By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FORT MITCHELL - Top law enforcement officials were courted by gubernatorial campaigns Monday during the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police convention.

Democrat Ben Chandler, the state's two-term attorney general, and Steve Pence, running mate of GOP candidate Ernie Fletcher, heaped praise and promises on about 50 chiefs during separate consecutive speeches at The Drawbridge inn.

"There is no greater responsibility than defending the laws of the commonwealth of Kentucky," Chandler said.

"I will be committed to do that as your next governor, just as I have been committed to it as your attorney general.

"You know I am here for you and that I will do everything that I can to make sure that law enforcement gets the best of it."

Pence said he was proud to appear before the group. He made it clear that he and Fletcher are seeking supporters among law enforcement officers and officials.

"Law enforcement, in my opinion, carries the greatest weight in terms of the support that you give a candidate," Pence said. "There are more people who look to law enforcement officers to see how they are going to vote than any other profession."

Both candidates heavily touted their past involvement with law enforcement - Chandler as attorney general and earlier as state auditor, and Pence through his years as a federal prosecutor.

Chandler made veiled but unmistakable comments about his various investigations into the administration of Gov. Paul Patton, a Democrat who continues to spar with Chandler.

Republicans are using Patton's scandals as a major plank in their campaign platform. "Sometimes doing the right thing and doing your job hurts you, politically. It makes people mad," Chandler said.

"But it's obviously what you've got to do, what the public expects you do. It's what I've done as attorney general and auditor. And I've got the enemies to prove it."

Pence said one of his major roles as lieutenant governor will be to oversee Fletcher's involvement in law enforcement issues.

"I am personally going to be involved in law enforcement," Pence said.

"I told Ernie Fletcher I was not going to leave the U.S. Attorney's Office to go cut ribbons and be at opening ceremonies. I want to have a working position, and where I can best serve you is in terms of law enforcement. That's where I spent half of my professional career, prosecuting cases and working with law enforcement."

In a remark that drew sustained applause, Chandler - who spoke first - pledged to protect funding for the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund, which provides $1.4 million annually in salary supplements to law enforcement officers and firefighters who take advanced training.

There have been attempts by members of the General Assembly to raid some of the fund's money over the years.

Professing that "justice delayed is justice denied" Chandler promised "more state resources" to the Kentucky State Police crime labs, though he was not specific on a dollar amount.

"We have a situation now where folks have got to wait for months, whether they are police officers or prosecutors or even the victims of crimes, to have evidence analyzed by our state crime labs," Chandler said.

"The crime labs, in my view, have done a remarkable job with the staffs that they have.

"But additional resources are absolutely necessary, not only to expedite the evidence analysis process but to continue to improve our forensic science capabilities."

Pence talked at length about the plan he and Fletcher have to curb drug abuse and illegal selling of drugs, especially methamphetamine.

Last week the Fletcher-Pence campaign released a detailed plan to target the production and sale of methamphetamine. Meth is a stimulant that is easy - but dangerous - to produce using chemicals and other legally obtained materials.

Under the plan, known as Operation Speedway, 14 to 20 teams of law enforcement officers experienced in dealing with meth would be available to local departments. The teams would assist in helping bust, prosecute and eradicate the labs where meth is produced.

Many local departments lack the tools to combat the problem, Pence said.

The program would cost $1.5 million to $2 million annually, Pence said, and could be paid for by "prioritizing" the state budget.

"In my mind, the No. 1 concern of law enforcement right now remains ... drugs," Pence said.

While prevalent in western Kentucky, meth production and use will infiltrate the eastern part of the state "within months."

Chandler said as attorney general he helped develop a system to help track the illegal trafficking of prescription drugs such as Oxycontin. All prescriptions in Kentucky are tracked by a statewide database called the Kentucky All-Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting system.

Pence said he and Fletcher have a more defined approach to dealing with drugs, and that Chandler is relying on appointing a drug czar to oversee enforcement.

"We don't need another layer of bureaucracy," Pence said. "There's no reason the lieutenant governor can't do that job."

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com