South MS Metro Enforcement Team Works to Fight Drugs

Nearly 40% of cases presented to the Jackson County grand jury are drug crimes. The South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team is responsible for bringing many of those cases in.

Nine hundred and seventy five drug crimes were brought to the Jackson County grand jury in 2013. That number does not include drug driven crimes, such as stealing property or crimes of violence. Jackson County District Attorney, Tony Lawrence, says in total, about 85% of the county’s crimes stem from drugs. That’s where the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team steps in, a county wide task force dedicated to getting drugs off our streets. Kenny Johnson, Pascagoula Police Chief, says, "It’s a war every day. Every time we take a drug dealer off the street, there’s another one to take his place."

The South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team is not going after the everyday drug dealer. They’re gunning for the larger dealers and suppliers, taking their supply off the street and landing them in court. Lawrence also says, "We’re looking for the guy who’s feeding the addictions of people. When we see someone who has an addiction, we always try to solve that addiction problem and we want to go after the person who feeds that addiction. So they try to work their way up and they work their way up and it’s tough work."

These investigations take time and resources, which is why having the entire county contribute is important. In 2012, the county was divided when Pascagoula, Moss Point, and Gautier split from the Narcotics Task Force of Jackson County. The separation was sparked by the scandal involving former Sheriff, Mike Byrd. Since then, the Metro Enforcement Team has rekindled its relationship with the Sheriff’s Department and is happy with the way things are progressing. Johnson also says, "The Sheriff’s indicated that he wants to put some more people there and certainly realizes the need for having a drug unit expanded in the county."

Sheriff Mike Ezell wants to be a part of that progress. Ezell closes, "You know, the Met Team is very hard working dedicated folk. We’ll commit resources and help them any way we can with resources, training, assets, anything they need."

In the New Year, the Metro Enforcement Team is looking to expand its unit so it can dedicate more officers to fighting the drug problem.