Three CPD detectives deputized as U.S. Marshals
Three Columbia police detectives are now deputized U.S. Marshals.
It’s part of a nationwide effort to encourage multiple law enforcement agencies to work together.
Lieutenant Eric Hughes heads up the Street Crimes Unit and said this means better resources for local crime.
“Anytime we can partner with other agencies, it’s a benefit to us,” Hughes said. “We can share resources, we can share information and we can all work together to bring someone to justice.”
Because these three detectives have powers that federal law enforcement has, they have access to some better equipment that can aide in investigations.
Not only that, they can call on other agencies in the task force for help.
“Anytime we are looking for someone who is a fugitive, we can call them up and use their resources to help find them,” Hughes said.
In January, Jimiah Lambert was a suspect wanted for the murder of Dontay Tolston. He was later arrested in New Orleans.
Hughes used that case as an example of how U.S. Marshals can help with fugitives who flee the city’s jurisdiction.
“Through this partnership that we have with them, we were able to call them and say we’ve got information that this is where he is, can you help us get him and they helped us out,” he said.
In 2013, U.S. Marshals arrested 110,252 fugitives nationwide. 74,200 of those arrests were state or local cases, according to the Department of Justice website. The arrests included 4,075 homicide suspects and 5,038 suspected gang members.
“We think it’s a great thing for the community,” Hughes said. “We’re going to target some high end fugitives that need to be apprehended- some of the people who are causing some of the issues we’re having in Columbia.”
Hughes said this won’t take away from Columbia’s resources as far as street patrol if those three detectives get called on to help other agencies.
He said Columbia’s mission always comes first, but if times are slow, those detectives will go help other agencies in mid-Missouri.
Two more detectives at the Columbia Police Department will become deputized U.S. Marshals next month.
