(Joyce) Clallam County Fire District 4 in Joyce hosted a public forum at the Joyce Grange Tuesday evening that featured a detective from the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET).

OPNET Detective Mike Grall spoke to roughly 80 persons in attendance. The forum was a give-and-take with the audience members who asked a myriad of questions about the narcotics investigations conducted by OPNET personnel.

Detective Grall is a 30-year veteran of the Washington State Patrol and has spent the last 19-years as a narcotics investigator with OPNET.

His presentations are in high demand. Joyce Fire Chief, Greg Waters, told KONP  what started out as a presentation meant for his department’s first responders quickly grew to include the Joyce community.

 Detective Grall explained some of the inner workings of the illegal drug world and how OPNET investigations can sometimes take up to several years to complete. His presentation included a display of various drugs and drug paraphernalia.

He explained to the audience how the drug epidemic has spread addiction to a younger group than ever before, and how the potency of illegal drugs as increased to meet the demand of drug dependent customers.

When asked by an audience member what the solution for reducing illegal drug use, he said that education, enforcement and mental health treatment were all elements that could work. He also said that unfortunately, sufficient resources don’t seem to be available for these measures at the present time.

KONP asked Grall what types of things citizens can do to provide assistance to OPNET.

Detective Grall makes himself available to speak with citizen groups who want to gain a better understanding of how law enforcement is working to stop illegal drug operations.

Detective Grall can be reached through email:  mgrall@co.clallam.wa.us