Inside the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Task Force - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

They're requested by local law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend fugitives wanted for violent crimes.

"That's all we do is arrest fugitives," U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Task Force Inspectory Supervisor Scott Sides said.

They're on the ground along other agencies on searches, including the two recent high profile ones in our area.

"There were approximately 18 investigators that came down from Birmingham to assist with those cases," Sides said.  

They are the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force; Under the Investigative Operations Division of the U.S. Marshals.

"Congress created these regional task forces by the Presidential Threat Protection act in 2000 and in 2002, the Marshals Services started establishing these regional task forces," Sides said.

This task force was established in July 2006.

"We don't do drugs, we don't do terrorism, we just do fugitives," Sides said.

The force covers Alabama, Mississippi, Eastern Louisiana and Western Tennessee and is headquarted in Birmingham.

"We work very closely with the deputy marshals from the district office," Sides said.

there are four offices in the state, including Montgomery.

The Montgomery office is comprised of law enforcement officers from 11 agencies, including the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, Alabama Department of Corrections, Montgomery Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, Macon County Sheriff's Department, Alex City Police Department, Alabama Beverage Control Board, Dothan Police Department, Houston County Sheriff's Department, Coffee County Sheriff's Department, and Elmore County Sheriff's Department.

"We have fugitive investigators that cover every piece of dirt in the country," Sides said.

Here are some recent arrest statistics for the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force.

In the first 8 months of fiscal year 2010, there were 3,288 fugitive arrests and over 4,675 warrants closed.

"We actually arrest, physical arrests, putting on people anywhere from 800-1,000 in the Montgomery office," Sides said.

Sides says working with other agencies is a critical part of these successful captures.

Montgomery also has the U.S. Marshals office for the Middle District of Alabama which has some separate duties from the task force, like assisting with the Adam Walsh Sex Offender investigations, court security for the federal courts, and witness protection. Deputies from the district office also worked along side with the task force during these last two murder cases.

For more information the U.S. Marshals Service, Middle District of Alabama visit http://www.usmarshals.gov/

For more information on the U.S. Marshals Service, visit http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/al-m/

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