posted May 14, 2008
Recently one candidate for Hamilton County Sheriff stated that one of his primary objectives was to gain accreditation for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and that the accreditation process should take
about two years, at a cost of $5,000. I believe that candidate is referring to the accreditation offered by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement.
Listed below are the actual and some estimated costs associated with this program;
Application Fee - $13,075 (non refundable, must be paid at time application is submitted)
Annual Fee - $ 4,965 (must be paid annually to retain accreditation)
The accreditation process will require from 24 to 36 months to complete. It will require a minimum of two or three full time employees, permanently assigned to this task. (Add salaries of two or three employees for the 24 to 36 months needed to meet the standards required for accreditation). There are over 400 standards that must be met to pass the accreditation process and it affects every function performed by the department.
Once the process is completed, a team of three to five law enforcement officers from outside the state of Tennessee will be required to conduct an inspection of the department. The department is responsible for the transportation, meals, per-diem, lodging, and salaries for these individuals for the four or five days necessary to complete the inspection of the department.
Should the department fail to pass an inspection within 36 months, a re-inspection is necessary and the department is responsible for the inspection costs. Additionally, the department must pay 35 percent of the initial application fee of $13,075 ($4,576.25).
The costs reflected above do not include the purchase of equipment that will be needed to pass an accreditation process nor does it reflect the salaries of the additional personnel that will be required. Fully funding the SRO program will cost a sum in the millions of dollars and it will be required to be fully funded to gain accreditation.
Are we going to elect another sheriff who will seek to add another property tax to fund this unnecessary program?
Obtaining accreditation through CALEA does not necessarily guarantee priority of state or federal grants and does not give the department any special standing over non-accredited departments.
I think a competent sheriff with a highly motivated and professional staff, with the dedicated men and women currently employed by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department can provide a level of law enforcement services, second to none in this state, and this service will not require another tax increase for the citizens of this county.
I urge everyone to join me in electing Greg Beck Sheriff of Hamilton County Aug. 7.
Dave Alverson
Ooltewah
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