HORACE LANGFORD, JR. / PVT Lt. Jack Hennigan, commander of the Nye County Sheriff's Office Scorpion task force, leads a small group of narcotics officers that work to detect drug activity and apprehend criminals. Advertisement

Ten years ago, Pahrump had the dubious distinction of being known as one of the most significant locations for methamphetamine production in the country.

In response, the Nye County Sheriff's Office formed the Sheriff's Covert Operations Recovery Prevention and Investigation of Narcotics task force (more commonly referred to here as the Scorpion task force).

Working with the sheriff's street crimes unit, patrol deputies and various other agencies throughout the state and surrounding areas, the task force has significantly diminished drug production, use and sales within Pahrump.

The year the Scorpion Task Force was formed, in 1998, there were an estimated 41 methamphetamine labs in Pahrump. Last year only two were dismantled -- a telling indication of the drastic decrease in the number of facilities operating here.

But the task force does not focus exclusively on methamphetamine (although they are responsible for the arrest of a number of "cooks," or methamphetamine-producers); its main purpose is to investigate and detect general drug activity and arrest offenders.

The Scorpion task force consists of two full-time detectives and one sergeant, all led by Lt. Jack Hennigan.

Although the task force itself is made up of only a few officers, a wide network of cooperating agencies in surrounding areas and cooperation from other departments within the Nye County Sheriff's Office allows the narcotics officers to extend their reach.

Here at home, the task force receives crucial support from the street crimes unit and patrol deputies.

Outside the county, the task force enjoys a working relationship with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and agencies working within Esmeralda County and Inyo and San Bernardino counties in California.

Then there are the federal agencies that cover Nye County as part of their jurisdiction, which can include the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Hennigan is in a good position to lead the task force, given his 40 years in law enforcement, much of which he spent in Oregon working "deep undercover" as a narcotics officer and detective until he retired in 1988.

He didn't stay retired for long, however, joining the sheriff's office here in 1996 and working as a patrol deputy and detective.

Hennigan took a nine-month break in 2002 and by the following year was promoted to sergeant and put in charge of the task force.

The supervisor took some time to explain in generalized terms how a basic narcotics investigation occurs.

Given the ever-changing and variable ways an investigation can begin and run its course, it is important to remember that the following is nothing more than a generalized process in a hypothetical situation. The example is left intentionally vague to protect the officers and methods that are effective and serve them well.

Most investigations will begin when information about possible narcotics activity is received.

Sources can include secret witnesses (concerned citizens who call the sheriff's office) or leads from street crimes or patrol deputies.

The patrol division, due to the deputies' different function, is most likely to assist the task force only if it comes across a massive amount of drugs or an intricate drug set-up.

"The patrol division is limited in drug investigation training as well as the time allowed to do a detailed investigation," Hennigan explained. "The street crimes unit is a major asset due to their nature and responsibilities."

Often a tip to the task force is no more than a name or an address where illicit activity is suspected.

At that point, the location is monitored for a time that allows task force officers to determine vehicles and people that visit the residence.

The vehicles are checked through their license plates, and background checks are conducted on identified individuals.

If the information proves to be credible, an investigation is opened on the location or possible suspects. Investigations, which can last anywhere from a few hours to several years, are largely based on establishing sufficient probable cause to serve a search warrant on the location or arrest a suspect.

Ensuring that suspects' rights aren't violated and the probable cause threshold is met are a high priority for the task force, and not always easy to do given the constantly-changing legislation.

Fortunately, the Scorpion task force has Sgt. T. Huggins.

"Sgt. Huggins is very knowledgeable about constitutional law, up to and including search and seizure laws and arrests," Hennigan said. "He knows the details of laws that are necessary to conduct an in-depth investigation."

Then there's Det. T. Meade, who according to Hennigan, "has an uncanny ability in remembering names and faces."

"(Meade) is extremely knowledgeable in the investigation of narcotics, whether it be meth, pot, narcotics, prescription drugs, and is also very active in gang investigation," Hennigan added.

Det. J. Powell, according to Hennigan, in addition to being well-versed in the workings of the drug world "is quite knowledgeable and very energetic toward money-tracking investigations."

The combined skills and experience of the task force officers is largely responsible for the Scorpion task force's success.

"I feel very fortunate having three people with these varied skills being on the task force," Hennigan said. "This is what has brought the task force to be successful since its inception."

For Hennigan, four decades of working to investigate narcotics operations and apprehend associated suspects hasn't dampened the satisfaction of doing his job.

"I love the challenge," Hennigan said. "You get a massive feeling of accomplishment when you do a search warrant and it turns out to be successful, extremely high-yielding, and you know this "cook" has been put out of business, at least for a little while."