May 19, 2013
Police in Dothan and Troy are cracking down on bad guys with guns.
Local police are working with federal prosecutors to get the job done.
Local, state and federal law enforcement officials have joined forces in a new program to put armed and dangerous criminals on "ICE" (Isolate the Criminal Element).
The Dothan Police Department routinely confiscates guns from suspects. Now, criminals arrested for local offenses will also face federal weapons charges and serve at least 85 percent of their sentences if they're convicted.
Local law enforcement officers are receiving special training from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to help prosecute cases to the fullest.
Officials say 18 Alabama felons have already been indicted under the Alabama ICE Program, nine have been convicted and the rest are still awaiting trial.
The Alabama ICE Program has been in effect in Montgomery for a while and officials there say robberies have dropped by one-third and murders have been cut by 50 percent.
