhood but this appears to be a major step forward.
We congratulate Chief Burge and his effective force and the Fifth Judicial District Task Force for their continued cooperation in an effort to remove the drug traffic from Blount County,