A regional joint training session involving personnel from the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama National Guard Counter Drug Program was held at the Chilton County Airport on Wednesday.

The purpose of the training was to establish a working relationship with assets readily available to Chilton County law enforcement provided by the Alabama National Guard Counter Drug Program, according to a release from the Chilton County Sheriff’s Department.

The training consisted of safety protocols and familiarization required in the utilization of the aviation asset in the deployment of law enforcement tactical and other personnel that may need to quickly respond to a critical incident anywhere in Chilton County.

This is the first time the sheriff’s office and the Alabama National Guard Counter Drug Program have conducted this training.

“It will be an ongoing developmental training, and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office personnel will receive annual certifications to participate with the Alabama National Guard Counter Drug Program,” the release said.

The ability to expand outside Chilton County provides the opportunity to obtain the “valuable training” and to utilize this asset available to the sheriff’s office at no cost to the county, according to the release.

Many other state and federal resources are being explored to assist in law enforcement operations in Chilton County.