PRESS RELEASE

Monday August 26, 2024

On August 22, 2024, Mayor Craig Ford notified the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Chairman, District Attorney Jody Willoughby, that the City of Gadsden was terminating their participation with the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit.

The Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit is a stand-a-long agency that supports all of the Communities, Municipalities and Townships within Etowah County in Narcotic Investigations.  The Unit was established in 2005 and has always been governed by a Board of Directors comprised of (5) members to include the District Attorney, Sheriff, Gadsden Police Chief, an additional participating Agency Police Chief and a Participating Agency Mayor. The current Members of the Board are the Chairman, District Attorney Jody Willoughby and Board Members: Sheriff Jonaton Horton, Gadsden Police Chief Lamar Jaggears, Hokes Bluff Mayor Scott Reaves and Glencoe Police Chief Kenon McKenzie. 

The funding and participation that is to be terminated by the City of Gadsden is funding and participation from the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit. The City of Gadsden does not provide any funding to the Etowah County Sheriff's Office. 

The Sheriff's Office is a participate within the Drug Enforcement Unit and will continue to support the Drug Enforcement Unit and Narcotics Investigations County Wide to benefit all the Citizens of Etowah County.  Gadsden's Participation and Funding has been greatly appreciated and will be greatly missed.  The Etowah County Sheriff's Office will strive to work with all entities in Etowah County to Keep it Safe and combat crime.