ARTICLE TOOLS

E-mail story

Comments

Printer friendly version

iPod friendly version

Share This

Text Size: A A A A

Hamilton County: Candidates discuss police in schools

By: Michael Davis
(Contact)

Included in this article

Jim Winters
Tim Akins
Greg Beck
Fred Fuson
Jim Hammond

The issue of school resource officers in Hamilton County Schools was one of several topics discussed at Monday night’s sheriff election forum.

The 90-minute event, hosted by the Southeast Tennessee Political Action Committee at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, featured Republican Jim Hammond, Democrat Greg Beck, independent candidates Tim Akins and Jim Winters and write-in candidate Fred Fuson.

Candidates were asked their goals on the matter of having an SRO at every school in the system and how large a priority it would be.

Mr. Hammond, a former chief deputy in the sheriff’s department, said “the SRO program will continue as it is at this point.”

He acknowledged that the initiative is costly. And he said he would want to convene a group of stakeholders such as school officials, judicial representatives and county commissioners to tackle the SRO issue.

Mr. Beck, a county commissioner and former sheriff’s deputy, said schools should be “covered as much as possible.”

“But I don’t particularly think that every school has to have a resource officer,” he said.

Mr. Akins, a former staff sergeant with the sheriff’s department, said the County Commission should be approached for financial assistance with the program.

“I know that may mean raising taxes or whatever and that’s a dirty word, but the money’s got to be there,” he said.

Mr. Winters, who once worked for the East Ridge police and the Hamilton County medical examiner’s office, said while SROs are a priority for him, his top priority is addressing gang and drug problems. But he said he would like to see retired individuals with law enforcement backgrounds serve as SROs.

“I still think we need to utilize some of our retired FBI agents or retired law enforcement officers,” he said.

Mr. Fuson, chief park ranger for Hamilton County, said students need to have a safe educational environment. But he said the SRO program is expensive.

“To expand the program, it’s going to require more money,” he said.

The candidates are running in the Aug. 7 special election for sheriff to replace former Sheriff Billy Long.

Comments