Demopolis votes to fund three-county Major Crimes Unit Task Force

The Demopolis City Council has agreed to support a three-county Major Crimes Task Force that was formed in November.

At their Aug. 6 meeting, the council voted to give the task force $5,000 now and another $5,000 after the next fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and every year thereafter.

Rachel England, district attorney for the 17^th Judicial Circuit, told the city council that the unit brings together city police departments, sheriff’s offices and DA investigators in Greene, Marengo and Sumter counties under a unified umbrella to tackle violent crime and complex investigations.

The task force, composed of approximately two dozen officers, is designed to overcome the challenges of operating in rural communities where limited funding and long distances often hinder rapid response and resource sharing.

Deputizing officers across county lines enables cooperation and faster deployment in major crime investigations, England said.

The task force showed its value when the body of a Marengo County resident was found in Greene County, she said. The task force would be vital if there were a mass casualty event in any of the three counties, according to England.

The funds will be used for training, equipment and supplies, England said.