
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 23, 1995                   TAG: 9506230059
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DRUG INFORMANTS HAVE NEW MONTGOMERY HOT LINE|

Montgomery County's Drug Task Force has set up a new telephone hot line specifically for illegal drug informants.

The number is 381-2291.

"We know there's a lot of people out there with information," said Lynn Roach, a special agent with the Virginia State police.

Authorities say the number will be available on a 24-hour basis. Callers have the option of remaining anonymous, and confidentiality will be respected.

Roach said any bit of information - even tips that seem trivial - will be valuable. "It could be the last piece of a puzzle we're working on."

The hot line is a first-time effort by the local Drug Task Force, which is made up of the State Police, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department and the police departments of Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Virginia Tech.

Roach said the new number will have the advantage of getting information from informants directly to drug investigators.

The Task Force plans to widely distribute posters and brochures advertising the hot line, he said. "We're going to put it in every single place we can possibly think of."

by CNB