North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force receives award

NESPELEM — The North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force was named 2023 Agency of the Year for Washington Region 2 by the Western States Information Network, according to an announcement by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

According to the statement, the commander of the NCWNTF is Colville Tribal Police Chief Steve Brown. The NCWNTF is comprised of fewer than four full-time employees, including other Colville Tribal Police officers in addition to Brown. 

Colville Business Council Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson commented on the award in the statement. 

“Chief Brown and the other Colville Tribal Police who work on the NCWNTF truly deserve this recognition,” he said. “This award typically goes to much larger agencies that enjoy many more staff and access to more resources. But the numbers don’t lie, and the record of success of the NCWNTF is clear even when compared to much larger agencies. The Colville Tribes appreciates the work the NCWNTF has done, and continues to do every day, to rid the Colville Reservation of illegal drugs and the crime that accompanies drug use.”

The statement said Kent Shaw, Executive Director of WSIN, noted that the investigative efforts of NCWNTF in 2023 resulted in the seizure of 166,500 fentanyl pills, more than 81 pounds of methamphetamine, 6 pounds of heroin, 2 pounds of cocaine and more than 40 firearms.