Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Sheriff vows to continue crime-fighting, make county safer place

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Paul White

Paul White

To the Editor:

Since I was first elected in 2006, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department has implemented many changes and programs to better serve the citizens of Anderson County.

The Sheriff’s Department was reorganized to be more efficient and more effective. Emphasis has been placed on enforcement for the prevention, detection, and investigation of crimes. This reorganization has placed more deputies on patrol and investigating crimes, resulting in more arrests and crimes solved.

We have focused the efforts of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department on drug enforcement and in reducing property crimes such as burglary and theft. These efforts have paid off as overall crime numbers have fallen and are continuing to decrease.

Crime prevention programs such as Neighborhood Watch were reinstated and a dedicated crime prevention officer works hand-in-hand with the community to help in reducing crime. [Read more…]

Guest column: October marks Crime Prevention Month

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Crime Prevention Logo

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department joined with the Anderson County Board of Commissioners in proclaiming October as Crime Prevention Month for 2013. Sheriff Paul White has challenged the entire community to make crime prevention a priority and wishes to thank law enforcement officers throughout Anderson County along with the many people who have taken personal responsibility for their neighborhoods as well as community organizations that work for the common good.

In 1984, the National Crime Prevention Council, the nation’s center of excellence for preventing crime, designated October as Crime Prevention Month. The month-long commemoration reflects the adage that prevention pays off. NCPC strongly believes that citizen involvement in crime prevention can and has played a vital role in helping many communities stay safe.

Crime Prevention Month recognizes successful crime prevention efforts on the local, state, and national levels to generate interest and enthusiasm for prevention efforts to continue to grow even stronger and become more widespread. [Read more…]

Sheriff’s Department has county-wide Neighborhood Watch meeting on Tuesday

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Neighborhood Watch Logo

Submitted

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department will be holding a county-wide Neighborhood Watch meeting at the Clinton Middle School auditorium at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting will highlight the success of Neighborhood Watch and the dedicated volunteers who have contributed so much to reducing crime. A presentation will demonstrate how the department’s crime analysis and crime mapping aids citizens in keeping neighborhoods safe.

Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the country, bringing citizens together with law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer. Throughout the county, there are some 30 Neighborhood Watch groups keeping a close eye on their community. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge to support crime prevention with National Night Out

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Oak Ridge will join communities throughout the country celebrating National Night Out from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1. The evening is designed to heighten awareness of crime prevention and to strengthen neighborhood involvement in anti-crime programs and police-community partnerships.

The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program is supporting the Oak Ridge Police Community Resource Office in planning the city-wide National Night Out event. This year marks the 30th anniversary of this unique crime prevention program promoted by the National Association of Town Watch Groups. [Read more…]

Anderson County Sheriff releases holiday crime prevention tips

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Many people can can become victims of burglary, theft, and other crime during the holidays, and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department has released tips to help prevent those crimes.

“Protecting yourself and home from crime is one way to be safe and happy this holiday season,” Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said.

Here are the tips:

[Read more…]

Report: Anderson County arrests have doubled since 2005

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Anderson County Sheriff's Department Report

The Anderson County Sheriff's Department has had modest staffing increases in the last decade or so and significant increases in arrests starting in 2007, particularly burglary and theft arrests. (Chart submitted by Sheriff's Department)

The number of arrests per year in Anderson County has more than doubled since 2005, according to a recent presentation by the Sheriff’s Department.

There have been significant increases in burglary and theft arrests, as well as arrests for drug crimes.

Total arrests have risen from roughly 1,100 or fewer in 2006 and earlier years to more than 2,000 per year from 2008 to 2010.

[Read more…]

County crime prevention meeting Tuesday

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The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is having a crime prevention meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Anderson County High School cafeteria.

The meeting will feature current Neighborhood Watch groups as well as those interested in forming their own Neighborhood Watch groups.

[Read more…]