The Peachtree City Police Department is preparing to assign one of its officers to the Drug Task Force operated by the Fayette County Sheriff's Department.

The approval of City Council is being sought and a decision is expected at Thursday night's regular council meeting.

The drug task force consists of not just Fayette sheriff's agents but also officers from the Fayetteville and Tyrone police departments.

In a memo to council, Peachtree City Police Chief H.C. "Skip" Clark said he was hoping to assign an officer to the task force "as soon as possible" pending council approval.

According to the memo, Peachtree City participated in the task force from 1992 to 1997 but withdrew "due to manpower constraints and other law enforcement priorities." The slot will be filled by a current police officer with no new hire proposed, according to the memo.

The DTF not only conducts undercover drug operations inside Fayette but also participates in large-scale operations in metro Atlanta with federal and other local drug-fighting agencies. Fayette County Sheriff Randall Johnson said that procedure helps cut off drugs which at that time are in another county but ultimately some of which will filter into Fayette for distribution.

An agreement is being proposed for approval between Peachtree City and the sheriff's office that would allow the police chief to recommend and request for drug investigations though "all decisions regarding investigations will be made by the sheriff" and the DTF commander or group supervisor.

The agreement also requires the establishment of an "advisory board" which will consist of the sheriff or his designee whom will serve as chairman and the chiefs of police or their designee. That board will meet at least quarterly and at any other time for any other purpose as asked by the sheriff.

The contract also provides that Peachtree City, like the other agencies participating on DTF, will get 20 percent of the financial assets (or proceeds from sold assets such as vehicles and homes) after the sheriff's department receives the first 35 percent.

Those funds given to the cities must be spent in conjunction with federal drug seizure laws which require the funds to be spent generally on equipment and training.