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Sheriff'sBlog
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Written by Tim Gobble, Sheriff
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Thursday, 05 November 2009 |
Looking back over the past few years of my administration, I am proud of the improvements and accomplishments we have been able to bring to the BCSO. Some top highlights include:
* Reduced overall crime by six percent, and thefts and burglaries at one point by 30 percent.
* Reduced top-heavy management/bureaucracy by cutting 10 management positions and shifting more deputies to street patrol and deterring crime and backing up each other in dangerous situations.
* Reduced average emergency response times by three to four minutes.
* Increased deputy pay to more competitive starting levels and made modest improvements for all employees, improving department morale.
* Replaced most all vehicles with over 250,000 miles, making for a more reliable response, improving officer safety and reducing maintenance costs.
* Provided deputies with certified level III bullet-resistant vests, replacing the tattered, torn expired vests that placed their lives in jeopardy.
* Returned money every year from budget savings to taxpayers.
* Brought in an average of $4.2 million each year to the taxpayers, offsetting the BCSO budget by a third.
* Put more inmates to work picking up litter and improving the community, saving taxpayer money.
* Launched Criminal Alien Program to fight illegal immigration in our community.
* Significantly improved and expanded training opportunities and firearms qualifications standards, enhancing professionalism.
* Implemented the Internet Crimes Against Children program.
* Caused no tax increase and utilized existing resources in a fast-growing and expanding community.
I am grateful to my command staff, deputies, support personnel, local businesses, non-profit organizations and the citizens of Bradley County for working together to make our community one of the best in the U.S.
On another note, I want to express my appreciation to all American veterans for their service to our country. Dwight D. Eisenhower once said history does not long entrust the defense of freedom to the weak or timid. Our military forces are neither weak nor timid and have been quick and willing to come to the aid of our allies and other nations when they have been threatened by forces of tyranny.
I hope everyone will take time this Veteran’s Day to remember the sacrifice of our military veterans and honor their heroic service to this country. The battle against fascism, tyranny and genocide is one that never stops. And don’t forget our law enforcement personnel who protect and defend our freedoms here at home. Please keep them all in your prayers every day of the year.
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Written by Tim Gobble, Sheriff
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Friday, 30 October 2009 |
They say a dog is man’s best friend, but a dog can also be law enforcement’s best friend. Our three four-legged deputies in the BCSO’s K-9 Unit, Bond, Nash and Bravo, have proven that time and again.
Deputy Chad Owenby works with K-9 Bond, a four-year-old, brown and black German Shepherd. Bond is a certified drug dog, an actual native of Germany and trained to detect the odor of narcotics in vehicles and homes, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.
Deputy Johnny Stokes works with Nash, a three-year-old, solid black German Shepherd and also a native of Germany. Nash is trained in narcotics detection and criminal apprehension, and is certified in tracking lost and missing persons.
The newest member of the K-9 Unit is six-year-old Bravo. He is handled by Patrol Deputy Dale Liner. Bravo is a brown and black German Shepherd and also a certified tracker. All three of these dogs live with their human partners. It is not unusual for a deputy to keep their K-9s at their home, both during the canine’s service and after their retirement. This allows for the canine and the deputy to form that strong bond unique to a pet and their owner.
The uncanny tracking abilities of these dogs make them an invaluable resource for law enforcement. Just recently, a criminal in Polk County robbed a bank there and fled to our side of the Polk/Bradley line. I was with a team of Polk and Bradley County deputies combing the area looking for the fugitive. One of our K-9s was brought in to join the manhunt. It wasn’t long until the canine had tracked the bank robber to a farm near the county line and led us right to the fugitive, who was well hidden in some bushes. The dog held the bad guy in check until deputies could take him into custody.
I also had an interesting experience with one of our tracking dogs shortly after I became sheriff. The BCSO was trying to locate a criminal who had broken into a local resident’s home and fled on foot. I was with a team of deputies, also on foot, that canvassed the area, which took us miles through wooded areas and open fields. At some point during the search, I lost my cell phone. I had no idea where to begin looking for it, so the following day Deputy Liner offered the use of one of our tracking dogs to locate my cell phone. Even though the phone had been out in the weather for over 16 hours, the canine led us straight to it, hidden in tall grass out in the middle of a field.
K-9s have proven effective all over the country. Some of these dogs have even died in the line of duty or while protecting their trainers. Deputies Bond, Nash and Bravo are great assets to the BCSO in our fight against illegal drug activity and other crimes, and we appreciate their service.
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Written by Tim Gobble, Sheriff
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Thursday, 22 October 2009 |
I have long been a proponent of a citizen’s right to defend themselves and their property. I believe in the universal right of law abiding citizens to self defense and support their right to keep and bear arms for their personal protection in almost all locations where a police presence is not dedicated for that specific purpose. For example, unauthorized guns should not be allowed in courtrooms, presidential and vice presidential venues, and inside schools, because a law enforcement presence is already dedicated to those locations.
Since becoming sheriff, there have been several occasions where I have defended law abiding citizens who have used a firearm to protect themselves from criminals. Today, is another such occasion.
I have known Councilman George Poe for a number of years. I served with him on the Cleveland City Council and know him to be one of our most caring, dedicated and conscientious public servants. He is a great individual, a family man, has a caring heart, and throughout his lifetime has helped others and made Cleveland and Bradley County a better place to live. George also has a gun carry permit.
A few months ago, George was in his yard when he noticed an unfamiliar vehicle pull up next door to his son’s residence. At least one of the occupants got out and began looking around and acting suspiciously. George then observed the thieves load his son’s lawnmower into the back of their vehicle.
According to George's account of the incident, he approached the thieves to get their tag number and yelled for them to stop what they were doing. The thieves then slammed their car in reverse and began backing at a high rate of speed toward him. George had little opportunity to get out of the way and found himself forced against a fence near the driveway. The thieves turned their vehicle sideways in the driveway and George said he feared they were maneuvering to run him down or get out of their car and attack him.
All this happened within seconds and, defensively, George pulled a small pistol from his pocket and fired several rounds, one of which lodged in the rear of the thieves' vehicle. The thieves fled the scene. George ran to his car in order to follow them and report their location to the 911 Communications Center. During their attempted escape, the fleeing thieves wrecked their vehicle and were apprehended by city police.
As it turns out, at least one of the thieves has a prior criminal history and was wanted on outstanding warrants in another jurisdiction. In essence, George stopped a theft in progress and helped get a fugitive criminal off the streets. How was he rewarded? He was cited by the state with Aggravated Assault and Reckless Endangerment and his case has been bound over to the Grand Jury.
The world we live in is a dangerous place. Everyday, we are bombarded on the news with all kinds of acts of violence occurring against innocent people. This community is far from immune to this type of violence. These acts can happen quickly and without warning. George, like every law abiding citizen, has the right to investigate and intervene in suspicious activity on his or his son's property and, if he so chooses, attempt to stop the theft of his son’s possessions.
He also has the absolute right of self defense if he perceives himself to be in danger of serious bodily injury or death, as he did on that day when two thieves suddenly came at or very near him with their vehicle (a weapon). George did not just immediately and indiscriminately open fire on the two; it was only after he perceived the threat of death or serious bodily injury to himself that he did so. In my experience as sheriff, any thief with a criminal record who is brazen enough to steal someone's property in broad daylight and drive a speeding vehicle toward or near a witness who is attempting to intervene, is obviously a danger ~ a danger to that witness and a danger to the public.
So, instead of using the law to go after a good citizen who was forced to make split second decisions in a fast changing, dangerous situation, without any formal law enforcement training, let's use the law as it was designed: to protect innocent citizens and lock up known criminals when they are caught in the act of committing yet another crime.
If some think there is a doubt as to when George should have stopped firing his weapon or should not have fired it at all, remember, George is not a trained law enforcement officer, he is a senior citizen, can't move as quickly as a speeding car, was outnumbered, understandably a little nervous and certainly didn't ask to be placed in a difficult and dangerous situation by the reckless actions of the criminals he caught in the act. He had the right to be there. Any citizen, including you, confronted with the same situation might have reacted similarly. In the end, no one was hurt and the bad guys were apprehended.
It is a travesty of justice for George Poe to be brought up on charges and placed by the state in a similar category as the thieves. If he is prosecuted, we the people who stand against crime are prosecuted. I commend George's bravery and courage. He deserves the support and respect of this community, not prosecution. Any and all judicial proceedings against him should cease and his charges dismissed. If doubt remains for some, give the benefit of that doubt to George, not the criminals caught in the act with a prior criminal history and outstanding warrants. The criminals bear the complete and total blame.
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Written by Tim Gobble, Sheriff
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Thursday, 01 October 2009 |
Capt. Gabe Thomas oversees the BCSO Corrections Division. The Bradley County jail ~ certified by the state of Tennessee ~ is a big operation designed to house 408-plus federal, state and local inmates in “direct supervision” pods, several indirect supervision pods and four dormitories. The jail operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.
For those who may not be familiar with “direct supervision,” it is a system whereby a corrections deputy is stationed inside the pod with the prisoners. This allows the deputy to observe inmate behavior and morale firsthand. Studies have shown this method to be beneficial in identifying and dealing with potential trouble areas before problems develop. The direct supervision method was first used in federal penitentiaries and proved so successful in reducing injury to inmates and prison personnel that more and more county jails have adopted this method.
Correction deputies ensure that every inmate is treated fairly and humanely in a secure environment, as the sentences of the court are carried out. These Corrections deputies receive 40 hours of initial training as required by the Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI). The BCSO Corrections Academy training covers professional ethics, gang identification, civil liability, inmate transport, disturbance control, conversational Spanish and other related issues. The five week program is designed around the direct supervision philosophy of behavior management.
The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office generates approximately $4.2 million a year from various sources of revenue, including reimbursements for housing state and federal inmates, the inmate phone system (Evercom), the Sex Offender Registry, commissary, data processing and fees to the Sheriff’s Office (booking fees, fees from serving warrants, fees collected through the Circuit Court clerks, etc.). Bradley County receives $35 a day for housing state inmates and $49.60 a day for federal. This money, and any other revenue, goes into the county’s General Fund to help off-set operational expenses. This translates as savings to the taxpayer.
Another way the jail saves taxpayer money is through the Inmate Work Program, which we expanded in 2007. Low-risk inmates have picked up literally tons of trash from county roadways, school grounds and nonprofit properties. They clean and paint the hallways at the jail and other facilities, including the Tri-State Exhibition Center and the County Road Department; help with mowing and grounds maintenance; work at the BCSO garage, helping to repair, refurbish and maintain our fleet; and work the inmate garden, which supplies fresh vegetables for their own consumption. I am grateful for their assistance and I know how much the public supports this type of inmate work program.
We also have active jail ministries that meet regularly with inmates. We welcome churches and church-related programs in our community who want to hold voluntary Bible studies in the jail. The jail ministry is very successful and hopefully will help reduce recidivism in the long term.
There is also a transport unit which operates within the Corrections Division. The transport unit carries federal, state and county inmates to and from court appearances, medical appointments, mental hospitals and prison, as well as pick-up those arrested in other states on warrants from Bradley County.
Inmate medical care is handled by Quality Correctional Health Care (QCHC). I appreciate the work of the Bradley County Commission in researching and contracting QCHC. The BCSO food contractor, ABL Management, operates within the complex in a modern, commercial grade kitchen and provides all inmates three meals a day that meet state-mandated nutritional standards.
But don’t be enticed by free food. Jail is the last place you want to be. We do not tolerate crime in Bradley County. It is unacceptable on every level and if someone chooses to break the law, the odds are good they will be caught and they will be booked into a jail cell for however long the court so orders. They will lose their freedom and, in some cases, they will lose certain citizen rights upon their release. Additionally, running afoul of the law results in substantial financial consequences, including legal fees, court costs, and other expenses related to incarceration. When it comes to the safety and security of law abiding citizens, there is no contest ~ when it comes to us, criminals will lose every time.
The men and women of Corrections do a exemplary job in a difficult environment. They are professional, knowledgeable and conscientious, and I thank them all for their good work.
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Written by Tim Gobble, Sheriff
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Friday, 25 September 2009 |
Over the last few weeks, I have highlighted various divisions that comprise the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office. This week, I will highlight our Patrol Division.
The Patrol Division of the BCSO serves as the backbone of our organization because it operates 24 hour a day, 365 days a year answering the first calls for help, apprehending criminals, patrolling the roads, deterring crime and protecting citizens. This division is led by Captain Jon Collins.
The Patrol Division consists of 71 full time positions. Fifty of these positions serve on one of four patrol shifts operating on 12 hour intervals with rotating schedules and days off. These patrol shifts must, at a minimum, have two deputies patrolling each of our four County patrol zones at all times with a shift lieutenant or sergeant on duty to provide adequate supervision. Twenty two positions in the Patrol Division are assigned to the Special Programs Section. This section is led by a lieutenant overseeing the 16-member School Resource Officer Unit and the five-member, award winning Traffic Unit.
Additionally, the operational responsibility of the SWAT team and Explosive Recognition and Identification Team falls under the command of this division. These specialty units are comprised of full time deputies from all divisions that are activated when needed. For the SWAT team to be activated, it must be approved by the Sheriff, Chief Deputy or a Division Captain. SWAT activations can occur for a variety of reasons such as high risk warrant service, hostage/barricade situations, armed suspects, fugitives, active shooters and extra manpower to help locate lost or missing persons.
The first responsibility of any government is to protect and defend its citizens. In this community, the Patrol Division of the BCSO is on the front line of this activity, standing against all types of criminals, including murderers, drug dealers, gangs, thieves, robbers and the like. When the call comes in for help, a member of our Patrol Division is usually the first to respond and arrive at all kinds of emergencies, including car accidents, fires and drownings. Often these deputies will provide basic first aid to control bleeding and perform CPR to sustain life until more sophisticated equipment can arrive. They have on numerous occasions pulled people from burning houses and cars when seconds matter and life hangs in the balance. They, often alone, or with little back up, routinely take armed fighting individuals into custody to protect others from harm at the risk of their own safety.
I am very proud to have been given the opportunity to lead an agency that includes the assembly of some of the finest, most self sacrificing men and women that can be found anywhere. There is no better use of a tax dollar than to fund and properly equip and sustain an organization whose purpose is to protect others, if at all possible, from serious bodily injury or death.
So, when you hear criticism of government or complaints about the cost, remember what greater cost there would be in terms of lost life, limb, property and freedom without these local government heroes ~ law enforcement, firefighters, emergency management, EMTs and rescue workers ~ who are willing to step forward in time of need.
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