DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — Commander Jim Phillips spoke with cadets majoring in criminal justice at Marion Military Institute about his time in law enforcement.
Phillips is the commander of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics and Criminal Interdiction Unit. His presentation for the cadets covered a wide range of law enforcement topics, drawing from his experience during his career and current trends impacting Alabama and the nation.
Phillips spoke candidly with students about the highs and lows of his law enforcement career, Alabama state laws and pressing issues such as illegal drugs and the evolving threat of fentanyl.
He emphasized the deadly consequences fentanyl continues to pose and the rate at which it is being found in communities across the county.
“We pride ourselves not only in enforcement, but in education,” Phillips said. “Our unit is relentless in the fight against drugs and human trafficking, but we also recognize the power of prevention. Talking to young adults and students about the real dangers of illegal narcotics is just as important as any arrest we make.”
Phillips thanked MMI for the opportunity to speak with future leaders in criminal justice and law enforcement.
“Each chance we get to speak to younger generations is a chance to stop the spread of poison that is being brought into this country and distributed across our state,” he said. “It was truly an honor to speak to the cadets at MMI.”
Phillips also expressed gratitude to DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden for his ongoing support.
“Sheriff Welden has empowered our unit to do more than just make arrests – he’s allowed us to educate, to lead, and to make a lasting impact in our communities,” Phillips said.
Welden commended Phillips for his work and said MMI couldn’t have picked a better person to speak to its cadets.
“They couldn’t have chosen a better person to speak with these students,” Welden said. “Jim is highly knowledgeable in his field and also possesses the ability in conveying this knowledge to his audience. He has such a passion for his job, and it shows in everything he does.”
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