Successful Practices & Strategies Vol. 1 | No. 2

Auburn Police Department

Auburn, Indiana

www.auburnpolice.com

Community policing element

Community partnerships

Problem/issue

Drug manufacturing/trafficking

Problem description

Illegal drugs continue to ruin lives; destroy families; defile communities; and create large cleanup, 

rehabilitation, and incarceration costs for local and state governments. Most law enforcement agencies 

do not have the time, manpower, training, or funding to effectively enforce and combat these drug 

problems. This is why North East Indiana Law Enforcement has joined forces to create and sustain the 

IMAGE (Indiana Multi Agency Group Enforcement) Drug Task Force, a pro-active, multi-jurisdictional law 

enforcement program that serves a four-county area (DeKalb, Noble, Steuben, and LaGrange) in 

Northeast Indiana.

Community policing strategies implemented

IMAGE was established in 1993 for the sole purpose of investigation and enforcement of drug-related 

crimes. IMAGE currently has four police officers from four separate law enforcement agencies who work

undercover on a full-time basis, where they dedicate 100% of their time to the investigation of drugrelated crimes. Each of the participating agencies dedicates and contributes one officer, his or her wages

and benefits, a vehicle, equipment, and limited operating expenses to the IMAGE program. Several 

other agencies contribute limited funds or part-time assistance as able. Even with the full cooperation of 

these agencies, IMAGE still must rely on grants, contributions, and seizures to operate at its full ability. 

Officers assigned to IMAGE are provided the ability to work throughout the four-county area and are not 

specifically assigned to areas only covered by their agency. Officers are given the flexibility to alter 

hours, change work days, and work overtime to accommodate the complex and sporadic nature of drug 

investigations. IMAGE officers are also provided every opportunity for additional and continued training 

as it pertains to drug investigations.

Change and/or impact as a result of these community policing efforts

Undercover drug enforcement is not cheap but is effective, and by joining forces and combining 

manpower and resources, the Auburn Police Department (APD) has learned that a multi-jurisdictional 

task force is the only real and effective way to combat drug crimes within communities. Undercover 
2 

officers can go where a uniformed officer cannot, as the public does not recognize them as a police 

officer or being involved in law enforcement. Undercover officers dedicate 100% of their time and 

resources to drug investigations, compared to a regular police officer who must balance and juggle 

many responsibilities at one time. 

Without the IMAGE program, the majority of drug cases, criminal charges, arrests, and confiscated drugs 

would never occur. Those responsible for drug-related crimes would never have to look over their 

shoulders and wonder if the person they are dealing with is a cop. IMAGE is a proven program that 

makes a difference to the communities it serves.

Lessons learned through program implementation

Make no mistake, the war on drugs is not cheap, and it is a war that will never end. The pooling of 

resources between law enforcement agencies within the four counties has proven to be the most 

successful and cost-effective manner in which to fight the drug trade within the APD’s jurisdiction. 

Even with these combined resources, funding the IMAGE program continues to become more difficult 

each year. IMAGE not only realizes that it cannot wipe out drug problems but also understands that the 

service it provides helps to disrupt the flow of drugs within its communities and offers a legitimate 

opportunity for drug offenders to be caught. 

Even with the high cost associated with this program, IMAGE realizes that the benefit to its communities 

well outweighs the cost to society. Without IMAGE the drug dealers, users, and manufactures would 

have little fear of being caught; the number of children affected or harmed by drugs would rise; the cost 

to society in the form of environmental impact, rehabilitation, and crimes associated with drugs would 

skyrocket; and communities would suffer. 

IMAGE continues to look for alternative funding and avenues to cut costs. However, IMAGE does not see

a time when it will be able to fully function without some assistance from the Indiana Criminal Justice 

Institute and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. 

The opinions contained herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the 

U.S. Department of Justice. References to specific agencies, companies, products, or services should not be considered an 

endorsement by the author(s) or the U.S. Department of Justice. Rather, the references are illustrations to supplement 

discussion of the issues. 

The Internet references cited in this document were valid as of the date of publication. Given that URLs and websites are in 

constant flux, neither the author(s) nor the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services can vouch for their current validity. 

Published 2014