When I was elected sheriff almost four years ago, I came into an office that had some serious problems. Crime was up and morale was down.

At the time, my deputies were being compensated almost 30 percent below the average compensation of their Cleveland City Police counterparts and employees in other departments of similar size and responsibility. This pay disparity contributed significantly to a high turnover rate, which ultimately was costing taxpayers much more than it saved in terms of lost experience and increased hiring, training and equipping costs.

The vehicles my deputies were being forced to drive were so old and worn out, an engine actually fell out of one of them and they were regularly breaking down on the way to help people. Deputies felt they were unsafe to drive and when I took office, they looked to me for help.

Another problem was that our deputies were regularly being sent on calls with no backup or limited backup in handling very dangerous or potentially dangerous situations because of staffing shortages and top-heavy management instead of enough field positions to properly do the job.

Much of the equipment deputies were provided at the time I assumed office was dated, worn and non-functional. For instance, deputies were wearing bullet-resistant vests that were expired, tattered and worn to the point stopping bullets was seriously questioned. There were very few working cameras in patrol cars to document evidence and protect the public and deputies alike.

While 85 percent of the public recognized the need to address these problems and voted me into office in record numbers to find solutions, some members of the public and county officials did not understand the serious public safety need or what would be required to fix the problems.  In my first budget request as sheriff, instead of ignoring the situation, I asked the County Commission to work with me to institute a phase-in plan to bring Bradley deputy salaries up to the level of the Cleveland City police, retire all patrol cars that were unreliable and dangerous and to fund the necessary equipment for our deputies to properly do their jobs in an effective and safe manner.

At the time, there was enough money in the County’s Fund Balance to cover the cost of these needs by phasing them in over a period of years without the need for a tax increase. This is what I publicly asked them to do.  

Yet, as often is the case, the old guard on the Commission was resistant to change. Twice during the budget negotiating sessions, I entered into phase-in agreements with members of the Finance Committee in compromises requiring no tax increase. Yet, when the final budget votes were taken by Commissioners that year, they voted our requests down.

Under the law, this left me with only two options: I could accept the budget and continue to ignore these vital public safety needs; or I could exercise a provision in state law which allows elected officials in Tennessee, when issues of vital importance are at stake, to petition a court for budget intervention on behalf of Bradley citizens and deputies. I chose to do the right thing and petition the court. It may have not been the politically expedient thing, but I believed it was the right thing.    

On average, according to an official at the University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service, about seven sheriffs per year in Tennessee exercise this legislature-provided option. Some do it as a matter of routine. Although in my case, I did not win a judges order as sought, the judge did say in his ruling that the Sheriff’s Office did have valid needs and urged all County officials to work together in the future to meet these needs … which is just what I had tried to do from the beginning.

Fortunately, since this time, and largely because I was willing to act and not ignore problems year after year, much good has been accomplished. Crime is down, deputies have received much needed pay boosts, newer vehicles are on the road, morale is up, personnel turnover is down, crime is being solved at record levels, emergency response times have been reduced, the backlog of 5,000 un-served warrants has been reduced to near zero and deputies are better equipped and protected with upgraded, certified bullet-resistant vests.

I want to thank the public for your continued support, along with the BCSO command staff, and the Mayor and Commission for working with me over the last three years to meet these goals; all without a tax increase, as I knew could be done all along. If my tactic of using every option at my disposal during my first year as sheriff politically offended some people, I hope they understand my desire has always been to properly protect citizens and to properly support my deputies who, for very little compensation or recognition, risk their lives every day to protect the people of our community.

I do not apologize for supporting these valued public servants and their families to the fullest. All those who protect and serve our community and nation, including firefighters, EMS, rescue, law enforcement, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and others, deserve our respect, support and recognition.

Protecting and defending citizens is the number one responsibility of government at all levels. When we have those who are willing to serve and risk their lives for others, we need to support them and I thank all those who do. Additionally, it is important for them to have fire chiefs, police chiefs, EMA directors, sheriffs and military commanders to speak on their behalf, protect them and get them what is needed to get the job done. I have a history of doing just that.