This report presents the results of a survey of 35 former and current Vermont Multi-jurisdictional Drug Task Force members and is the second in a three-part evaluation project.
The survey provided information from the respondents on various task force activities during the period 1989-92. The survey contained questions related to drug task force operation, drug task force objectives, problems in task force goal achievement, task force tactics, task force training, profile of a drug task force officer, and the drug task force experience. Other issues examined in the survey were the return of the officer from task force service to the lending agency, task force priorities, improvements in the drug task force, and the restructuring of the drug task force. One of the most notable themes in this report is that task force officers can have difficulty when returning to their lending agency. The skills attained by the officers during their task force service are not used effectively by lending agencies; and some officers, due to length of service with the task force, become too involved in the role of task force officer. This suggests that attention should be given to assisting task force officers during the reintegration period. Other important themes yielded by the survey are financial resources, specialized training, quality of personnel, teamwork, and the quality of evidence developed. 31 tables and appended survey questionnaire