March 2023 Blues Vol 39 No. 3

STREET CRIMES UNITS The

STREET CRIMES UNITS The Right Stuff for Sure. was created in July 2021 and currently consists of fourteen members who are required to wear body cameras. This Unit is a crime suppression team that focuses specifically on violent offenders. The FCSO SCORPION Unit is responsible for providing proactive interdiction in areas of the county experiencing a high number of violent gun related crimes, street level narcotics crimes and gang activity. Another primary intent is to work alongside police patrols throughout the 15 cities within Fulton County. Named for the stinger-tailed, venomous predator, the Scorpion Team utilizes deputies to bolster Atlanta Police Department and other local agency patrols amid a surge in violent crime. The Unit is called the Scorpion Team because, similar to the scorpion in the arthropod species that stings its predators when it is threatened, their crime suppression team is defending those who live, work, and play in Fulton County against violent criminals who threaten public safety. As for the name, FCSO focused on the scorpion’s defensive use of its stinger rather than its prey-poisoning utility. “The crime suppression team, which was named the Scorpion Team, will go out on a daily basis and search for those who mean us no good,” Labat said in a brief mention of the idea at a Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods meeting. “… The best way for me to put it is, we’re going to stalk the stalkers.” As part of its mission, the FCSO SCORPION Unit is also tasked with identifying crime patterns, repeat offenders and deploying all legal resources available to arrest criminal perpetrators. Despite challenges, the staff members have risen to every occasion to self-evaluate, adapt external professional recommendations, and improve. IMPENDING NAME CHANGE AND RE-EVALUATION The release of bodycam footage showing Memphis Police officers beating Tyre Nichols has prompted the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to consider a name change and a thorough review of the unit. Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts said he is not convinced a name change alone will make a difference. “I know there is an effort to change the name, but from my perspective a rose is a rose no matter what you call it so unless there’s a change in training and by training I mean not only the physical training but the psychological training as well and new policing tactics, whatever that means, all of the results will be the same,” Pitts said. Labat and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office have been very public in the condemnation of the events in Memphis. The FCSO posted in a recent press release, “In light of the indisputable fact that the heinous actions of the officers in Memphis have cast dishonor and suspicion on the title SCORPION, Sheriff Patrick Labat believes it would be wise for all agencies with SCORPION units to take proactive steps to protect and build even stronger bonds of trust with the communities we serve. After the nefarious and depraved actions that led to Tyre Nichols’ death, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is one of many agencies considering a name change for our elite unit.” Labat has also stated that while a name change is important, more is needed, “The executive leadership team is reviewing operations and training protocols. Any additional changes warranted will be implemented with the goal of strengthening our commitment to our mission and serving the citizens of Fulton County with integrity, transparency, and honor.” On the other hand, retired Lt. Charles Rambo believes crime fighting units are vital to keeping communities safe. “We must get back to the fact of constitutionally based policing practices and the fourth amendment because everything that we do incident to a search, seizure or arrest must be backed up by reasonable expectations to privacy,” Rambo said. Rambo worked for the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office for 28 years and trained members of their Scorpion unit. He noted the importance of leadership and cultivating a proper culture. “Units have to be supervised by those supervisors and managers that are not afraid of culture. They must be able to stand up and step up and say that when something is not constitutionally in place this is not going to be tolerated because now, you are going to discredit the unit,” Rambo said. 50 The BLUES The BLUES 51