CITY LAW ENFORCEMENT, SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL AND STATE AID AND SOPHISTICATED CRIME FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, HAS SUCCESSFULLY DRIVEN MANY CRIMINAL ELEMENTS FROM THE URBAN CENTERS INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE WHERE ILLEGAL OPERATIONS ARE SAFER. TO MEET THE CHALLENGE, A REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COUNCIL IN MICHIGAN'S NORTH COUNTRY AND 14 COUNTIES SURROUNDING THE URBAN CENTERS OF SAGINAW AND BAY CITY IS HELPING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES OBTAIN FUNDING, AND COORDINATE, PLAN, AND IMPLEMENT THEIR EFFORTS. ONE CONTRIBUTION TO RURAL POLICE EFFICIENCY IS THE MOBILE CRIME FIGHTING UNIT, A CRIME LAB ON WHEELS DESIGNED TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT EVIDENCE. ANOTHER AID IN COMBATING RURAL CRIME IS IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS; SEVERAL COUNTIES SHARE A CENTRAL POLICE DISPATCH NETWORK WITH SPECIALLY TRAINED OPERATORS. IN ONE COMMUNITY, CITIZEN GROUPS HELPED FINANCE THE REFURBISHING OF GOVERNMENT SURPLUS HELICOPTERS FOR THEIR SHERIFF'S USE. A COORDINATION FOR RUNAWAY YOUTH PROJECT DETERS RUNAWAYS FROM TURNING TO CRIME. SPECIALIZED POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED BY LOCAL COLLEGES. JAIL FACILITY IMPROVEMENT, INMATE REHABILITATION AND PROBATION, AND SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAMS ALSO HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN. THE EXISTENCE OF AN UNDERCOVER NARCOTICS UNIT FURTHER ILLUSTRATES COOPERATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN RURAL AND METROPOLITAN LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.