COUNTY'S NEW UNIT READY FOR ACTION

Deputies train for special unit.  Dressed in black, they train for any possibility, including the serving of high risk search warrants, hostage situations or school shootings.  In the wake of September 11, the newly formed Tate County Entry Response Team ( ERT ) of the Tate County Sheriff's Department is preparing itself to handle situations outside their normal duties as law enforcement professionals.  The team, led by Investigator Kenny Laughter, was formed in November, 2003 under the leadership of Sheriff Shelton Ingram, who saw the need to have a specialized unit in place to assist the department's narcotics unit with high risk search warrants.  The team was chosen for their tactical skills including firearms, fitness and leadership skills.

Ingram recognized a growing drug threat in the county.  He stated that statistics show that the sale and use of illicit drugs is responsible for over 80 percent of all crime.  He realized that just because drug related crime is not reported does not mean that it is not present.

To help combat these problems, Ingram charged Laughter, a 12-year law enforcement veteran and former commander of the DeSoto County Metro Narcotics Unit with the task of organizing a narcotics unit for Tate County.

In his first year, Laughter sought prosecution of over 100 drug violators in the county.  He and the Tate County Narcotics Unit have been involved in several major investigations, including assisting the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration with the deconstruction of a major Mexican marijuana ring, which was operating in part in the Independence area.  Ingram stated that earlier this month, ERT assaulted the Tate County Courthouse in a mock hostage situation, much to the surprise of passersby.  "Once we explained what was going on, people were glad to see us preparing ourselves for this type of scenario," he said.