Two members of the District 27 District Attorney’s Drug Task Force received regional and state awards for their efforts on the war on drugs at the Association of Oklahoma Narcotics Enforcers Annual Training Conference and Banquet held at the Cherokee Hard Rock Casino Resort in Catoosa Thursday evening.

Sequoyah County Assistant District Attorney Kyle Waters was named the State of Oklahoma Prosecutor of the Year for 2008-2009 by the Association of Oklahoma Narcotics Enforcers.

Drug Task Force Agent Christopher Grizzle was named Regional Investigator of the Year for 2008-2009 by the Association of Oklahoma Narcotics Enforcers. Agent Grizzle won the Regional Award for Region 2, which is the northeastern portion of the state. There are five state regions.

“These awards are quite an accomplishment and it says a lot about the hard work and the dedication that these two individuals have in the important work that they do. I am so proud of both of them,” District Attorney Jerry Moore said.

WATERS

Kyle Waters has been an assistant district attorney in Sequoyah County for the District 27 District Attorney’s Office for a little over five years. His peers said Waters has become the go-to guy in District 27 when it comes to drug-related cases as a result of the strong working relationships that he has developed with law enforcement agencies in the area.

In his nomination, Waters’ peers noted law enforcement officers know that if they have a question they can contact Waters at any time, day or night, for assistance. In addition, Waters many times assists law enforcement agencies on scene with legal questions. Waters has spent many hours of his personal time speaking with and riding with officers in order to bridge the gap between the street and the courtroom.

As a result, Waters is greatly respected by area law enforcement officers as a prosecutor who understands what officers are dealing with out on the street.

While Waters is an assistant district attorney assigned to Sequoyah County, in December 2008, he was assigned to be the District Asset Forfeiture Prosecutor to oversee the forfeitures in the four counties-Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah, and Wagoner-in District 27.

GRIZZLE

Christopher Grizzle has been a District Task Force Agent (DTF) with the District 27 District Attorney’s Drug Task Force since June 2007. Less than 30 days prior to his start date with the Drug Task Force, he was serving his country as a member of the 1-180th Infantry Bravo Company (Poteau) in Afghanistan. Grizzle was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, as well as other honors, for his service in Afghanistan.

In March 2008, Grizzle began an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine by a group of Hispanics in Cherokee County. In the course of the investigation, Grizzle made hand-to-hand purchases of methamphetamine totaling 3 ounces from one of the suspects. The investigation ultimately led to the execution of four search warrants resulting in three arrests and the seizure of 15 firearms and two vehicles

Grizzle, as second-generation narcotics agent, has shown his loyalty, drive, and determination in both his military life and in his service to the citizens of District 27 as a DTF Agent.