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Federal Drug Enforcement Administration to Open ‘Post of Duty’ Office in Paducah

Oleg Dudko
/
123RF Stock Photo

The Drug Enforcement Administration is planning to open a Post of Duty office in Paducah.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a release Friday he requested the office to combat illicit drug use and protect rural communities in Western Kentucky. Paducah Police Chief Brandon Barnhill said the worsening opioid epidemic and the resurgence of methamphetamine abuse “demand a strong law enforcement response.”

“This community’s a very safe and thriving community, but when you can bring in another partner for the law enforcement team--essentially another tool in the toolbox--it only makes us stronger,” Barnhill said.

The DEA said in a letter to McConnell, officials considered the city because of an upsurge of methamphetamine and synthetic cannabinoids in the region. The DEA said the challenges of supporting 22 counties solely from the Madisonville POD office was another factor for the Paducah location.

The DEA announced last year that it was placing a new field office in Louisville. The Louisville office has a special agent who oversees investigations in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.

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