Sheriff Eric Watson is pleased to announce the completion of Field Training for officers who will fill 18 newly created patrol and corrections positions within the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office. The new officers will assume their duties during a ceremony this Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Watson was able to hire the 18 new patrol and corrections officers without using new tax money. Upon taking office on Sep. 1, 2014, the Sheriff greatly reduced the number of supervisory and administrative positions previously in the department from 59 to 34, freeing up $863,000 to add the new positions and give 95 percent of deputies an increase in pay.
Sheriff Watson said, “Streamlining the top level of administrative and supervisory personnel has led to more officers on the roads of Bradley County and higher morale.
Those were two of my main goals upon taking office six months ago.”
Along with the ceremonies for the new officers, Sheriff Watson will also observe the retirements of two longtime members of the Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Brian McAmis and Mr. Tom Cawood.