Accomplishments - The Last 4 years...
Sex Offenders Task Force
KCSO is the only agency fully compliant with TBI regulations for reporting sex offenders. KCSO works jointly with the Knoxville Police Department to track convicted sex offenders. Officers maintain a close eye on offenders and also conduct information seminars in daycare centers and schools to get neighborhoods informed about the offenders and what citizens can do to protect their children.
Computer Crime Task Force
This is a special unit of officers who work on computer based crimes. With cyber crime becoming more widespread and sophisticated, this team conducts careful computer forensic investigations.
East Tennessee Homeland Security Council
Sheriff Tim Hutchison founded the Council in 2003 to better promote and enhance planning, cooperation and support for the agencies involved in protecting homeland security. The Council is made up of local emergency service providers from a sixteen county region in East Tennessee.
Officers in Middle and Elementary Schools
The Knox County Sheriff's Office established a School Police Officer Program in 1999, in response to a national and local trend of rising juvenile crime. It was comprised of eight officers, and they were placed in all of the high schools in Knox County. In 2002, the KCSO applied for and received a COPS in Schools grant to expand the scope of this program, and place 10 Officers in the seven Knox County middle schools. Between 2003 and 2004, the KCSO received two more grants to place 15 officers in the 25 Knox County elementary schools. A total of 2.9 million dollars in federal funding was secured over the past three years. The partnership between the Knox County Schools and the KCSO has proven successful in preventing numerous tragedies.
Israeli Training/Award
In September, 2004 Sheriff Hutchison completed a week of counter-terrorism training in Israel. This unique training was sponsored by the National Sheriff's Association. The training will better protect the city and county from future threats. The counter-terrorism techniques have been taught to KCSO officers and are available to any agency that requests it.
Sheriff Hutchison was also recognized by the Consul General of the State of Israel in a special ceremony in April, 2005 for his counter-terrorism training.
Helicopters Respond to Hurricanes Katrina/Rita
When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Sheriff Hutchison and five other pilots flew three KCSO helicopters to the area to help with search and rescue. They were one of the first few crews on the scene. A few weeks later when Rita hit, they again flew three helicopters back to the area to help. KCSO pilots flew Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist over the devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast for a first-hand look at the disaster.
Training
The Training Division operates two recruit classes a year. During 2005, there were 334 days of training which included court security, hostage negotiations, firearms, terrorism. Also hosted schools for state and federal agencies such as Tennessee Highway Patrol, Department of Revenue, FBI, TVA Inspector Generals Office, Energy Department and the Department of Homeland Security. Approximately 2,500 students underwent training.
Implemented Annual Leadership Conference with nationally and internationally recognized leaders of the military and law enforcement.
Technology
Implemented new Records Management System. This new system allows officers to make state and national queries and download in the field; officers can access mug shots for identification and confirmation; officers can submit reports from the field; and allows for more efficient management of thousands of reports which are generated annually.
Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) is part of the Records Management System and is another safety tool for officers. Patrol cars can be tracked in case an officer cannot get to a radio. It is also effective for assignments when assessing calls for service.
Dialogic Upgrade: This emergency phone system is capable of notification during a crisis at a now increased speed. New software also allows for a better defined area to select from.
Grants
Since 2002, the KCSO has secured approximately $6.9 million dollars in state and federal grant funding. These funds have been used to hire new patrol officers, and provided for endeavors such as the School Police Officer Program, Project Lifesaver, and the Volunteer Services Program. They have also been used to purchase equipment, such as laptops for all of the patrol cars and fingerprint machines. Most recently, Homeland Security funds have been utilized to purchase equipment and supplies to prepare Knox County for any natural disaster or terrorist incident. A total of 47 positions within the KCSO are being paid for from a state or federal grant.
Web site
Direct information about KCSO is available as well as tracking which neighborhoods sex offenders live.
Citizen Academy
The Academy formed in 2001 to better educate the public about KCSO and its programs. Since then, approximately 300 citizens have gone through the academy. KCSO operates two academies a year. Many students have gone on to volunteer in other KCSO programs.
Response Time
Sheriff Hutchison worked to reduce response time by re-establishing different zones in Knox County. Officers are now in particular zones at all times.
Explorers
This special program was revived in 2005 after several years on hiatus for teens and young adults from age 14 to 21. Students learn all aspects of law enforcement. They volunteer at many community events and assist officers in non-emergency situations.
Teen Academy
Started in 2003, this program takes law enforcement to teens. Approximately 100 students have learned about law enforcement and the Knox County Sheriffs Office in a program similar to the adult Citizen Academy, but aimed at the 14-18 year-old high school student. A summer camp began in 2005 with a similar theme.
Project LifeSaver
This program was established through a grant and began in 2004. KCSO has partnered with the Downs Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee and the CAC Office on Aging to provide wrist bands that send out a continuous radio pulse that can be tracked in case a special needs child or adult wanders off. SCAN monitors the wrist bands and changes the batteries once a month. This is the first program of its kind in Tennessee and KCSO is the pilot state coordinator.
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