In 1962, Congress designated May 15 as “National Peace Officers Memorial Day.” It is a time set aside to pay respects to law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

In the latest issue of The Police Family News magazine, there is a list of all law enforcement  personnel across the country who were killed in the line of duty during 2007. I counted 153 names ~ 153 public safety officers who died in 2007 during the performance of their duties.

Each name was accompanied by a photograph and it just broke my heart looking at those 153 faces. There were sheriff’s deputies, police officers, constables, Corrections officers, border patrol and federal agents.

They were of all ages, races and genders and their causes of death ranged from highway accidents, drunk drivers, criminal activity and emergency response during major storms and acts of nature.

As if that weren’t bad enough, an additional 15 names had already been submitted for the months of January and February of this year, 2008. It’s one thing to speak of the sacrifices made by these men and women ... it’s another thing to put a face to the names and read of the loved ones they left behind.

And, of course, that list didn’t even include the estimated 600 law enforcement personnel who survived accident or injury, but were disabled. According to FBI. statistics for the year 2006 ~ 58, 634 peace officers were assaulted and suffered injuries. Fortunately, not all those assaults were debilitating, but it serves to illustrate the danger inherent in law enforcement. Incidentally, the FBI’s “Crime Clock” reveals that a violent crime is committed every 22.2 seconds.

Public safety officers are special in their dedication and exceptional in their sense of duty. If there’s one thing a seasoned officer learns early in their career, it is to expect the unexpected. While most people flee a scene of danger, law enforcement personnel are rushing toward that danger. They deserve no less than the best we can give them in equipment, resources and funding.

God has blessed our community in many ways. Chief among those blessings is the high quality of law enforcement personnel we have watching over our welfare and security. Their safety should be foremost in our thoughts and prayers.

Let’s never forget or take for granted the sacrifice of public service officers who have paid the ultimate price on behalf of the citizenry they served. If you would like to help support the families of law enforcement officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty, there are two excellent organizations I recommend that have funds set aside just for the families.

The American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens has the “Police Family Survivors Fund.” You can log on to their website at: www.afp-cc.org 

The National Association of Chiefs of Police has the “Family Fund for Paralyzed & Disabled Police Officers.” You can log on to their site at: www.aphf.org/nacop.html
You can also contact both these organizations by calling: (321) 264-0911. Or you can write them at: 6350 Horizon Dr., Titusville, FL 32780

Your support will certainly be appreciated.

I would like to close by sharing with you all the Police Officers Prayer...

“Oh Almighty God, whose great power and eternal wisdom embraces the universe. Watch over all policemen and law enforcement officers. Father in Heaven please give them the strength, courage and perseverance to endure the unjust condemnation, danger and physical abuse to which they are at times subjected. We recommend them to your loving care because their duty is dangerous. Dear God, grant these brave men and women your almighty protection, and unite them safely with their families after duty has ended. Amen.”

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office has added a new section to BradleySheriff.com

that posts the name, photograph and other pertinent information about offenders of court-ordered child support. It has been appropriately titled, "Dead Beat Parents Hall of Shame."

Already two of those on the list have been apprehended. Carl D. Howard was arrested on Wednesday on an attachment for contempt of court. He owes over $28,000 in back child support. Paul Landus Johnson is being held in New Mexico on unrelated charges.

Timothy Wayne Tallent, 45, currently owes the largest amount of unpaid child support, $46,730, based on local court records. He is being sought on an active warrant for contempt of court that was issued in December

There are other people listed, and you can see their names, photographs, last known address, and the amount they owe the courts. To get there, click on the "Dead Beats" link on the left side of your computer screen.

Most of the people paying child support are men, but Chief Deputy Bill Dyer noted there are some women who have fallen behind in their child support payments, a sign of the changing times.

Visitors are invited to check the list frequently as new names will be added as arrests are made. .

Sheriff Tim Gobble said, "Having this information on the web site is another way of keeping the public informed and may help serve as incentive to those ordered to pay child support not to neglect their court ordered obligation. Being a parent is an awesome responsibility and to neglect those who God entrusted to your care is morally and legally wrong. It is our intent to place the most flagrant offenders on this web site in order to find them and hold them responsible."

Delinquent child support payments total over $700,000 in Bradley County.

If you know where one of the offenders on the Hall of Shame can be found contact the BCSO warrants division at 423-728-7390 or 423-728-7393.

BradleySheriff.com is the public’s source for the latest news and information about the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and is home to BCSOtv.

Christopher Allen Elkins, who fled when the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office went to his residence at 263 Maddux Road to serve an arrest warrant, was taken into custody without incident Thursday night. Elkins jumped out a back window of the home before he was taken into custody.

Elkins fled into a wooded area where a search was conducted but with no success. As a precautionary measure Walker Valley High School was placed on lockdown for a brief period of time before school dismissed.

Ellkins returned to his residence and was taken into custody without incident. He has been charged with Violation of Community Corrections with other charges pending.

Population Report of the Bradley County Jail
                              May 7, 2008   May 8, 2008   May 9,2008

• Total inmates          391                  381               362
• State                        87                    91                 93
• Local                     204                   204               183
• Federal                   90                     86                 86
  
  

  A typical cellblock

The jail's capacity  is 408.

The Tennessee Department of Corrections pays the county $35 a day to house state inmates.
The Federal government reimburses the BCSO $49.60 for each Federal inmate in the jail.