Editorial: Law enforcement

The Lee County Sheriff's Office has showcased a nine-month investigation that led to the arrest of five people and took a chunk of cocaine and some weapons off the street.

It is one way to show that long-term probes can help a community as much as a high-profile one, such as the Internet-predators case that made national TV news.

The Sheriff's Office, working with the Florida Attorney General's Office, seized approximately nine pounds of cocaine, ultimately worth about $250,000 on the street. Authorities also seized $108,000 in cash and seven semi-automatic weapons.

Good work by the local and state officials. The group of suspects, with links to Florida's east coast and possibly to Chicago, might have brought drugs into our area for years to come.

Just one suggestion: Sheriff Mike Scott should tone down his sound bites. In talking about the alleged ringleader of the group, a teenager with the nickname of "Taco" who has not been arrested, Scott said, "We want to ring Taco's bell."

The catchy phrases are best left to Madison Avenue.