Interstate Criminal Enforcement Unit
The Byron Police Department Interstate Criminal Enforcement (ICE) Unit was established in 2009, upon receipt of a grant award. The ICE Unit is made up of two uniformed police officers who have received extensive formalized training and specialize in various types of criminal investigations. Each officer has been assigned Belgian Malinois K-9 partners. These very valuable and highly trained K-9s are nationally certified in detecting narcotics.
The ICE Unit routinely makes contact with major criminals while performing daily traffic enforcement and involve both passenger and commercial class vehicles. Through the use of professional roadside tactics and techniques, these officers have the knowledge and skill necessary to recognize indicators of suspicious terrorist/criminal activity as they interact with these subjects, who are most vulnerable while in transit.
The officers often assist other units within the department, as many investigations overlap in the areas they cover. Narcotics investigations are continuous, and the unit is fortunate to have established professional working relationships with the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Marshals Office, the United States Secret Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and other state and local agencies. The ICE unit officers respond to other agencies' requests for assistance due to their skill and training.
The ICE Unit has the resources necessary to respond quickly and professionally to assist their local area. Each patrol vehicle assigned in the ICE Unit is equipped with state of the art equipment, such as speed detection devices, LIDAR (laser), detection tools, mobile data terminals, and digital cameras.
The officers assigned to the Unit are required to participate in educational and community awareness programs throughout the year. These programs consist of presentations to heighten awareness of the negative effects of drugs and alcohol abuse to the student bodies of local Peach County middle and high schools. Duties also include participating in safety fairs hosted by civic organizations and delivering presentations, as requested.
During holiday seasons, the ICE Unit officers are required to participate in specialized patrols. These patrols, commonly referred to as "task forces," operate under adjusted hours and crack down on the impaired and dangerous drivers. It is these drivers who place hundreds of innocent lives in peril every year. These task forces will hold joint road checks and combined concentrated patrols on connecting Interstate, Georgia highways, and city streets throughout our jurisdiction during these holiday periods. The Traffic unit also participates in traffic enforcement events sponsored by the Governors Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), as well as those hosted by other rural neighboring cities. Education and law enforcement must work hand-in-hand if we are to be successful in reducing the number of serious injury and fatal motor vehicle crashes on our roadways.
These officers are the "eyes and ears" of our community, as well as this Nation. The sale of illegal drugs has been directly linked to numerous terrorist organizations throughout the world. It is vital to our local and national security interests, since the drug/terrorist problem in America is so prolific and such a threat to the American public that it warrants our complete attention.