The bi-weekly radio show featuring Bradley County Sheriff Tim Gobble is approaching its first anniversary of broadcasting over WBAC. "Ask the Sheriff with Your Host Bob Gault" had its first airing on January 27, 2007 on the AM station.

Gobble conceived the idea of a radio show as part of his quest for an open administration that keeps citizens informed about the department’s activities. Guests primarily come from within the sheriff’s office but several people in the community have participated.

Bob Gault, Public Information Officer for the Sheriff’s Office, who brings thirty-three years of broadcasting experience to the show, hosts broadcasts.

Recently the broadcasting company expanded the show’s coverage into several adjacent counties with an additional airing of the program on Tennessee 93.9 WAYA FM.

Staying on the cutting edge of technology Gobble added video, commonly known as podcasts, to the department’s web site to enhance contact with the public. Each segment of BCSOtv spotlights a different aspect of the sheriff’s office and new ones are added daily.

They give Gobble the flexibility of taking viewers to the subject matter, adding an aspect to the story that is not possible on radio. Each segment is a separate production, generally lasting 1 to 3 minutes.

Podcasts are gaining rapid popularity across the Internet. BCSO is among the first to use video on a law enforcement web site.

The decision to begin production was reached after several months of discussion between Sheriff Gobble and the Special Projects Unit, consisting of staff member J. Michael Leonard and Perk Evans, a volunteer, who provides technical expertise. Since the addition of BCSOtv site visits have increased substantially.

"I think it is important, it is vital that we keep the public informed about what the sheriff’s office is doing. Through regular releases to the media about arrests, investigations, and our accomplishments as a department, our radio show and BCSOtv, we are presenting the opportunity to understand what we are doing," said Sheriff Gobble.

Looking back over the past year the sheriff said a few topics that were covered on the radio show included the department’s prosecutions of defendants in the federal court system through the Project Safe Neighborhoods partnership, the inmate transport program, jail operations, patrol functions, and others.

"Some of the most lively shows we produced preceded our first Family Day event that was held at George R. Stuart Elementary School in October." Gobble said the event was a huge success and plans to hold it annually are now underway.

The sheriff’s office has plenty of subject matter to showcase on upcoming radio shows and podcasts.

Gobble said he hopes the public will visit www.bradleysheriff.com on a regular basis. The site is updated daily with new material and podcasts.

The next broadcast of Ask the Sheriff can be heard on AM broadcast station, WBAC, 1340, at 12:05 p.m. on Saturday, February 2nd. That program will be rebroadcast on February 3rd at 7:30 a.m. over WAYA FM. The time is provided to the sheriff’s office as public service programming.