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The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office has received the results of our annual audit from the Tennessee State Comptroller’s Office and I am pleased to report that state auditors once again confirmed the BCSO is a well-run and well-managed operation. According to the audit, all BCSO property and monies were accounted for and all BCSO expenditures made, were made for official purposes and in accordance with the law.
State auditors did make a recommendation that we implement a few minor, procedural adjustments that would better separate administrative duties, but they also acknowledged that such adjustments would most likely require more staff than we currently have. That is not an uncommon recommendation for audits of this type, but I think it is important because it clearly shows how well our existing administrative staff does in multitasking. They routinely exceed their job descriptions and most are always willing to go that extra mile, take on extra duties and put in those extra hours with limited financial resources.
I extend to all BCSO employees ~ law enforcement, Corrections, administration and otherwise ~ my sincere thanks for their dedication to this office and the citizens of Bradley County. I commend them for a job well done.
Sheriff’s Family Day 2008 has come and gone ad I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make it another success. The weather was wonderful, the exhibits interesting and everyone enjoyed themselves. We estimated the attendance during the course of the day to be around 8,000 this year, which is almost twice the number we had last year. You can read more about Sheriff’s Family Day 2008 here at the BCSO web site, as well as view hundreds of Family Day pictures in our photo gallery.
When we first conceived of the idea for Family Day, we were trying to come up with an effective and fun way to reach the community with a strong anti-drug message. I think it has been an unqualified success and we have reached more people through Family Day than would have been possible through more conventional methods, such as anti-drug classes or school visits. And don’t misunderstand ~ school visits and educational classes are useful tools, but I believe Family Day is the best venue to bring families together and grab the attention of young people in this age of MTV and computer games. Thanks to everyone who helped.
By the way, if you lost glasses or a cell phone, please come by the Sheriff’s Office to claim them. They will be at the front desk and you will need to describe the items to Cathy Ruth in order to claim them.
Speaking of educational classes, We still have space open in the upcoming BCSO Citizen Academy. This is a great way to learn more about how the BCSO and other public service organizations operate. If you are interested, drop off your completed application at the Justice Center as soon as possible. The cut-off date is December 1st and classes begin on January 20th. There is no charge to attend the Academy but class sizes are limited to the first 25 qualified applicants. You can pick up an application at the Justice Center ~ 2290 Blythe Avenue ~ or download one from our web site. If you would like further information, call Lt. Eddie Scoggins (423-728-7330) or Sgt. Gwen Beavers (423-728-7319).
Lastly, I have received some “Top Calls for Service” statistics that you may find interesting. These stats cover the five-year period between 2002 and 2007. For the year 2002, there were 2,328 automobile accidents/crashes. For the year 2007, that figure was 1,605. That is actually a reduction of 723 accidents over six years ago, and is doubly impressive when you take into account the population increase between then and now. Bradley County has thousands more people today than we did in 2002, with over 700 less auto accidents. The BCSO made 13,654 traffic stops in 2002; last year we made 34,418 traffic stops. Most traffic stops result in warnings, not tickets, and have proven effective in saving lives and property.
I want to thank Capt. Jon Collins, Sgt. W. G. Campbell and all our hard-working deputies who are keeping our roadways safe under an increasingly heavy traffic flow. Remember to buckle up, don’t drink and drive, be courteous and use your lights at dusk and when it’s raining.
For more information about the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and our various programs, events and activities, visit our web site. If you would like to reach me directly, email me: comments@bradleysheriff.com |
