POTTSVILLE -- Schuylkill County's top cop handed out thousands of dollars to police departments to help their efforts to fight illegal drugs.
Brandon Alexander is the officer in charge of the Mahanoy Township Police Department. He's full time. Two other officers are part time.
"I tell the guys who work at night (to) hit every part of the township at least twice, because it's such a big township," Alexander said.
Most of the drugs and guns confiscated in Mahanoy Township occur during traffic stops.
"Our township is between Mahanoy City and Shenandoah and we also have Interstate 81 that runs through Mahanoy Township, so we get a lot of the traffic where people would be bringing in drugs," he added.
Alexander and officers from dozens of other departments were at the Schuylkill County Courthouse. District Attorney Karen Brynes Noon passed out checks totaling $212,000. The money was confiscated when two drug operations were recently busted in the county.
"Many different types of equipment - night vision goggles, test kits, and body armor - can be purchased by you in our never-ending fight against drugs in our county," said Schuylkill County District Attorney Karen Byrnes Noon.
Officer in Charge Alexander says he'll use the $4,000 given to his department for high-tech devices, such as a camera an officer can wear to better record traffic stops.
"We're out here at night doing traffic stops and when it's dark and by ourselves, I want to make sure the guys are safe and secure and give them whatever they need."
More than 30 police departments shared in the cash handed out. The D.A. expects more money to come in as police break up more drug operations