Extra Patrols and Church Checks
As a part of the crime prevention, drug awareness and neighborhood watch programs of the McMinn County Sheriff's Department, we included extra patrols for churches and businesses as well as residential. This is one of our proudest accomplishments and has been in place since 1994. Keeping our community safe has and always will be our number one goal.
Toys for Kids Program
The Toys for Kids program was started in 1994 and is to help less fortunate children throughout the Community experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our Community's most valuable resources - our children; to unite members of local communities in a common cause each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.
Our primary area of concern is local toy donations from people and businesses within the community. The economy is such that many people may find it difficult to purchase toys and gifts this year for children. The Sheriff's Department has once again shined through when times are the most difficult. The idea of a child not having a toy for Christmas will prompt many to act, by donating toys to drop off at our department. When the program first began it help around 50 needy families. Since that time the number of families has grown over 250.
"Meth is Death" Billboards
In the late 1990's Tennessee became one of the largest producers of clandestine Meth labs in the country. Meth has been identified as the largest drug threat to our community by most law enforcement professionals. One of the Sheriff's Departments responses to the Meth epidemic was the placement of the "Meth is Death" billboards throughout the county.
School Resource Officer Program
The McMinn County Sheriff's Department received a grant in 2000 through the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Strategies) Program, In previous years, 5 school resource officers were in place in the county high schools and vocational school. This new grant helped provide funding for an additional 7 school resource officers to be placed in the elementary schools for a period of 4 years. Once the grant ran out, the Sheriff's Department was able to continue the SRO program with 6 school resource officers who currently rotate throughout the McMinn County School System.
Meth Decontamination Area
A fiberglass storage shed, bought at a bargain price from a local merchant, holds a fiberglass shower stall and next to it a 250-gallon holding tank. The cost of the decontamination room was less than $2,000. Deputies use to have to ask fire departments for help to decontaminate those arrested for meth production.
Mobile Command Center
A tour bus has been given to the McMinn County Sheriff's Department to use as a command post.
Before and After Pictures
The bus would be a great mobile command center for this department, so it was given to the county.
The bus has six bunks and a small lounge area, and with some work, a rear section will be turned into a command post with radios and other equipment.
The Tennessee Statewide Automated Victims Information and Notification Service
A newly created program allows victims of a crime and other concerned citizens to be notified immediately in the event of an offender's release, transfer, or escape from county jails twenty-four hours a day. The McMinn County Sheriff's Department is now equipped with this state of the art technology to better serve the community and its citizens.
The Tennessee Statewide Automated Victims Information and Notification Service Website
MCMINN COUNTY SHERIFF's OFFICE LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
The McMinn County Sheriff's Office launches a new website recently where residents can find the latest information regarding the operations of the Sheriff's Office as well as locate area sex offenders. The new website will serve as an information resource for the public as well as assist with community policing efforts.
