Steve Marshall holds annual law enforcement summit, honors fallen officers

On Tuesday, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall hosted nearly 900 law enforcement officials from across the state at the 19th annual Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Summit held at Frazer United Methodist Church in Montgomery.

Attorney General Marshall kicked off the summit by thanking the attendees and discussed challenges facing police officers, sheriff’s offices and state law enforcement officials.

“It is a great honor to serve as your Attorney General for the past 21 months and there is no job I would rather do than stand in support of you, the men and women who uphold the law and protect our communities,” Marshall said. “I am thankful for the invaluable assistance and cooperation we have received from law enforcement throughout Alabama. The teamwork exhibited on all levels of law enforcement is making a positive difference for Alabamians.”
Fallen police officers that lost their lives over the past year were honored at the event in a heartfelt presentation.

“We pause to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for public safety,” said Attorney General Marshall. “Let us all be encouraged as we remember and honor their legacy of commitment, dedication and service.”

Marshall also made mention of some of the recent activities his office took part in throughout the past year, noting that regional law enforcement training sessions, put on by his Investigations Division, were attended by 226 personnel from the Shoals to the Wiregrass. Included in the training sessions were 22 police departments, eight sheriff’s offices, and 11 other agencies.

Marshall’s office also participated in four federal, state and local violent crime operations which have removed more than 200 violent offenders with guns off the streets from the central Alabama River Region to the Gulf Coast.

Chief Jarrod Burguan of the San Bernardino Police Department in California spoke to the attendees about how law enforcement’s handling of a 2015 terrorist attack and the lessons learned from it.

Assistant Attorney General Michael Dean also spoke at the event on recent changes in Alabama’s criminal laws including updates about search and seizure laws. Douglas Astralaga, Chief Division Counsel for the Mobile Division of the FBI spoke on the issue of use of force and deadly force confrontations.

 

Officer Justin Taylor Billa, Officer Keith O’Neal Earle and Special Agent Gregory P. Fee were all highlighted for their service to the state of Alabama and to America.

 

@RealKyleMorris is a Yellowhammer News contributor and also contributes weekly to The Daily Caller