Rural marijuana grows consume scarce police resources

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“We just have no illusions. Because the amount that is found and taken is miniscule. What percentage of the (marijuana) gardens is probably found in a specific region? I think it’s small,” he said.

For Bentz and his department, the global war on drugs carries stronger local connotations.

“We don’t want them growing in Malheur County. That is why we invest the time and effort to pull their product,” he said.

And the campaign to stamp out marijuana grows in secluded locations is a definite drain on resources, Bentz said.

“It ties up (High Desert) task force people and other personnel from agencies, not just us,” he said. “For any agency it takes the time of your folks that are working narcotics.”

For every police officer deployed to a secluded marijuana grow, a gap opens in the law enforcement coverage area somewhere else.

“It pulls people from patrol slots from the state and the city and county. So that means you have less people on the roads. And it also costs a bunch of money,” he said.

Which in turn means rural police agencies with fewer resources must juggle competing priorities when a grows as large as the one at White Horse Creek Drainage are found.

“Just in the sheriff’s office, we had 12 of our 18 people in the criminal division at this particular garden. And your regular work has to get done too,” he said.

Still, Bentz said his office and other law enforcement authorities are committed to tackling the local illegal narcotics trade.

“If you ignore it, you’ll have gardens everywhere,” he said. “If they (marijuana growers) have a higher likelihood of losing their crop or profit in Malheur County, the theory is they won’t grow it.”

But Bentz said the focus must be adapted, or narrowed, to the local area.

“You are not trying to change the world. You are trying to look at your area of responsibility and influence and make the best decisions of all your resources. At the end of the day, you are trying to do what is best for Malheur County. That includes not only our citizens but our visitors,” Bentz said.

So is the allocating of sparse resources to find, then capture and destroy marijuana grows in secluded areas such as Malheur County worth it in the end?

“That’s the million dollar question. If our work makes it safe for our citizens then it’s worth it. Do we think it’s going to reduce demand? No, it doesn’t. By getting people not to come back and grow in Malheur County is it helping the California problem? No. Or Washington’s? No. But we will do whatever we can to get them not to grow here,” Bentz said.

Pat Caldwell is the editor of the Argus Observer. For more local news go to www.argusobserver.com. Care to comment on this story? Go online to www.argusobserver.com  and check out our blogs where you can post an opinion.