NEW UNIT FIGHTS DRUG WAR

Funding cuts are becoming a common occurrence, but the Brewton Police
Department has taken bad news and turned it into good news for the
residents of the city.

Since Sept. 1, the Brewton Police Department has been operating a
two-man unit with full focus on drug crimes, and is having some
success in curbing some of the illegal activities.

"Federal funding cuts that hit the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force
caused them to have to cut back on agents," Brewton Police Chief Monte
McGougin said. "We certainly didn't want to lose any ground on the war
against drugs in Brewton. That's why we felt it was necessary to
establish the Brewton Narcotics Unit."

McGougin said the promotion of Bryan Davis to the position of
commander for the unit was a good move for the department.

"Davis is an asset to the department in everything he does," McGougin
said. "I have no doubt he is the best person for the job."

Davis, who holds the rank of sergeant with the Brewton Police
Department, is glad to be focusing on drug activity in the city. That
focus is leading to arrests regularly, he said.

"We have worked over 40 drug related cases with several arrests
already," Unit Commander Bryan Davis said. "We have made several
arrests and have more pending. We will be presenting some cases to the
grand jury in their next term and fully expect to have more arrests
come out of that term."

Davis said he is confident his partner in the unit is just as anxious
to end drug activity in Brewton as he is.

"Sgt. Jason Yoder is the other agent in our unit right now," Davis
said. "We are both committed to working cases and getting drugs off
the streets of Brewton."

Davis said citizens of Brewton could be of great help to the
unit.

"We are always asking for the citizens of Brewton to help us out in
the war against drugs," Davis said. "Anyone that has any information
concerning illegal drug activity can give us a call and we will follow
up on the information. We want the streets of our community to be safe
for everyone."