In previous columns I have discussed ways that can help homeowners lessen their chances of becoming the victim of a crime.   

It is equally important to be a good neighbor, to commit to efforts in your community aimed at crime prevention. Keeping an eye for suspicious activity – the concept of neighbor helping neighbor - is one of the basic ways to deter crime and make a neighborhood safer.  You become familiar with your neighbors, their habits and frequent visitors.  It becomes easy to notice situations that appear “out of the ordinary” and vehicles that are prowling to find an unoccupied home to burglarize.   

Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs using the concept of neighbor helping neighbor. It is a proven, effective way to reduce criminal activity through citizen involvement.  Not only do homeowners get involved in the protection of their property, but watch programs promote strong citizen – law enforcement associations.

Founded in 1972, the organization is supported by most sheriffs and chiefs of police across the country.

Local associations work with law enforcement to receive the training they will need and in turn they provide valuable information back to the sponsoring agency.  Thieves often bypass areas where a neighborhood watch sign is posted because they know there is an active group of concerned citizens watching out for the welfare of others in the neighborhood.

If your community has a group keep it active.  Schedule frequent meetings for open crime prevention discussions and leave the door open for new residents of the community to join.  Offer them the same training as other members and suggest the association as a way to become acquainted with their new neighbors.  If necessary, canvass door-to-door to recruit members.

Watch meetings should be used as an opportunity to share information about work schedules, those who are home during the day, those who are retired, and those confined indoors by illness.  Watch groups can also be used to determine interest in special activities, such as walking or jogging together.

If you would like more information about Neighborhood Watch contact Sgt. Yvonne Johnson at 728-7318.

Neighborhood watch is a way you can get involved and show your community spirit!

Investigation of fire on Parkwood Drive continues

A 9-1-1 call from a nearby residence was dispatched at 2:20 a.m. and within 2-3 minutes deputy Shaun McKee arrived on the scene.  Deputy McKee attempted entry into the upstairs area of the house after being told that someone may still be inside, but he was forced back by thick smoke and flames that engulfed the main area of the structure.

Deputies Jay Lawson and Tommy Kimsey arrived and the three forced open a basement door but thick smoke prevented their entry.

The Bradley County Volunteer Fire Department, the Polk County Volunteer Fire Department and the Cleveland Fire Department extinguished the fire in about an hour.

Three children and an adult female made it out of the residence safely while a male adult perished in the blaze.

An autopsy is planned at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

The victim has been identified as Steven C. Ogle, age 41.  His wife, Kelly Ogle, 37, climbed out of a bedroom window after she lowered their three daughters,  ages 5, 8 and 10, from the same window.   The investigation is continuing, and any future questions about the origin of the fire should be directed to the State Fire Marshall's Office .    

The citizens of Bradley County deserve a courteous and professional response by qualified personnel when they need the assistance of the sheriff’s office.

My goal is to hire the best qualified personnel we can find so we can continue building on the department we have that has achieved a reputation as one of the top county law enforcement agencies in the state of Tennessee.

Requirements for the position of law enforcement officer in Tennessee are spelled out in state law and by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, which we know as the POST Commission.  POST determines the training requirements of all full-time officers and all training must be documented in a timely manner.

The minimum standards for a full-time police officer, which the law defines as a person earning the bulk of their livelihood in this profession, takes into account the individuals background and formal education.  I should point out that POST Commission requirements include 40 hours of annual in-service that must be documented by the appropriate agency upon successful completion by the individual.   

Occasionally we have an inquiry about the state of Tennessee’s minimum standards for a deputy sheriff.     

1. Be at least 18 years of age;
2. Be a citizen of the United States;
3. Be a high school graduate or possess its equivalency which shall include a general educational development (GED) certificate;
4. Not have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to or entered a plea of nolo contendere to any felony charge or to any violation of any federal or state laws or city ordinances relating to force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, liquor or controlled substances;
5. Not have been released or discharged under any other than honorable discharge from any of the armed forces of the United States;
6. Have their fingerprints on file with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation;
7. Have passed a physical examination by a licensed physician;
8. Have a good moral character as determined by a thorough investigation conducted by the employing agency; and
9. Be free of all apparent mental disorders as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III) of the American Psychiatric Association. An applicant must be certified as meeting these criteria by a qualified professional in the psychiatric or psychological field.

There are additional requirements of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.   

Full-time law enforcement officers employed after July 1, 1982 must be certified by the commission for successful completion of a POST certified Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy.   

These requirements apply to every law enforcement office in the state as the minimum standards for employment.  Some agencies create more restrictive requirements and salaries and benefits vary across the state.

Pinning on a badge is much different than 30 years ago.  In those days almost anyone would qualify for the job because special training was not required.  Today pinning on the badge means a lot more – it represents being a part of a profession that recognizes ability, hard work, and professionalism.

Bradley County has many fine officers serving with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, the Cleveland Police Department and the Charleston Police Department.  They are deserving of our appreciation for the job they do.

Tim Gobble
Bradley County Sheriff

Dear Citizens,

Upon taking office, the compensation of Bradley County sheriff’s deputies was 23% behind the regional average and about $6,000 per year behind the compensation of their city police counterparts. This large pay disparity was acknowledged publicly by the County Mayor when he stated in an interview with the Cleveland Daily Banner that the “pay of county employees was 20 to 30 percent less than city employees performing the same job.”  This pay disparity is the primary reason that the BCSO has lost three fourths of its entire workforce over the last five years. As other agencies continue to move ahead of the BCSO this loss of employees that costs taxpayers too much in terms of lost experience, re-training, and re-equipping costs is likely to accelerate if not addressed.
It is not unreasonable to request that steps be taken to reduce or close this pay and benefits gap to retain more of our experienced employees.

Upon taking office, BCSO deputies were driving 33 vehicles which have over 200,000 road miles on them. These vehicles are now in such condition, safety of the deputies and their ability to reliably respond to citizen needs is often in jeopardy. It is not unreasonable to ask that deputies be provided safe/reliable vehicles to do their job of protecting citizens.

Upon taking office, the number of patrol deputies on the street covering 333 square miles and trying to answer 82,000 calls for service in a timely manner had dropped to only 5 or 6 deputies per shift for the entire county. This limited number of patrol deputies did not provide adequate coverage for the safety of citizens and unnecessarily jeopardized deputy safety by not providing adequate support and back-up. I have been able to increase this number some through cutting top-heavy management and redistributing resources to the field, but studies show additional manpower is needed. It is not unreasonable to ask for the necessary assistants to do the job we are mandated to do by law.

According to information published in the Cleveland Daily Banner, June 19, 2007, Bradley County accountant Lynn Burns, confirmed that Bradley County has about $40 million plus in extra money called fund balances at the end of each fiscal year, but county management claims this money is restricted and cannot be used.

Additionally, in a Channel 9 news report that aired on June 21, 2007, Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis said an ‘extra’ $35 million was received from the sale of Bradley Memorial Hospital, but that money was split; $20 million went to be administered by the United Way and $15 million went to the county in an interest bearing account that now cannot be utilized.   

This appears to have put the county in a situation where their coffers are over-flowing with about $75 million in tax-payer dollars that cannot be used for basic county business such as roads, schools, and public safety.   

County management wants to blame me for what they are saying will be a “Gobble Tax” to do what should have already been done for public safety, but who is really to blame when by their own admission millions in previously collected taxpayer dollars are stashed away in restricted accounts and not available for necessary use.   

As a citizen, I don’t want to pay any more in taxes either and we shouldn’t have to if these funds were managed correctly.  

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Sincerely,

Tim Gobble
Bradley County Sheriff