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BradleySheriff.com
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Written by Tim Gobble, Sheriff
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Friday, 08 February 2008 |
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(This story by Sheriff Tim Gobble was originally posted in February of this year. Due to the fact that it is currently newsworthy, we have moved it back to the front page. If anyone would like to comment on this story or any issue relating to the Bradley County Sheriff's Office, you may email us at: comments@bradleysheriff.com) The findings of an extensive state audit of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office found no wrong-doing on the part of the BCSO regarding purchases made with the county credit card and following county policy regulating credit card use. However, the audit did conclude that, in their opinion, there were a few purchases made for items other than emergencies or travel, and they recommended adhering to the county purchase order system in non-emergency situations. Even so, the auditors agreed that the county’s credit card policy did not prohibit such use and if it was the county’s intention to do so, the policy needed to be clarified.
The audit covered a period dating from before I actually took office on September 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.
It should be noted, the current credit card policy was updated by the Bradley County Commission in November 2006, a month after I took over the duties of Bradley County sheriff. Following is that policy as it was entered into the minutes of a regular session of the county commission on November 20, 2006:
It is the policy of Bradley County, Tennessee, to regulate the use of County issued credit cards to promote and encourage efficient conduct of business.
County issued credit cards are to be used strictly for Bradley County business only. The below stated procedures are to be followed in the use of County issued cards (Visa, MasterCard or Discover).
- The Department Head/Elected Official shall make requests for credit cards to the County Mayor, who shall be responsible for issuing all credit cards.
- Only the Department Head/Elected Official can authorize the use of a County credit card by an employee of Bradley County.
- The Bradley County Mayor will keep a list of issued credit cards.
- Employees are prohibited from making personal purchases on County issued credit cards. Employees who violate this policy must pay for the personal items and will be prohibited from using the County issued card in the future.
- The Department Head/Elected Official will review the monthly statement, verify the purchases and attach all signed copies of receipts. The Department Head/Elected Official will review for accuracy, sign and return the statement with all receipts to the County Mayor for payment.
- The use of County issued credit cards (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) is for out of town travel expenses. Any other use should be discouraged.
Considering how extensive the rules, policies and regulations governing the county and the Sheriff’s Office are, and considering the minutia of such rules, policies and regulations, and considering the disorganized record-keeping I encountered upon taking office, I don’t think it is unreasonable I be allowed the benefit of the doubt if I or a member of my staff didn’t follow a policy to the letter.
However, that said, I will repeat that the audit found no wrongdoing regarding BCSO credit card purchases and the county policy for credit card use. Perhaps some points of interpretation can be argued, but that is due to a lack of specifics on the part of the county in defining the policy, not because of any impropriety or dishonest intent on the part of myself or any member of my staff.
Therefore, in the spirit of openness and public accessibility that I have always observed during my public service, I offer a list of the credit card purchases noted in the audit and my own justification and/or explanation as to why said purchases did not and does not violate existing county credit card policy:
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Written by Staff Reports
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Monday, 19 May 2008 |
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At approximately 1 a.m. on Sunday, May 18, detectives from the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, Agents from the U.S. Marshall’s Chattanooga office and the East Ridge Police Department took Michael George Hatfield into custody on felony warrants issued by the Detroit Police Department.
The BCSO Criminal Investigations Division had been assisting the Detroit Police Department for several days in locating Hatfield who was sought on charges of First Degree Murder Premeditated and Six Counts of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder.  Murder Suspect - Michael G Hatfield An intensive investigation involving the multiple agencies ultimately led to a residence in East Ridge where the suspect was taken into custody without incident. Hatfield, who is 21 and lives at 655 4th Street in Cleveland, will be held at the Bradley County Jail pending extradition to Michigan. Sheriff Tim Gobble praised the work of BCSO Detectives Joe Lea and Lt. Jimmy Woody along with the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Marshall’s, Detroit Police, and East Ridge Police. |
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Written by Bob Gault, Public Information Office
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Monday, 19 May 2008 |
On May 9 and again on May 18 human remains were discovered in a vehicle submerged approximately 45 feet deep in Parksville Lake.  Kathleen Wrinkle
Initial examination of a femur bone found in the vehicle confirms it to be a young adult female.
Positive identification of the remains is pending at the Knox County Forensic Anthropology Department.
The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office reopened the missing persons’ case last summer and since that time several attempts by a variety of agencies were made to locate the vehicle in Parksville Lake.
On May 9, 2008 a group of volunteer divers discovered the vehicle submerged in silt and recovered a femur bone inside the vehicle that was turned over to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. From that time forward the BCSO, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Benton Police Department, as well as the West Polk County Fire and Rescue Unit and the volunteer divers, worked together to recover additional remains and artifacts.
The exact location of the vehicle is not being disclosed as additional attempts may be made to recover other remains and artifacts.
There is almost no visibility at the depth of the vehicle and searches of the vehicle must be conducted by hand making recovery difficult and dangerous.
Sheriff Tim Gobble commends Sgt. Bill Coultry, the BCSO Crime Scene Forensics Unit, the volunteer divers, Sheriff Bill Davis of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies for their persistence and dedication in trying to solve this missing persons case.
Upon completion of the forensics examination additional information will be released as to the possible identity of the remains.
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Written by Tim Gobble, Sheriff
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Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
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Over the last year-and-a-half, the BCSO has made tremendous strides in keeping pace with county growth while becoming a more effective and professional law enforcement agency in its fight against crime. For instance, the BCSO has increased the number of deputies on patrol to two per zone. This allows us to be more effective in deterring crime and has helped us reduce our emergency response time by an average of two minutes. Two minutes may not sound like a lot, but in emergency situations it can literally be the difference between life and death. Also, having two deputies per zone allows for a more timely back-up to fellow deputies when needed.
Since I became sheriff, the BCSO has reduced crime in a number of critical areas. We have reduced residential burglaries by 25 percent and doubled residential burglary arrests over last year. In fact, we have achieved a 47 percent clearance rate of all crime in Bradley County, which is approximately 17 percent above the national average. We also continue moving forward in our efforts to achieve national recognition through CALEA accreditation.
All these accomplishments were achieved by utilizing existing levels of manpower, managing resources more effectively and shifting top-heavy management positions to field assignments where they have proven more effective in serving the public. These efforts have also saved taxpayer money in reduced manpower costs.
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Written by Bob Gault, Public Information Office
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Tuesday, 13 May 2008 |
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Matthew Dyar, one of Bradley County’s Most Wanted fugitives, was taken into custody on Monday without incident. Dyar was booked into the Bradley County jail on warrants for Threats, Felony Vandalism, and Assault. In August 2006 Dyar was accused of assaulting his girlfriend’s mother when she expressed concerns that he was living with them but was not providing financial support. Witness statements indicated he struck the woman in the head and stomped her left foot.  Matthew Wayne Dyar Dyar has been on the run from BCSO for more than a year and a half. He was profiled in January and was added to the Most Wanted list shortly afterward. In addition to the previously mentioned charges Dyar has a hold on his release by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office where he has an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation on an Aggravated Burglary charge. Deputy Tim Robinson and Deputy Willie Espinosa arrested Dyar without incident at a home in the 300-block of Old Charleston Road. Deputies learned Dyar was staying there after an anonymous call was received at the 9-1-1 Communications Center. Dyar had earlier asked a relative to contact the sheriff’s office to see about having the person he was staying with arrested for harboring a fugitive. |
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