PATROL & PUBLIC SAFETY Patrol The Patrol and Public Safety Operations is comprised of uniformed patrol staff, the Traffic Safety Unit, School Resource Officers, and the K-9 teams. Patrol consists of three patrol shifts as well as Traffic Safety, each staffed with a lieutenant, sergeant, two corporals, and at least six patrolmen per shift to provide patrol services for Blount County. These services include handling dispatched calls for service, pro-active patrol, traffic enforcement, traffic accident investigations, and preliminary criminal investigations. Blount County is divided into four geographical zones known as patrol zones. Two patrolmen are assigned to each zone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are responsible for providing patrol services to their assigned areas. There is also a “Zone 5” deputy who is stationed at the Blount County Justice Center to respond to requests for phone calls and walk-in reports. Patrol includes 75 P.O.S.T. (Peace Officers Standards and Training) certified deputies who patrol Blount County’s 584 square miles and 1,637 miles of roadway. In <strong>2017</strong>, Sheriff’s deputies responded to 65,437 complaints, which is an increase over the 64,485 calls in 2016. The average response time to calls in <strong>2017</strong> was 12 minutes. Over the past few years, the number of citations versus arrests increased, a reflection of the desire of deputies to work toward crime prevention and deterrence in the community. Field Training Officers (FTOs) are an essential part of the Sheriff’s Office. There are 11 trainers assigned to Patrol. Traffic Safety Traffic Safety deputies concentrate on traffic-related issues in Blount County. The Traffic Safety unit is funded partially with the assistance from grants from the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, in conjunction with the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA). A portion of the grant goes toward saturation enforcements in the area of U.S. Highway 129 known as “The Dragon,” a popular destination for motorcycle and car club enthusiasts from across the country. In <strong>2017</strong>, there were nine deputies assigned to Traffic Safety, including a lieutenant, a sergeant, and seven deputies. They investigated a total of 1,069 crashes on county and state routes. They issued 8,395 citations. School Resource Officers (SROs) SROs consist of 23 deputies, including a lieutenant, a sergeant, and two corporals who are assigned to the unit. Each of the county’s 21 schools is assigned an SRO. The BCSO was one of the first law enforcement agencies in Tennessee to implement an SRO program in 1996. The program began with two deputies, one in each of the county’s two high schools. SROs are trained in tactical response and crisis management, conflict resolution, and child development. SROs train several times a year on active shooter scenarios. During the summer, SROs are assigned to patrol, court services, and special teams. Reserve Unit The Sheriff’s Reserve Unit is comprised of 17 reserve deputies. Reserve deputies work special assignments and patrol when needed. Reserve deputies adhere to a strict hiring process, and they must complete a reserve academy and field training program. In <strong>2017</strong>, reserve deputies worked 24 special events. They worked and trained a total of 3,370.5 hours throughout the year. 12
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