The War on Drugs in south-central Iowa is getting help courtesy of federal funding.

The Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force was awarded $356,000 in funds from the Byrne JAG program to help battle substance abuse in our area.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, and Pella Police Department all have members on the task force. Sheriff Jason Sandholdt, Knoxville Police Chief Dan Losada, and Pella Police Chief Robert Bokinsky all like having the added manpower the MINE Task Force provides along with the ability to work together to make the task force effective.

Although the MINE Task Force continues to get the largest slice of Byrne Grant money in the state, those funds have been reduced by half over the last 4 years due to cuts in the program.