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Ocala
Friday, March 29, 2024

Ocala Police captain earns prestigious award for success of specialty drug task force

Capt. Corey Taylor

Ocala Police Capt. Corey Taylor was honored with a special award Thursday night during a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Taylor, who serves as commander of the multi-agency Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), was presented with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas award for Outstanding Task Force Commander of the Year. He is the first law enforcement officer from Florida to receive the prestigious award.

Taylor, who was born and raised in Ocala, has been with the police department for close to 20 years. He has experience as a patrol officer, K-9 officer, road unit supervisor, bike unit member, watch commander and district commander. He assumed leadership of UDEST in February 2017.

Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham also spoke at the banquet about his department’s amnesty program for those addicted to opioids. Graham also addressed other efforts that are being undertaken to combat the opioid crisis in Ocala and throughout Marion County.

Ocala Police Capt. Corey Taylor is congratulated by Robert Peryam, director of the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.

UDEST is an initiative of the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. It is comprised of local, state and federal law enforcement from the Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security.
Taylor’s UDEST squad has been quite in the past year. Some of their arrests have included: