Jan.13,
2020
Luikart
new W.Va. Intelligence Fusion Center director
CHARLESTON,
W.Va. – The agency overseeing the new West Virginia Narcotics
Intelligence Unit established by Gov. Jim Justice now has a new leader, a
seasoned law enforcement veteran with a career steeped in anti-drug operations.
Military Affairs and Public Safety
Secretary Jeff Sandy named Jack Luikart as director of the W.Va. Intelligence
Fusion Center, the state’s all-hazards approach to gathering, analyzing and
sharing information. The appointment is effective immediately.
Luikart has been head of DMAPS’ drug
control policy efforts, including its prevention and education outreach to
youth. He will continue in that role as well.
“Luikart has been a leader on numerous
successful investigations to stop organized attempts to introduce illegal drugs
from entering our correctional facilities,” Sandy said. “He counsels juveniles
detained in the states juvenile facilities, trains law enforcement on gang violence,
and assisted the development of the new incarcerated drug rehabilitation
program.”
The Fusion Center allows local, state and
federal law enforcement and public safety agencies to share resources,
expertise and information. With private entities also participating, the
resulting collaboration makes the most of their respective contributions to
prevent, detect, investigate and respond to all hazards – including but not
limited to terrorist and criminal activity.
Justice announced the W.Va. Narcotics
Intelligence Unit during his State of the State address last week, issuing an
Executive Order to create it. The unit will provide state-of-the-art data
analytics, forensic accounting, and support to law enforcement statewide to
crack down on drug trafficking activity.
“I look forward to working with our Fusion
Center team and providing them with the training, resources and personnel to
continue the exceptional work they produce,” Luikart said. “I hope to call on
my personal and professional relationships with our state’s law enforcement and
all other public safety agencies to expand our partnerships and assistance in
any manner possible.”
Luikart joined DMAPS in July 2017, after
retiring earlier that year from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. During
his 30 years of law enforcement service, Luikart focused mostly on drug crime.
He earned multiple assignments from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,
including as group supervisor of the Charleston High Intensity Drug Trafficking
Area (HITDA) Task Force from August 2015 until his retirement. He also
commanded the Putnam County office of the multi-county, multi-agency Metro Drug
Unit for nearly a decade.
As Correctional Substance Abuse Control
director, Luikart has overseen the ongoing and evolving crackdown on drugs and
other contraband at DMAPS’ correctional facilities. He has visited dozens of
schools across West Virginia, sharing a substance abuse prevention and
education program he developed in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration. He also helped bring the program to the 2019 World Scout
Jamboree, which West Virginia hosted at the Summit Bechtel Family National
Scout Reserve.
“During the Justice administration,
Luikart has taught the DEA 360 Strategy drug prevention program to over 100,000
children in West Virginia,” Sandy said. “He has received countless letters from
West Virginia children thanking him for changing their lives.”
Luikart is the Fusion Center’s third
director since its 2008 founding. He succeeds Jessica Griffith, who has joined
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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