Tourney will benefit fallen interdiction officers

By Kay S. PedrottiThey work under the radar, almost anonymously, because of the dangers of their jobs. They are interstate drug interdiction officers who now have an organization to help those killed or injured in the line of duty.Lt. Chad Payne of the Lamar County sheriff’s office said the National Criminal Enforcement Association was formed in 1999 after the death of officer Robbie Bishop, killed on Interstate 20 while working for the Villa Rica police. The organization has about 6,000 members, about 30% of whom are from Georgia, said Payne.NCEA is sponsoring a statewide golf tournament Wednesday Aug. 21 in Macon benefitting the NCEA Fallen and Distressed Officer Fund, Payne said. The event begins at 1 p.m. at the Oakview Golf and Country Club, 128 Oakview Club Dr.’Last year we lost four officers nationwide,’ Payne said. ‘That was a blow. We flew their families to our annual conference in Tulsa to honor the officers.’Families of officers killed in the line of duty receive a $1,500 benefit from NCEA. If resources are available, Payne said, ‘We’ll give more benefits to the spouses of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.’The local interdiction team last year received three national awards at the annual conference. One was for the most guns confiscated on traffic stops, Payne noted.To register for the four-man team tourney, limited to 20 teams, pick up an application from LCSO communications director Suzanne Cooper at her courthouse office or register online at ncea314.com. Deadline to register is Aug. 11; brochures may be printed from the website and checks made out to NCEA and mailed to the address on the brochure, 152 Woody Road, Jackson Ga. 30233.Sponsorships are gold, $2,000; blue, $1,200; team, $300; and hole, $150. First place pays $1,000. Second and third places also receive prizes, along with closest to the hole, longest drive and putting contest winner. The prize for a holein- one is a 2013 Acura.Also featured are shirts, goody bags, food and drink bags, food and drink.