[Montgomery, Alabama] Under the direction of Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier, and in partnership with legacy agency heads, law enforcement investigative efforts for the State of Alabama are now collectively working together with a focused and unified mission as the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) Task Force. Additionally, Gene Wiggins, chief of the Agricultural and Rural Crimes Unit (ARCU), has been appointed commander. SBI now operates under a singular chain of command and structure enabling statewide investigations to be more cohesive and comprehensive. “My objective in forming the SBI Task Force prior to the Jan. 1, 2015, implementation date of Act 2013-67 which consolidates state law enforcement, is to allow state investigators to focus on the overall mission of the agency and to alleviate the constraints of individual legacy agency missions,” Secretary Spencer Collier of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said. “SBI is divided into two main divisions – Major Crimes and Narcotics. Over the past several weeks, this task force model has proven effective as we combine resources to investigate and assist in investigations including the DEA’s Project Synergy synthetic drug bust and the horrific Timothy Ray Jones murder case.” In addition, Chief Gene Wiggins, has been appointed commander of SBI. Wiggins has almost three decades of law enforcement experience including 18 years at the legacy agency, Alabama Department of Public Safety. “The decisions we make today will impact state law enforcement now and in the years to come,” Commander Wiggins said. “As ARCU Chief, I witnessed firsthand how statewide investigations can become more effective by collaborating at the state level and with our local and federal partners. I am excited and honored to be an integral part of the team charged with shaping Alabama’s law enforcement.” Commander Wiggins will assume the statutory position of SBI Director on January 1, 2015. -30- The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was created by Act 2013-67 and represents the consolidation and realignment of 12 state law enforcement agencies/functions into one entity. ALEA is currently in a transition period, and upon full implementation on January 1, 2015, will be responsible for the functions and missions of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, Department of Public Safety, Alabama Bureau of Investigation, Fusion Center, Criminal Justice Information Center, Marine Police, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Enforcement, Department of Revenue Enforcement, Forestry Commission Investigations, Agricultural and Industry Investigations, Public Service Commission Enforcement, and Office of Prosecution Service Computer Forensics Lab.

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