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BradleySheriff.com
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Sheriff'sBlog
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Monday, 07 June 2010 |
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Since becoming sheriff, I have tried to be a good steward of taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. Through better management, fiscal responsibility and a more practical application of funds, the BCSO has returned approximately $700,000 in unspent budgeted money since 2006, which was in turn paid back to the county’s general fund. We have been able to continue that trend of fiscal responsibility for the upcoming budget year.
Our fiscal budget for 2011 will cut spending by $600,000 over the current budget in order to help avoid the need for a tax increase. I worked closely with my command staff and budget director to identify areas where we could realistically cut spending for a one-year period without sacrificing services or compromising public safety. It was a challenge and not something we can sustain for an extended period, but we did it.
During tough economic times, the character of a community is revealed by how well adversity is handled. I am confident the high character of Bradley County will win out over the economic challenges we face as a community.
Here at the sheriff’s office, we should be able to sustain the coming budget cuts for one year without a reduction in services primarily because of the improvements we have made over the last four years. Through better management of resources and sound fiscal planning, we have been able to improve vehicles and equipment, as well as upgrade deputies starting salaries to the point that the proposed cuts should not adversely affect law enforcement services or emergency response times. All current BCSO positions are included in our new budget with no reduction in salaries.
We here at the BCSO have consistently operated within our means and without the necessity of imposing tax increases. Each year, we bring in approximately $4.2 million in operating revenue and $500,000 in drug-related asset forfeitures. Also, our inmate work program saves the county approximately $1 million in expenses that would have normally been budgeted if the inmates were not helping out. These monies either off-set BCSO and/or county’s expenses, or are returned to the county’s general fund balance.
As sheriff, I am proud there has been no need for a tax increase to sustain our operations and that every year we have returned money from our balanced budgets to the taxpayers. We will have to tighten our belts to meet next year’s budget, but we are all happy to help hold the line on taxes and still maintain a safe environment in which to live and work.
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Monday, 24 May 2010 |
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According to the latest TBI Crime in Tennessee reports for 2007-2009, overall crime in Bradley County dropped by 15.5 percent, which is more than double the state average. This is a result of the hard work of the BCSO patrol and criminal investigations divisions, as well as the use of improved technology and proactive crime fighting techniques.
In addition to the overall reduction in crime, the BCSO has a crime clearance rate that is 20 percent better than the state average of over 56 percent among Tennessee’s city and county law enforcement offices. We have also seen significant reductions in assaults, vandalism, vehicle thefts, burglaries and domestic violence. These numbers confirm that the BCSO continues to be one of the best local law enforcement agencies in the nation.
The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is aggressive and effective in our mission to curb criminal activity and protect the public. Today, BCSO deputies are better trained, better equipped and better compensated than at any other time in our history. I am proud of the good work, professionalism and dedication of our deputies, employees and leadership teams.
I am also proud when the BCSO is acknowledged for their good work. Four of our deputies and two detectives were honored recently at the Cleveland 100’s annual luncheon. Detectives Heath Arthur and Joe Renner, and deputies Shaun McKee, Travis Green, Phillip Reagan and Chad Nave were all singled out selfless acts of bravery in emergency situations and for putting themselves in harm’s way to save lives. Congratulations to them all. Deputy Nave was named 2009 Patrolman of the Year. Detective Renner, who was a deputy at the time, escaped a brush with death when he was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic around the scene of an accident and thrown across the hood and into the windshield. Fortunately, his injuries were not permanent, but it shows just how close to danger these men and women operate in their day-to-day job duties.
Nine others from the Cleveland Police Department, 911 Center and Bradley County Fire-Rescue were also singled out for well-deserved honors. I appreciate the hard work and dedication shown by our public service personnel and I appreciate the Cleveland 100 for taking time to acknowledge them with the annual awards ceremony.
Every positive step forward that Bradley County takes is the result of the joint efforts of law enforcement, EMS, business leadership, community organizations, local government and private citizens. Working together, we have made a significant difference for all county residents.
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Wednesday, 05 May 2010 |
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The violence occurring along the U.S./Mexico border is moving further and further northward until American citizens in all areas of the country are no longer safe from it. A lack of adequate border security is a situation that has been neglected for far too long by presidents and Congress from both political parties. It has now reached a point where some lawmakers are calling on the Army or National Guard to step in and fill the role that should be manageable by domestic law enforcement agencies.
Rather than controlling the constant flow of illegal aliens over our southern borders, Washington has ignored the problem until today there are an estimated 11 to 20 million illegals in this country. Even in strong economic conditions, supporting mass groups of non citizens with U.S. citizens’ tax money and resources puts a strain on our economy.
But the problem is not simply the millions of illegals who have poured into the U.S. over the years; the problem is now the very real threat of terrorists, violent street gangs such as MS13, drug cartels and international crime syndicates who are all well positioned to benefit from our unsecured borders; worse, they are doing so.
Given the unstable and violent nature of some world leaders and extremist groups, we cannot continue to ignore or politicize the situation. To do so simply makes it easier for a terrorist or terrorist group to sneak biological, chemical, small tactical nuclear weapons and/or other radiation dispersal devices into our country. National security demands that we properly secure the borders. Plainly, the federal government has been derelict in this regard and it has placed American citizens at risk. Rather than sitting back and continuing to test the wind on illegal immigration and making it a political issue, Washington needs to concentrate on protecting all our borders, north and south, as well as our seaports and airports.
The solution to illegal immigration is not amnesty or an easy path to citizenship, as some lawmakers are proposing. To grant amnesty and full rights of citizenship, including the right to vote, to illegal aliens not only makes a mockery of our laws, it would be an insult to every immigrant who has gone through the process of achieving legal U.S. citizenship. It is unreasonable to grant those who have entered our country illegally the right to vote and select the very people who will decide high level policies, such as immigration.
America has always welcomed people from other countries, but having people cross our borders illegally cannot, and should not, be allowed. It is a direct threat to our economic security, our national security and our sovereignty, and places an even heavier burden on future generations. I support the Arizona legislature and the citizens of Arizona in their efforts to address the issue, and urge the president and Congress to step up to the plate and do their job.
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Friday, 23 April 2010 |
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Cutting waste and better utilizing existing resources is not a pipe dream that is beyond government. It can be done and at the BCSO, we’re doing it. With sound, fiscally-responsible leadership, it is possible to cut waste and spending. We have proven this at the BCSO. Not only do we generate approximately $4.2 million each year to off-set our operating expenses by a third, we have also returned close to a million dollars to the county’s General Fund since I took office in 2006. The savings we have achieved is positive news for Bradley County taxpayers and serves to demonstrate what can be accomplished through efficiency and good stewardship of public funds. In fact, the BCSO has been recognized by several national experts as one of the most effective and efficient sheriff’s offices in the country. That is a high honor and one we are proud of. I am also proud of the fact that in addition to good financial stewardship, the BCSO has an excellent record in combating crime. Our current crime clearance rate is the highest it’s ever been in the history of Bradley County. One of the latest ways we are looking to save money is by subscribing to an electronic pawn record tracking system called “LeadsOnline.” This service will help us in tracking and recovering stolen property that has been pawned. The service costs $5,890, which may sound like a lot of money until you consider that the way we currently track stolen/pawned goods is by having a detective or detectives manually search submitted pawn records and crosscheck against the NCIC system and other records. This not only takes detectives away from other duties, it is very expensive in terms of time, paperwork and salaries, and isn’t nearly as effective as the online service. We considered hiring a clerk to perform these tasks, but LeadsOnline would be much more effective and would save over $15,000 a year. This new tracking system is already being used by 20 Tennessee law enforcement agencies, with 150,000 transactions which are updated on a daily basis. The system will easily pay for itself in recovery of additional stolen property each year and returning that property to the owner(s). We have always been proactive in our approach to solving crime and will remain so in the future. Additionally, annual state financial audits of the BCSO verify that our budgets, including the Drug Fund, are consistently managed well and the money is being spent for appropriate and lawful purposes. While we watch Washington squander money, I think Bradley County taxpayers appreciate the sheriff’s office operating in a vigilant, proactive and fiscally-responsible manner. We are always looking for new ways to improve services and save even more tax money. |
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Tuesday, 13 April 2010 |
As sheriff, I have always taken a pro-active position on illegal immigration. This includes anyone who enters our country without proper authorization, whether they be from south of the border, Asia, Europe or anywhere else around the globe. As a local government, we can’t do a lot to secure our national borders ~ that’s supposed to be the job of the federal government; but we can concentrate on securing our citizens and those of neighboring counties.
BCSO interdiction units are vigilant in watching traffic along I-75 though our county for human smuggling, drug trafficking, contraband, drunk drivers and other criminal activity. Just last week, one of our detectives observed a 2004 Dodge Caravan which appeared to be overloaded, weaving and following too close to another vehicle. The Caravan was pulled over near the Charleston exit for a routine traffic stop. The occupants turned out to be 12 Hispanic men and women who claimed to be traveling from Dallas, Texas to Pennsylvania.
This, in and of itself, is not illegal; however, they could not produce proper ID and it was discovered the vehicle had been red-flagged by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as having possibly been involved in human trafficking on another occasion. The occupants were transported to the ICE office in Chattanooga where it was determined they were here illegally and are now being held for deportation. Furthermore, the driver could face charges of human trafficking.
Since September 2006, anytime a person is arrested in Bradley County for a crime and their identity cannot be verified or is suspect, they are checked against our Criminal Alien Program (CAP) to determine citizenship or legal status. If they are found to be here illegally, they are turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation, upon the disposition of their court cases and their sentences completed.
The 12 people arrested in this latest incident brings the total number of illegals apprehended by the BCSO and turned over to ICE to 206. That may sound like a drop in the bucket compared to the 11 to 20 million aliens said to be in this country illegally, but it does reinforce the message that Bradley Country takes the problem seriously and is actively working to control it here in our area.
I have stated on a number of occasions that I believe in and support legal immigration. We are the land of opportunity and I cannot blame anyone who desires to come here and share in the American dream. But we are a nation of laws, and anyone wishing to immigrate here must do so legally. To ignore this problem increases the burden to our economy and our national security.
One thing this latest incident illustrates is that illegal aliens continue to pour into our country and the need to properly secure our borders is dire and immediate. With all the threats facing the nation from within and without, we must secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws with determination and vigor.
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