Since its inception in 2001, the City of Mexico has been part of the East Central Drug Task Force.
At the June 8 Mexico City Council meeting, the city signed a memorandum of understanding to …
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Since its inception in 2001, the City of Mexico has been part of the East Central Drug Task Force.
At the June 8 Mexico City Council meeting, the city signed a memorandum of understanding to continue the partnership for the task force’s operation for the 2025-26 grant year.
“The purpose of the Task Force is to foster an efficient and cohesive unit capable of addressing
drug and associated crime issues in the task force area,” Mexico Public Safety Department Chief Brice Mesko said in a letter submitted to the City of Mexico. “The East Central Drug Task Force enhances the effectiveness of federal, state and local law enforcement resources through a well-coordinated initiative seeking the most effective prosecutions for these crimes.”
The task force is a collaborative effort among seven sheriff’s offices in Audrain, Cooper, Howard, Montgomery, Monroe, Warren and Pike counties; eight police departments in Fayette, Glasgow, High Hill, Jonesburg, Mexico, New Florence, Palmyra and Warrenton; and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Participating agencies fund the task force through grants and contributions, including the City of Mexico, which contributes $11,500 annually.
At the meeting, Mesko said this year’s contribution will be the same. He also presented statistics regarding the task force’s efforts last year to council members.
According to Mesko, the East Central Drug Task Force conducted 134 investigations, served 25 search warrants, made 47 arrests and seized approximately $1.7 million worth of drugs across participating jurisdictions in 2025.
He added that in early 2026, the Task Force Board of Directors was approached by additional municipalities that considered joining after seeing the results of the task force. The board is considering how to proceed with the requests and reevaluating each member’s contribution.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding, task force cases are managed by a narcotics investigator from the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control. Cases are assigned to investigative teams based on training, performance, experience and existing caseload. Vehicles and radio equipment for task force officers, with the exception of highway patrol officers, will be provided through task force funds.
City council members voted unanimously in favor of continuing the partnership.
