Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force

The Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force (GCRFTF) is a law enforcement team made up of members of more than 60 federal, state, and local agencies. The task force, which is led by the U. S. Marshals Service's investigative service division, is one of six regional fugitive task forces overseen by the service. It was organized in July 2006 by Senators Richard Shelby of Alabama and Thad Cochran of Mississippi and is based in Birmingham.

One of its first high-profile arrests was Dedrick Griham, who was captured in West End two days after escaping from Staton Correctional Facility near Montgomery. In its first six months, the group has arrested 845 individuals in Mississippi and Alabama, including 53 wanted for murder, 59 for attempted murder, 60 wanted for rape, and 129 convicted sex offenders who failed to register at their place of residence.

Typically the task force goes into action at the request of a local law enforcement agency needing help making an arrest. It is able to operate outside the local agencies' jurisdictional paperwork and conduct its operations across municipal, county and state lines. It typically focusses on tracking suspects and making arrests rather than investigation and evidence gathering.

References

• Walton, Val (February 21, 2007) "Gulf Coast task force registers 845 arrests." Birmingham News.

External link

• Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force page at usmarshals.gov