U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that in response to his request, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is planning to open a Post of Duty (POD) office in Paducah.
Senator McConnell contacted DEA Administrator Robert Patterson to advocate for the facility.
Sen. McConnell
“Today’s announcement of the plan to open the new DEA Post of Duty office is great news for the City of Paducah and the surrounding counties,” said Sen. McConnell. “Additional federal resources in Paducah, in coordination with state and local narcotics enforcement agencies, can make a significant difference in combatting the recent spike in illicit drugs in Western Kentucky and in helping to better protect rural communities in that region. Over the years, a number of law enforcement officials, including Paducah Police Chief Brandon Barnhill, have expressed to me the need for the DEA’s presence in Paducah. The city is well positioned to host substantial federal law enforcement responsibilities that would benefit the many rural communities in the area.”
In a letter, the DEA informed Senator McConnell they “took several factors into consideration in making the decision to open this POD including the tremendous upsurge in the amount of methamphetamine and synthetic cannabinoids imported and distributed in Western Kentucky, and the challenges of supporting the 22 counties in the region solely from DEA’s Madisonville POD.”
On behalf of the Paducah Police Department, Chief Brandon Barnhill, Paducah Police Department express gratitude to Senator Mitch McConnell for his advocacy on its behalf to the DEA.
“I welcome DEA Acting Administrator Robert Patterson’s decision to open a new Post of Duty office in Paducah. With this new federal law enforcement presence here, the DEA has reaffirmed its strong commitment to partnering with our department to combat the recent surge in illegal drug use,” Barnhill said. “By bringing our needs to the attention of the decision-makers in Washington, Senator McConnell helped bolster the safety of our community. The worsening opioid epidemic and the resurgence of methamphetamine abuse demand a strong law enforcement response, and this new DEA office, working in conjunction with our current federal partners already in Paducah, will help provide the needed resources to protect our area and to save lives.”
Office of Sen. Mitch McConnell
