The challenges that face BCSO deputies are varied and can come from many sources. Some challenges test them physically, some test them mentally, and some challenges test them ethically. A routine traffic stop by a BCSO deputy in 2006 resulted in the discovery of $864,928 in cash hidden in the vehicle. The driver claimed neither the car nor the money was his. Although the driver was not arrested or charged with anything, the vehicle turned out to be registered in the name of a suspected drug dealer, so the car and cash were confiscated. After reviewing the seizure, the courts awarded the money to our drug fund for official use in combating illegal drugs and violence in our community.

Sometime later, the man who was caught with the money wanted it back. He began offering bribes to several people, including a BCSO detective and others, if he could have the money returned and all records of it destroyed. The bribes he offered totaled over $300,000, and it is to their credit that no one accepted any bribe money. Instead, they reported it. Subsequently, this person was charged in federal court for attempting to bribe law enforcement officers.

Offering bribes to deputies is the exception, not the norm. A deputy was offered a thousand dollars several years ago to allow contraband into the jail for an inmate. He refused and reported the incident, and everyone involved in the bribery scheme was arrested. Just a few months ago, another deputy was offered a hundred dollars if he would not write a traffic ticket. Not only did the deputy write the traffic ticket, he arrested the man for attempted bribery. The message is: Don’t try to bribe a BCSO employee.

We read of law enforcement officers who are arrested for graft, but we rarely read of the many, many instances where they do the right thing in the face of temptation. I am proud to call attention to the BCSO deputies who display integrity and moral courage in the face of such temptation. Please rest assured that the BCSO does not and will not tolerate corruption in our ranks. We regularly take steps to ensure integrity in our operations. If at any time impropriety  is discovered, it is dealt with in the strongest terms.

I am thankful for the many dedicated and honest BCSO employees. I hope you are as well. My thanks to them all.

It is getting closer to growing season and inmates have already begun preparing the soil for the vegetable  garden. The garden was such a success last year that it will be expanded and more variety of vegetables will be planted this year. The crops harvested from the garden have become a part of the meals the inmates receive.

Inmates till the soil, they plant the seeds, tend the crops, harvest them and cook the vegetables in the kitchen or mix them into salads. The benefits of fresh vegetables in the inmates’ diet and the saving to taxpayers in reduced food costs are evident.

Lastly, we are well into our first BCSO Citizen’s Academy and it is going very well. If you haven’t signed up, I encourage you to do so for the next session, which will begin on March 24th. The purpose of the Academy is to strengthen the partnership between the sheriff’s office and the community, as well as to increase public understanding of law enforcement. A lot of good information comes from these classes, including the functions of various divisions within the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office. Study topics include Constitutional law, criminal law, domestic violence, warrants and searches, use of force issues, fleet accreditation and many other subjects that a lot of citizens are not familiar with. The Academy will provide you a fresh, enlightening look at all BCSO operations. I hope to see you during the next session.