Law enforcement agencies unite to form Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit in Montgomery
For months, Montgomery residents have been concerned about escalating crime throughout the city. Now, a new task force with officers from multiple law enforcement agencies is helping the Montgomery Police Department. A dozen law enforcement officials from federal, state, and local agencies came together Thursday to announce a new way that they’re trying to combat crime in the Capital City.
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said, “These people behind me, General Marshall, MPD, Sheriff Cunningham, ATF and the others are all on the same page about doing what’s right, getting this task force started and trying to make a difference. That’s what we want to do, make a difference.”
It’s called the Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit or MACS. Officials told us that on June 24, this new unit started training, and then they hit the streets of Montgomery for 12 days. In that time they made 413 traffic stops, arrested 49 people who were wanted for various charges, served 195 arrest warrants, and recovered 5 stolen vehicles. They also seized 33 firearms – 4 of those firearms were equipped with machine gun conversion devices known as switches.
Montgomery Interim Chief of Police James Graboys said, “Their combined efforts have made significant strides in reducing crime and ensuring our streets are safer for all residents. Their hard work, perserverence, coordination. They exemplify what different agencies can achieve when they work together towards a common goal.”
This is truly an unprecedented partnership, and officials said they felt it was necessary because of the shortage of police officers in the Capital City. They want people to feel safe going to work, going to school, and going about their day-to-day activities.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said, “Usually, ALEA and the Attorney General’s office are not involved in local violent crime initiatives. I can tell you this effort didn’t begin as a result of a phone call from city officials or even from the local police department. It was because we heard the citizens of Montgomery. We heard you demand that you needed to feel safe in this community, and we responded.”
Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham said, “Talk about this task force, we’re talking about a place that dwells inside of Montgomery County. So, I live here, I work here, my family lives here, so I’m committed for the long haul.” You may have noticed a helicopter flying around the Capitol City lately. That’s just one of the efforts by ALEA to have eyes in the air as well as on the ground.
