by Sheriff Tim Gobble
posted August 21, 2008
I have reached the midway point of my first term as Bradley County sheriff and last week I began listing Part 1 of the BCSO's Progress Report (you can review last week's column at: www.bradleysheriff.com). This week, I will continue with Part 2.
In two budget years, the BCSO's efforts have brought in over $8 million to the county, significantly offsetting the cost of county law enforcement operations. When I took office, the BCSO funding constituted 41 percent of the County General Fund and now we are only utilizing 40 percent. Keep in mind that, according to a CTAS presentation to the Sheriffs' Association, most county sheriff's offices across the state will use an average of 50 percent of the General Fund. By using any amount less than 50 percent, we are demonstrating just how well the BCSO is managed. In fact, our management team has saved over $600,000 in budgeted money in the last two budget years and this savings has been returned to the taxpayers.
We have instituted a physical fitness training program for employees to help them do a better job of protecting themselves and you.
We have instituted an innovative Special Deputy Church Protection Program to assist churches who may desire additional protection against the possibility of armed attack.
We have continued to enhance and support our School Resource Officer Program. When I took office, there were three schools that did not have an SRO assigned. By managing our resources more effectively, we now have one SRO assigned to each Bradley County school without any increase in overall manpower.
We have installed new technology to better protect our courts and are protecting a record number of court sessions in three different locations with no additional personnel or funding.
When I took office the number of unserved outstanding warrants were at record high levels and by utilizing both our Judicial Services Division and Patrol Division, we have reduced this backlog to more manageable levels. This has helped generate record levels of revenue being brought into the County Court Clerks Office and, in turn, the county.
We have instituted an annual Sheriff's Family Day where we bring together all areas of our community for a family-friendly day of free food, entertainment, exhibits, games and much more to promote a number of anti crime and anti drug initiatives.
We have instituted one of the most stringent hiring processes in the area by utilizing pre employment testing, enhanced background investigations, the most uncompromising drug policy in the area and mandatory polygraph examinations.
We are in our second year of pursuing CALEA accreditation, which when achieved will place the BCSO among the nation's top professionally recognized law enforcement agencies. The jail also remains TCI certified, which is a testament to the professional operation and conduct of our corrections staff.
We have started an inmate work program where low-risk prisoners regularly pick up trash from county roads, do work in and around school buildings, plant and work in a garden to grow food for our jail kitchen and mow graveyards for churches. This is in addition to the regular work inmates do for the Road Department and the BCSO garage maintaining our fleet at a substantially reduced labor cost.
We have enhanced and expanded the BCSO Jail Ministry Program as well as the BCSO Field Chaplains program that helps many in need at no cost to the local government.
The BCSO Drug Unit has increased drug arrests by over 80 percent in the last two years and our Traffic Unit continues to be recognized by the Governor's Highway Safety Office as one of the finest in the state.
We have instituted a Crime Analysis Unit that is using computerized crime mapping programs to plot and categorize all crime so that we can more effectively place our resources and identify special attention areas where we can deter more crime and catch criminals.
The BCSO renegotiated the jail food contract, as well as the inmate phone contract resulting in a better rate and a $50,000 signing bonus. We have out-sourced medical services in an attempt to save additional taxpayer money.
We have instituted an Inmate Transportation Unit, which is averaging a record number of inmate transports to medical facilities, mental health facilities, federal court, juvenile court, state prison and state extraditions. By utilizing this dedicated team, we are more efficient, save money and keep other valuable resources in the field answering increased calls for service that have resulted from explosive county growth.
We have formed a state-of-the-art Crime Scene Investigations Unit, which has paid dividends in solving crime using forensic technology. This unit has been especially effective in identifying latent prints at crime scenes, resulting in more arrests and successful prosecutions.
The BCSO is now clearing cases at a rate of 47 percent. This is 17 percent above the national average and is evidence of our effectiveness in solving crime.
The BCSO now has an Explosive Recognition and Response Team.
We have formalized and trained an Internal Affairs Unit to investigate complaints of possible misconduct and ensure the continued professionalism and integrity of the BCSO.
The BCSO has instituted SAVIN (Statewide Automated Victim Information Notification Service), an innovative service providing crime victims, victim advocates and other concerned citizens free and confidential notification regarding a particular county inmate's release, transfer or escape. This system provides registered users access to timely information about particular offenders 24 hours a day, over the phone, through the Internet or by e mail.
As you can see, the BCSO is highly effective and working at a level never before seen in Bradley County, sometimes in the face of great opposition. Our record is clear and has been reviewed by three different outside criminal justice experts who have independently reported that the Bradley County Sheriff's Office is operating at a level of effectiveness rarely seen in a law enforcement agency. I am also proud that the BCSO continues to receive the highest marks on all of our state financial audits, with no irregularities reported.
With your support the BCSO has demonstrated we are moving in the right direction. All of these accomplishments have been realized without any tax increases, just as I have said they could be done from the beginning. By maintaining these efforts and building on these accomplishments we will continue moving forward in a partnership of progress to effectively serve all residents of Bradley County well into the future.
For the latest BCSO news and information, I invite everyone to visit our web site on a regular basis. If you have comments, questions or complaints, you can email me personally at: comments@bradleysheriff.com
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