District Attorney Mike O’Dell, along with Sheriff Jeff Shaver, Centre Police Chief Kirk Blankenship, Cedar Bluff Police Chief Steve Walden, and Leesburg Police Chief Lanny Ransum, met on October 1st to sign an agreement to establish the Cherokee County Major Crimes Unit.
According to the agreement the Cherokee County Major Crimes Unit will be responsible for investigating crimes such as homicides, robberies, rapes, and serious assaults. Each Police Chief will assign an investigator to the Unit and the Sheriff will assign three investigators. The agreement appoints Chief Investigator Josh Summerford of the District Attorney’s Office to be the director of the new Unit.
Summerford said, “I am excited to be part of this team and I appreciate the Chiefs, the Sheriff, and the D.A. for giving me this opportunity.”
The establishment of the Unit will allow investigators from every law enforcement agency in the County to formally come together to investigate major crimes. Investigators will have the opportunity to be better prepared when those most horrible crimes occur. All the investigators assigned to the Major Crimes Unit will continue to do their normal duties in addition to being on the Unit.
Chief Ransum said, “I think bringing together resources from each agency will benefit all the municipalities, along with the entire County.”
Chief Blankenship echoed Ransum’s comments and said, “his investigators are excited to be part of the Unit.”
Sheriff Shaver said, “I believe the Unit will be a professional Unit that will help to solve major cases across the County to help victims and their families in the event that something terrible happens.”
Chief Walden said he, “is glad his department will be part of the Unit and glad to see this happen for Cherokee County.”
District Attorney O’Dell said, “I am very pleased and proud of the Sheriff and Police Chiefs for coming together to establish the Major Crimes Unit. I appreciate their cooperative spirit.”