Clermont County 20/20 Leaders spent part of their day with Pierce Township canine officer Jay Shaw and his partner, Razec, Thursday, Feb. 5.

Pierce Township Police Chief Jim Smith gave the group an overview of the drug problem in Clermont County as an introduction to the canine program.

“With the pending layoffs in the jail and closing off a 32 bed cell block, that will take us back to the level of 10 years ago,” said Smith. “The incidence of drug complaints to the narcotics unit has increased about 50 percent in Clermont County from 2006 to 2008. Drugs are the primary factor in the majority of the crimes.”