April 28, 2017 - Tenaha city council members turned an about face when Sheriff Willis Blackwell was present on April 24, 2017 to answer questions regarding statements made at the March 27, 2017 council meeting. These statements regarding the Sheriff's Department made by councilwoman Stephanie Marie Glenn and Mayor Carl Jernigan were instead turned toward the city's own officers by Glenn, and no longer toward the Sheriff's Department and their dispatch.
The Shelby County dispatch handles calls for the Sheriff's Department, Tenaha City Marshal's Office, Timpson Police Department, county constables and fire departments around the county.
Glenn suggested to Sheriff Blackwell the statements didn't actually occur, and the soul concern was over the city officers.
As the meeting opened, Sheriff Blackwell took to the podium in the council room to address the council and anyone that had a question for him about anything the Sheriff's Department is doing.
"I think there was some discussion at the last meeting, that's what I wanted to try to clear up," said Sheriff Blackwell.
Sheriff Blackwell indicated he sent out a written response to the council for the public's view (Click this link to view letter: Sheriff Addresses Tenaha City Council Concerns) and he was glad to answer any questions he could.
Letcia Borens, a Tenaha Resident, asked Sheriff Blackwell if implications the Sheriff's Department doesn't want deputies patrolling were true, he answered that is not true.
"I put in this letter that I wrote exactly the way that we do our schedule. I have two deputies working at any given time, no more than that. Okay, we have [1,355] miles of road to cover, that includes Tenaha, Timpson, Joaquin, Shelbyville, Huxley, all the way to Patroon. Those two deputies are the two that are patrolling," said Blackwell.
Sheriff Blackwell stated the Sheriff's Department responds to between 800 and 1,000 calls for service a month, which he says spreads the department pretty thin.
"When you have a deputy that's waiting on five or six calls, there is no really patrolling, we go from call, to call, to call. I would love for us to be able to patrol the whole county constantly, but as long as the budget is the way it is, this is as many officers as I've got, which is six total," said Sheriff Blackwell.
Six is the number of patrolmen Sheriff Blackwell say covers the county 24 hours a day, seven days a week through holidays and weekends. He said that is the reason, if officers are on duty and working in the cities that have their own law enforcement, they are the first ones contacted in that area when a call is received by the Sheriff's Department.
"If they're not, then we make the call. If they need our assistance, we will come. We don't send an officer, because they get a call, I don't send an officer to be backing them up unless it's a call that somebody's got a gun, something like that I'll be glad to do that," said Blackwell.
Sheriff Blackwell indicated the severity of the call would dictate the response of a deputy to back up another officer in Tenaha and that he tries to have the officers at opposite ends of the county to improve response time.
Councilwoman Glenn said she was glad Sheriff Blackwell was there, because she had received a call and a lot of what was said at the previous meeting was attributed to her. She said she wanted to clear things up and her main issue was not with the Sheriff's Department, but with the officers of Tenaha.
"I was asking about the deputies that we have here to serve our community," said Glenn.
Sheriff Blackwell explained things have changed a great deal in Shelby County from the days of the past when there were only two Sheriff's Deputies at all for the county.
"We're lucky enough that we have constables in each precinct. Most all of them are willing to do as much as they're called on to do. We have so much law enforcement in this county compared to the past that we're very, very lucky. I realize we're still way short, but until like I said in the article I wrote, until taxes are raised in this county, and we don't want that, then we're not going to get anymore deputies and we're not going to get anymore help that way, because there's no money there," said Blackwell.
The Sheriff explained his department has 42 employees; however, most of them work in the jail and most of the expense is for the jail and its inmates.
Natalie Harris, councilwoman, asked Sheriff Blackwell to clarify how to contact the Sheriff's Department if they are needed, and he said if it is an emergency, to call 9-1-1. Non emergencies should go through the main number of the Sheriff's Department, 936-598-5600.
He explained there are one to two dispatchers at a time answering six phone lines, including two 9-1-1 lines and the dispatchers have to answer those immediately as they ring. They also are handling radio calls, as well as dealing with individuals that walk in off the street.
Harris confirmed with Tenaha City Marshall Wagstaff, the best way to reach himself and his officers is through the Sheriff's Department. She then asked Sheriff Blackwell what would happen if a city officer is not on duty, and he stated a deputy would respond and they may be on the other side of the county.
For the public's knowledge, when officers are off duty in Tenaha, one officer remains "on-call" meaning if they are not actually on duty within the city limits at the time an emergency occur, they will be contacted by the Sheriff's Department at their home and be dispatched where they are needed.
"The last bit of confusion that I'd like for you to address is I know several 9-1-1 calls have been reviewed and at no point in time has the dispatch said that no officers were available, you know 'we can't send anybody,'" said Mayor Jernigan.
Sheriff Blackwell said he and his Chief Deputy D.J. Dickerson take it very seriously that officers respond to all calls and he stated if they don't make a call, they won't have a job. He mirrored the same result for a dispatcher if they fail to perform their duty, and anyone else that works at the Sheriff's Department.
Sheriff Blackwell explained to Borens the Sheriff's Department has a recording of the 9-1-1 call that was made on the night her car had an alleged collision and the dispatcher didn't say there was no officer on duty; however, they did say there wasn't a Tenaha City Marshal on duty.
Glenn reiterated her concerns were not directed at the Sheriff's Department.
"I just want to make sure that you do understand that the issue from the last meeting was not directed towards your department. We were asking about our department, but the Sheriff came in because of the 9-1-1 call," said Glenn.
Sheriff Blackwell said he knew Chief Dickerson had spoken with Glenn and in turn spoke with him about their conversation. He also said that anytime the city wants the Sheriff's Department to address them about anything, or want help with anything to feel free to call because he would go to Tenaha anytime.
According to Blackwell, all of the Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy numbers are available to the public and are a matter of public record. He said his dispatchers are instructed to provide those numbers when asked for them.
Cliff Lloyd, councilman, said he understood it was not within the Sheriff's Department's control, but he wanted to know why they could not have the Tenaha City Marshal officers' numbers and he didn't know if the city pays for the Tenaha City Marshal's Office cell phones.
Mayor Jernigan later said the cell phones are paid for by the city of Tenaha.
Vicky Jernigan, Tenaha resident, asked Sheriff Blackwell if the citizens of Center have the cell phone numbers of the Center police officers.
"My understanding is that Center PD does not give out numbers. I don't rule what they do," said Sheriff Blackwell. "If they were mine, they would give you the number."
This illustrated not all agencies provide the cell phone numbers to their officers. Sheriff Blackwell stated the phone number for Jake Metcalf Constable Precinct 4, the precinct Tenaha is within, is also a matter of public record.
Chief Deputy Dickerson explained it's his responsibility and task to make sure the Sheriff's office runs smoothly and sometimes things are not going to always run smoothly. He informed the audience he spoke with Glenn, Mayor Jernigan and Marshal Wagstaff about any issues relating to the Sheriff's Department.
"If there's problems within our agency, if there's something going on, if y'all are receiving complaints saying that there's a dispatcher that didn't do this, or whatever it is within our agency, you call me," said Chief Dickerson.
Councilwoman Harris said she understands people want the officers phone numbers, but she also said if a protocol is already in place it should be followed.
"It's your business whether you call 9-1-1. If you think it's faster to get, if you know your officer can get there a lot faster than you can call 9-1-1 and me relay the call to him," said Sheriff Blackwell.
Sheriff Blackwell explained 9-1-1 is a convenience for the community and is a quicker way than an individual having to look up a number, whereas a 9-1-1 operator can get an ambulance or officer en-route to the caller.
To provide greater clarity on what was said at the March 27, 2017 meeting of the Tenaha City Council, Shelby County Today is publishing two audio recordings with one including the portion of the meeting where the dispatch of Tenaha City Marshals was discussed, and the second including council comments at the end of the meeting.
Audio File 1
Tenaha City Council Discussion1
Audio File 2
Tenaha City Council Discussion2
Related Articles:
Tenaha City Council Funds Fire Department Needs; Sheriff's Dept. Patrol Questioned
Sheriff Addresses Tenaha City Council Concerns (Letter)
Tenaha Council Continues Discussion on Fire Department Funding
City of Tenaha Special Called Council Meeting Agenda, May 4th
