It’s been a whirlwind since Tyreece Miller was appointed and confirmed – in July 2020 – as a U.S. Marshall.
There was no difference Wednesday, when Miller visited the Old Country Store to give an overview of the history of the U.S. Marshals, while discussing their role in fugitive investigations, judicial security, protecting witnesses and handling prisioners.
“I also discussed Operation Volunteer Strong, which was an initiative we did in March where we rescued over 150 kids statewide,” Miller said, “It was a great operation and partnership between the Department of Children’s Services, the United States Marshals Service and TBI.”
‘Operation Volunteer Strong,’ began in the fall of 2020, with operation efforts launching on January 4.
After identifying 240 missing children statewide, TBI intelligence analysts compiled thorough information and potential leads on each, which designated law enforcement teams carefully pursued during two-week blitzes in each of Tennessee’s three grand regions.
• Authorities identified 82 missing children, of which 52 were recovered, three of them in other states.
• Of the 52 children recovered, authorities located 33 of them in the weeks leading up to the operation, 18 during the operation, and one after it concluded
• While searching for missing children, authorities located two adults with outstanding warrants.
• Law enforcement identified one of the recovered juveniles as a human trafficking victim, resulting in a still-active investigation by a Mississippi local law enforcement agency and FBI.
• Authorities safely recovered a child during an active kidnapping investigation, resulting in the arrest of the suspect.
Miller, a Marine Corp veteran, began working at the Jackson Police Department as a patrol officer in 1997, before becoming Deputy Chief in 2016 – said the townhall meeting at the Old Country Store was his first in this capacity.
“It’s something I want to do,” Miller said, “I come from a community-oriented policing background, and I believe in being a part of the community … serving in the community, and that’s why I’m here.
Miller said a U.S. Marshall has no jurisdiction, so they can travel anywhere in the country.
“Including international investigations – where we have some fugitives wanted outside the United States,” Miller said, “We also work with Interpol – the International Criminal Police Organization – so if someone is wanted by another country and they are living here in the United States, we work to deliver them to their country of origin.
“It’s serving – just on a grander scale.
“I may be a U.S. Marshal, but I’m still Tyreece Miller, born and raised in Jackson, Tennessee, worked 23 years in the Jackson Police Department.”
(PHOTO: Tyreece Miller, U.S. Marshal, right, visits with Tom Mapes, public information officer, Madison County Sheriff’s Office)
