MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Gang Task Force has now expanded to cover Central Georgia.
At a press conference in Milledgeville Thursday morning, the GBI announced that it’s partnering up with local law enforcement agencies to go after street gangs.
It includes agencies like the Baldwin County Sheriff’ Office, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, Milledgeville Police, Eatonton Police, the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force and more.
People that we spoke to in the community like Benjamin Lewis support the idea due to crime. "Based on the number of drive-bys, I think that (crime) is an issue in the community," Lewis said.
Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee says the added support will hopefully make a safer community, " We had people shot at convenience stores, we had people at their grandmothers' house, and houses was just shot up, it scares people in our community, it scares the good people who live in our neighborhood and that is why we are trying to address it," Massee said
“The mission for the Gang Task Force is straightforward,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “Partner with our local agencies and go after criminal street gangs. Our team is confident in the work that has already been achieved by the locals. We are hoping that they can open up doors for us to fully disable these criminal networks.”
At the press conference, Reynolds said some agents will come to those counties and execute search warrants.
He hopes that having more manpower and other resources in counties will lead to more arrests and ultimately less violence.
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