PORT ANGELES — Cooperation was a key factor in the naming of the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team as the Agency of the Year for Western Washington, said the task force commander.
The award was announced in April by the Western States Information Network — which assists similar task forces throughout California, Alaska, Oregon, Hawaii and Washington state.
“Our whole organization is based on sharing and cooperation,” said Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron, who heads OPNET.
OPNET has full-time officers or deputies from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Department, the Sequim Police Department, the Port Angeles Police Department, the State Patrol, the Lower Elwha Tribal Police and the U.S. Border Patrol.
Members also work with the Forks Police Department, Port Townsend Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Neah Bay Tribal Police, LaPush Tribal Police, Jamestown tribe, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Park Service and U.S. Forest Service.
“Some of them cannot afford to give us a full time deputy, but that doesn’t mean we don’t work with them,” Cameron said.
“They are essential to our success.”
