Lubbock Sheriff Requests 1.8 Million To Fight Drug War

Everything Lubbock is reporting that Sheriff Kelly Rowe is requesting big bucks to fight big challenges in the drug war.  I have very mixed feelings about this.

Yes, Yes, Yes the Sheriff and police should get what they need to do their jobs. They work weird hours and deal with dangerous situations.  Should that money be given because of "the drug war"?  Not so much.  The funny thing is that Lubbock is being portrayed as a corridor for cartels, yet we haven't really seen any of those busted.  The department points to "busting up" a hydroponic growing operation with a street value of 13.5 million dollars.  Well, that operation was just some post-college students engaging in a very bad money making venture that didn't seem to have anything to do with cartels or organized crime (it's not like they had a "hit" squad or anything).  And how did it get busted?  An anonymous tip.  PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong.

So, yes Sheriff-your department deserves what it takes to get the job done; but I want the 1.8 million to fight violent offenders, not street or even mid-level pot dealers (with is not quite legal, but very close to it in many states).

In the interest of disclosure, I have many friends in the Sheriff's department.  Many have to work second jobs or do some security work to make ends meet.  This is complete bullsh@t.  These men and women should have the funds to focus 100% of doing their full-time job and not have to go to work tired or spend extra time away from their families to supplement their paychecks.  We need to pay them fairly.  We also need to let the county commissioners know what we think the priorities are that go along with those paychecks.

I also have to admit that I'm pretty naive about what's happening out there these days.  Has the pot business gotten violent?  Please put your two cents in below.