Vol.15 No.18 - Could It Be - News Summary May 4, 1981

Sep 29, 2026

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News summary dated May 4, 1981 covering law-enforcement developments across multiple topics. It reports on plans to merge the DEA into the FBI and outlines the statutory and civil-service barriers that were cited, alongside an FBI director’s view of expanded narcotics enforcement responsibilities. The issue also includes a firearms screening concept pursued by IACP, short courses for defense and prosecuting attorneys at Northwestern University, and local recognition for Pasadena police-citizens’ awards honoring officers and citizens who went beyond duty.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

RUMOR OF FOLDING DEA INTO FBI - His Head Again

IACP PURSUES NATIONAL GUN SCREENING CONCEPT

SHORT COURSES FOR DEFENSE LAWYERS IN CRIMINAL CASES AND FOR PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS

PASADENA POLICE HONOR CITIZENS AND OFFICERS

Vol.15 No.18 Could It Be?... ## RUMOR OF FOLDING DEA INTO FBIREARS ITS HEAD AGAIN In the very early days of the Carter administra-tion,Judge Griffin Bell asked his staff to prepare areport on the feasibility of merging the Drug En-forcement Administration(DEA)into the FederalBureau of Investigation(FBI).And as with a lotof things in Washington,this report focused on thereasons the proposed merger would not work. Many staff hours were expended and the basicresult was,it ain't a good idea.Judge Bell was saidto be motivated for economic reasons,feeling thatthe reality of the situation dictated a single federalenforcement agency.To this day,Judge Bell stillbelieves this. The report cited a great many statutory prob-lems.The old bugaboo of a national police forcecame up.And the chief barrier was the problem ofcivil service regulations which cover DEA agents.FBI agents do not have this coverage. Hold on folks,we still have a little more historyto cover,albeit more recent. FBI Director Interview William H.Webster,Director of the FederalBureau of Investigation,says that narcotics traffichas become so widespread and violent that thebureau must assume a bigger role in attacking theproblem. It is an idea that J.Edgar Hoover strongly re-sisted when he headed the bureau. (See COMBINING AGENCIES,page eight) AComprehensive and Independent News Summary for the Law Enforcement Professional May 4,1981 IN THIS ISSUE- DEA AND FBI:Pressure Building ToMerge Two Federal Enforcement Agencies ....1 WILLIAM QUINN:IACP Committee ToSeek Middle Ground On Handguns.......2 SHORT COURSE:For Prosecutors AndDefense Lawyers At Northwestern.......2 CITIZENS AND OFFICERS:Pasadena HonorsThose Who Went Above And Beyond The Call...2 KNOW YOUR LOCAL POLICE:Citizen GuideOffered By National Council.........4 ANTI-HANDGUN LOBBY:Membership DoublesIn Backlash Of Assassination Attempt......4 MILITARY AID:Senate Committee ApprovesNunn Bill For Drug Enforcement Role......4 EDWARD M.DAVIS:Former Los Angeles Chief Discusses Failed Criminal Justice System...5 EXCLUSIONARY RULE:California Senate Acts On Van de Kamp Proposed Amendment ...7 FROM BIRMINGHAM:Words Fail Us.....7 PETER J.PITCHESS:Los Angeles County High Sheriff Believes In Book Learning.....8 MAURICE T.TURNER:Nominated ByMayor To Be Next Washington,D.C.Chief ...10 NEW JERSEY:Looking For Prosecutors....10 CUTBACK MANAGEMENT:Citizens WantMore Police Services For Less Tax Monies....10 ## IACP PURSUES NATIONALGUN SCREENING CONCEPT Chief William F.Quinn,President of the Inter-national Association of Chiefs of Police(IACP),announced the creation of an IACP Committee todevelop an appropriate resolution regarding a nation-wide screening program for firearms availability. In his statement,Quinn said,"Law enforcementhas a duty to respond to the expressed needs of thepublic.While the majority of citizens recentlypolled favored a gun control program,police becomecaught in the middle between a duty to be respon-sive to pablic opinion and the duty to protect anddefend constitutional guarantees.” Quinn said,"We must find a compatible middleground between the 2nd amendment rights of gunowners and the public safety rights of citizens.” The chairman of the committee will be PassaicTownship,New Jersey,Chief Howard L.Runyon,Sr.,3rd Vice President of IACP.Other membersare Colonel Grover W.Garrison,Chief of the Louisi-ana State Patrol;Chief Wayne B.Shepherd of theUniversity of Utah;and IACP Past President Francis B.Looney of Farmingdale,New York. The committee's tas is to draft a resolutionto be presented to the May 6,1981 meeting of theIACP governing Executive Committee in Nashville,Tennessee.If approved for presentation to themembership in annual conference,it could becomeofficial policy for the association.■ ## SHORT COURSES FOR DEFENSE LAWYERS INCRIMINAL CASES AND FOR PROSECUTINGATTORNEYS Summer,1981 Northwestern University School of Law willcond

FAQs

What feasibility issue is discussed regarding combining the DEA into the FBI?

The report argues that statutory problems and civil-service regulations covering DEA agents were major barriers, leading staff to conclude the merger was not a good idea.

What position does the FBI director take about narcotics enforcement?

William H. Webster says narcotics trafficking has become widespread and violent, requiring the bureau to assume a bigger role in attacking the problem.

What does IACP plan to do regarding firearms availability screening?

IACP President William F. Quinn announces an IACP committee to draft a resolution for a nationwide firearms screening program, to be considered by the IACP governing Executive Committee and possibly become official association policy.

Sep 29, 2026

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