photo by: Journal-World File Photos

These Journal-World file photos show patrol vehicles for the Lawrence Police Department (top) and Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

After the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office dissolved its Drug Enforcement Unit partnership with the Lawrence Police Department, the DEU is no longer operating within LPD, according to a department spokesperson.

However, the department recently assigned personnel — including a supervisor, detectives, officers and a crime analyst — to a new unit called the Directed Investigations Unit that will have a similar function, Lt. David Ernst said via email Tuesday.

“The Directed Investigations Unit will focus on drug related crimes to include large scale drug distribution, drug related robberies and career criminals,” Ernst said. “This focus is similar to the focus of the former Douglas County Drug Enforcement Unit.”

The DEU operated with officers of LPD and the sheriff’s office to investigate criminal activity related to controlled substances and to execute search warrants related to suspected violations of laws on controlled substances. The Journal-World reported Monday that Sheriff-elect Jay Armbrister opted to end the partnership at the end of November.

Some of LPD’s personnel who were part of the DEU are now part of the DIU, Ernst said.

“LKPD personnel previously assigned to the Douglas County Drug Enforcement Unit primarily dedicated their efforts towards investigations involving distribution of drugs and the violent crimes associated,” Ernst said via email.

Hethcoat said Monday that the sheriff’s office would continue to cooperate and share information with LPD when needed. Ernst said the two departments have “fortunately had a great working relationship for decades,” and that even though the DEU was no longer active, that wouldn’t change LPD’s relationship with the sheriff’s office.

Ernst said LPD and the sheriff’s office continue to collaborate in several areas. He listed recruit academy training, the Crisis Response Team, the Douglas County Underwater Search and Recovery Team, and multidisciplinary teams related to child victims of physical and sexual abuse and adult sexual assault victims.

Related coverage

• Dec. 21, 2020: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office dissolves Drug Enforcement Unit; sheriff-elect shifts focus away from ‘low-level users’

• Oct. 28, 2020: Lawrence, Douglas County law enforcement agencies contest ongoing lawsuit stemming from prolonged traffic stop, illegal search

• Oct. 11, 2020: Lawrence police can apply for no-knock warrants but don’t, spokesperson says