Three law enforcement officers from Crenshaw County were honored Friday, April 20, by the U.S. Justice Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Attorney's Office for assisting in the prosecution of multiple people under the Isolating the Criminal Element, or &#8220ICE,” initiative since the program began.

Crenshaw County investigators Robin Daniels and Ronnie White and Luverne Police Department's David Sankey were recognized at the special reception held in Montgomery.

The ICE project is an initiative to combat gun violence. The U. S. Attorney's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms started it in 2001.

The Alabama ICE project began in 2002. It calls for maximum federal penalties to be imposed on convicted felons, violent offenders, drug offenders and others found to be in possession of guns.

ATF agent Michael Durham, who oversees the Montgomery field office, said the ICE project has significantly increased the number of gun cases being tried in the Middle District of Alabama federal court.

The ATF has submitted 289 gun cases to the U.S. Attorney's office in the past two years, Durham reported. Those cases were primarily drug users and convicted felons who were found with firearms.

Before the ICE project began, the ATF averaged about 37 gun cases a year for this district. Now, they are averaging 120 to 140.

This initiative could mean longer sentences and generally no chance for probation or parole.

Crenshaw County Sheriff Charles West said that he was very proud of all of the hard work that had been put into this program for the county.