MATTOON - Area law enforcement agencies are asking for backup from taxpayers.

Officers from Douglas and Coles counties warned a massive cut in federal funding for drug task forces will end most, if not all, covert drug operations in the area, like the ones conducted by agents of the East Central Illinois Task Force. One proposal before Congress would cut federal grant funding nationwide benefiting covert drug interdiction operations by 50 percent in 2007 and eventually eliminate all grants the next year, officers said.

Local law enforcement officials say the funding cuts would be devastating to efforts to dismantle the drug trade in Central Illinois.

"We depend completely on covert operations by the Task Force. That funding means we can get eight to nine officers working covert in unmarked vehicles. That has been very effective for us in the past. I don't see the drug task force functioning too far into the future without that funding," said Douglas County Sheriff Charlie McGrew.

On Thursday, East Central Illinois Task Force agents, assisted by officers from nine local or state law enforcement agencies arrested 15 people from Coles, Douglas and Moultrie counties on drug-related charges involving methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. Four children were also placed in protective custody with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. One meth lab in Mattoon was also seized and dismantled after the arrests.

"Ending the funding would be detrimental to our police department and our community," said Mattoon Police Chief Larry Metzelaars on Friday. "Our department could not do all the proactive efforts needed against drug dealers. I don't believe any department without a task force would be able to handle this all on their own."

Metzelaars cited statistics showing how effective the task force has been over the past five years. From 2001-05, 431 meth labs have been processed, and over the past two years, there have been 189 meth arrests. During the same period, there have been 70 cocaine arrests and 49 cannabis arrests. The task force covers Coles, Douglas, Moultrie and Shelby counties.

Coles County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Darrell Cox pointed out the drug trade harbors a culture of violence, especially with meth and cocaine. He heads the Coles County Crisis Response Team, which brought officers trained in special tactics and weapons when needed.

"If they are tweaking on meth, suspects can be very violent," Cox said.

Cox said cuts in federal funding for drug task forces could affect the Crisis Response Team's funding for special equipment.

Herb Meeker can be reached at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.