Tri-DENT Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why does it take so long to investigate drug crimes?
A: Police officers can not make an arrest or obtain a search warrant for drugs on mere suspicion. Anonymous tips from citizens about drug houses or individuals dealing drugs are important to police efforts, but is only a beginning in an actual drug investigation. Tips from citizens must be proved accurate independently by police officers in order for legal action to be taken. Sometimes independent verification may take months, other times it may occur in a matter of days.
Q: How can I identify a drug house?
A: Dealers often use homes as a focal point for their customers to purchase drugs. Observations such as a high volume of short stay traffic or persons waiting outside for long periods of time-even in severe weather conditions-,may indicate that a home is being used as a distribution point for illegal drugs.
Q: How do Agents obtain legal search warrants?
A: A search warrant for a residence or business suspected of being a distribution point for illegal narcotics is obtained through the lawful court order of a judge. This order is given to Agents upon the Agents providing documentation and sworn testimony to a judge concerning suspected illegal activity at a given location. The Agent must demonstrate to the judge probable cause to believe that the illegal activity is ongoing. Probable cause is more than just suspicion but less than absolute certainty. Typically narcotics investigations ending with a search warrant at a residence take weeks to months to complete.
Q: Can I receive rewards for calling in illegal drug activity?
A: Tri-DENT often pays for information or aid in our investigations, however a simple telephone call probably will not garner a reward. We value any and all information but budgets restrain us from paying out too easily. The reward you may seek may come in the form of helping your community.
Q: What is a farm party?
A: That correct spelling is "pharm" party. These parties are where each party goer brings pills to the party and puts the pills in a bowl or dish. Once the bowl or dish is full, each party goer reaches in blindly and removes whatever pills he or she grabs. It could be birth control pills, heart medication, stimulants, depressants or the family pets worming medication.
Q: What is TRI-DENT?
A: TRI-DENT is the acronym for Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team. TRI-DENT is a multi-jurisdiction law enforcement team serving LaSalle, Bureau and Putnam Counties. TRI-DENT's main objective is combating drugs / narcotics. The unit will aid in other law enforcement endeavors should the need for specialized personnel (undercover agents) be needed.
Q: Does marijuana have medicinal value?
A: Yes. Research to date has found limited clinical value in one compound of its FDA approved form, not in its smoked or raw form.
- Smoking is an ineffective and illogical way to deliver medicine – dosage cannot be regulated, and tar and other harmful compounds are delivered directly to the lungs along with any helpful cannabinoids (compounds in marijuana).
- In fact, Dr. Robert DuPont, former director of NIDA, says, “There is no acceptable role in modern medicine for using burning leaves as a drug delivery system because smoke is inherently unhealthy.”
Q: What is "Robotripping?
A: "Robotripping" is slang for the intentional abuse of Robitussin® cough syrup or any cold and flu pills that contains dextromethorphan (DXM can produce a "high" feeling and can be extremely dangerous - even deadly - in excessive amounts). Many emergency rooms across the United States are reporting increased numbers of teens who are abusing OTC cold and cough medicines. Robitussin®, Coricidin HBP®, Vicks NyQuil®, and Vicks Formula 44® are the most common cold remedies abused because they are legal, easy to get, and inexpensive. Watch for the symptoms of abuse, which include: sweating, high body temperature, dry mouth, blurred vision, hallucinations, delusions, nausea, stomach pains, vomiting, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, numbness in toes and fingers, red face, headache, and loss of consciousness.
Q: What happens to the seized property from drug dealers and /or drug cases which are completed?
A: Once the case is complted and ajudicated (all court proceedings finalized) the property if awarded to Tri-DENT is sent auction. As of now the auctions are not held locally. If your are interested in the auction process feel free to contact the Commander of Tri-DENT for further information. Or, visit the "Property Room" under the News Section in this site.