Knox County Sheriff Mike Smith has announced that his department has become a member of the Laurel County Drug Interdiction Task Force. The task force is commanded by Captain Richard Dalrymple and is made up of officers from the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, London City Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff’ Office. The task force is funded by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, better known as H.I.D.T.A. By joining this task force Sheriff Smith will be combining resources of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office with the task force to better combat the illegal drug trafficking problem in Knox County. A deputy will be assigned to the task force at no cost to Knox County. This deputy will continue his regular scheduled patrol hours in addition to working on the task force. Sheriff Smith said he is pleased and honored to be asked to join in such a partnership with Laurel County Sheriff John Root and London City Police Chief Chuck Johnson.