ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — If you’ve been out riding on one of Baldwin County’s interstates or major highways lately, chances are you’ve seen them.

They were out in full force on Memorial Day weekend, making nearly 600 traffic stops in a five-day period while focusing mainly on the Baldwin Beach Express, giving citations and warnings for a wide-variety of violations from speeding and reckless driving, driving with a suspended or revoked license to seat belt warnings and citations.

“We had no less than 10 deputies out at any one time over the weekend,” said Lt. Tony Nolfe. “Our main objective was to make our presence felt, to let people know we were out in full force to keep people safe over the busy weekend.”

While their main focus is to patrol Baldwin County’s two interstates, I-65 north from the Mobile County line and I-10 from Mobile east to the Florida state line, the Baldwin County Interstate Interdiction Task Force’s impact is felt throughout Baldwin County and beyond.

The task force falls under the BCSO’s Patrol Division, headed by Capt. John King, with Nolfe as second in command. The patrol division is split into four squads. At full strength each squad is comprised of 12 officers and headed by a patrol sergeant.

In addition the patrol division provides support for local police departments, including providing patrols in Magnolia Springs and assisting to support departments such as Silverhill and Summerdale with vacancies.

“At full strength we have a total of 58 patrol officers available to work cases in Baldwin County,” Nolfe said.

The task force operates independently under the Patrol Division, under the direction of patrol Sgt. Randy Younce and is comprised of six deputies from the Sheriff’s Department, along with two patrol officers from the Daphne Police Department, who work alongside deputies from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Department. The Saraland Police Department in Mobile County has also been a part of the task force, Nolfe said.

“Our main focus is Baldwin County, but we can be called in to assist Mobile County if needed and we can call on deputies in Mobile County to assist when needed,” Nolfe said.

While their main focus is interstate patrol, the task force can be called upon to help wherever they’re needed within the department, Younce said.

“We’ve been called on to help with everything from giving demonstrations in schools and other areas to providing protection for visiting dignitaries,” he said.

The task force has also assisted the U.S. Marshall’s office in tracking fugitives who cross into Baldwin County and with drug trafficking and other contraband transported between state lines.

The task force also provides support for the county’s School Resource Division, offering assistance in schools and for the annual BCSO Shining Star Camps, which began this week with the newest camp at Spanish Fort Middle School. Additional camps will be held June 29 through July 2 at Fairhope Intermediate, July 20-23 at Central Baldwin Middle School and Aug. 3-6 at Baldwin County High School.

“Each division within the Sheriff’s Department has its own specific task which it performs,” said Deputy Shane Robinson. “Our specific task is that we don’t have a specific area which makes us available to step in and respond wherever needed.”

Each officer assigned to the task force is an experienced officer who has proven to be self-motivated and willing to go the extra mile, Robinson said.

“All of these officers have received some type of commendation for going above and beyond the call of duty,” he said. “We are a very close-knit group and everyone here has a good attitude and a willingness to work to get the job done.”