The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office cleared a record number of cases in 2007 as compared to previous years, officials said.

Sheriff Tim Gobble said he attributes it "to the hard work and dedication of the patrol and criminal investigations divisions."

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s annual Crime in Tennessee report is prepared from data that is submitted by BCSO through the year. It shows the sheriff’s office cleared 1,717 cases, the most since the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS) was established in 2000.

Going along with the increase in cases the sheriff’s office solved was a significant increase in arrests. In 2007 the department made 3,068 arrests for major criminal offenses, an 8% increase from 2006 and the first time it has gone over 3,000.

Overall, Sheriff Gobble said he was pleased with the report "because it shows the programs and initiatives he has introduced are having a positive impact on crime."

He said, “The patrol and criminal investigations divisions have done a tremendous job of working together to develop leads, interview witnesses, and identify possible suspects. They work closely with the Crime Scene Unit to apply 21st century technology to the collection, documentation, and analysis of evidence."

In 2007 there were a total of 3,614 offenses, which gave BCSO a clearance rate of 47.51 percent.

“A clearance rate of almost 50% is a phenomenal accomplishment. Bradley County is approximately 17 % above the national average with this clearance rate,” Sheriff Gobble said.

Under TIBRS guidelines cases can be cleared when an arrest is made or when outside factors beyond the control of a deputy prevent an arrest from being made.

“With the explosive growth we have experienced in Bradley some increase in crime rates are to be expected,” the sheriff said.

“Growth dictates the need to have more personnel to respond to the documented increase in calls for service. This held true in 2007 as the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office answered a record number of calls which increased from 82,000 in 2006 to 112,000 in 2007. As the population of Bradley County continues to increase the number of calls requiring a law enforcement response will continue to climb,” Sheriff Gobble commented.

TIBRS and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation classify Group A offenses into one of three categories - Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Property, and Crimes Against Society.

“In 2007 the BCSO increased arrests for Crimes Against Persons over 2006 by 15.60%, Crimes Against Property arrests increased by 21.37% and Crimes Against Society arrests increased by 44.71%,” Sheriff Gobble noted.

The report shows 100% of homicides that were committed in 2007 were solved.

Looking at property crimes, Sheriff Gobble said he is proud of their success reducing burglaries countywide by 32.81% over 2006.

Sheriff Gobble said, “This was accomplished by putting more of our existing deputies on the road patrolling, deterring and responding to crime.”

The sheriff said in addition, changing the lab to a crime scene investigation unit has helped solve a number of cases. Access to the FBI’s database lets fingerprint technicians check prints for identification much faster than sending them off to a TBI or FBI lab, so cases can be solved more quickly.

He said, "Those who commit burglary for financial gain have no boundaries, so jurisdictional lines mean nothing. Last year our detectives worked with the Walker County, Ga., Sheriff’s Office and other agencies in that state to break up a two-state theft ring. The investigation resulted in the recovery of several stolen vehicles including All Terrain Vehicles, trailers, and a cargo van with a combined value in excess of $100,000.

“In another investigation our detectives developed leads that solved 47 burglaries from Cleveland to Knoxville. We cleared five cases here and allowed Knox County to clear over 30 open investigations.”

The BCSO reduced motor vehicle thefts in Bradley County by 23.86% in 2007 and made 23 arrests for motor vehicle theft offenses, helping to protect your property and keep auto insurance rates low.

In the category of Crimes Against Society, narcotics-related arrests jumped from 164 in 2006 to 302 in 2007, an increase of 45.69%, getting more drugs and drug pushers off the street.

Arrests for weapon law violations increased 33% over the previous year.

Sheriff Gobble said, "The sheriff’s office remains committed to getting guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals.

“Through our participation in Project Safe Neighborhoods, a partnership between BCSO and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we are getting armed career criminals off the street and in prison where they cannot prey on the law-abiding citizens of this county.

“Many of these people have used the state prison system as a revolving door, and they are finding that in the Federal system they pay for gun crimes with lengthy prison sentences.”

BCSO continues to work with local merchants to reduce losses due to shoplifting. During 2007 arrests for shoplifting were up 55.55% over 2006.

Domestic violence arrests also increased from 329 in 2006 to 372 in 2007, a 12% increase. CID has a designated domestic violence investigator.

Finally, BCSO made 184 DUI arrests in 2007, up from 146 in 2006, this represents a 21% increase in getting dangerous drunk drivers off the roads.

“I am proud of the accomplishments of the dedicated men and women of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and thank them for their hard work. At the BCSO when we say protect and serve we mean it,” Sheriff Gobble said.