Sheriff Tommy Jones refers to local drug dealers as "our guys" -- it shows the symbiotic relationship that often exists between criminals and law enforcement. A while back, Tommy's father Constable Tommy Jones Sr. was arrested by the TBI for sale of narcotics, see video below: he told the news reporter that he 'shouldn't comment' (although he did) and wasn't really worried, that the 'lawyer' would take care of it. Referring to local drug dealers as "our guys" suggests a few things about that symbiotic relationship.
Undercover 'drug buyers' or 'protected drug dealers/users' ...It may have been another 'slip of the tongue' and likely gone unnoticed by most--but it's a very incisive observation about the complex and often murky relationship that can exist between certain elements of law enforcement and the criminal underworld.
Maintaining Equilibrium (The "Devil You Know"): In some cases, authorities might prefer a known, somewhat predictable drug dealer (or low-level operator) over the chaos that could ensue if a power vacuum opened up, leading to turf wars or the entry of a more violent organization. They become "their guys" because they are part of a manageable, albeit illegal, status quo.
Corruption or Collusion: On the darkest end of the spectrum, the phrase could point to outright corruption, where officers are actively protecting or benefiting from the criminal enterprise.
Informant Network/Control: The phrase implies that these specific criminals are known and perhaps tolerated or even utilized as informants. Law enforcement might see them as "their guys" because they provide information on larger, more dangerous operations or rival criminal groups.
This kind of statement highlights the ethical gray areas and the practical realities that can challenge the idealized view of law enforcement simply eradicating crime. The "symbiotic" element is that the criminals (the dealers) provide a service (information, stability), and law enforcement provides a service (protection, tolerance) in return.