Oak Ridge Today

Updated: No impact on local investigations, but FBI agents working without pay

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 24.

Local law enforcement officers haven’t noticed an impact on investigations or criminal proceedings from the partial shutdown of the federal government, but agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has helped investigate crimes in Oak Ridge, are working without pay.

The shutdown is in its 33rd day, and it is the longest ever. It began Saturday, December 22, and it affects about 25 percent of the U.S. government, including the departments of Homeland Security and Justice, among other federal agencies. The shutdown hinges on a dispute between President Donald Trump and Democrats in Congress over whether to spend $5.7 billion to build a wall on the border with Mexico.

On Wednesday, the Oak Ridge Police Department said it has not observed any impact from the partial government shutdown, and the ORPD continues to work with its federal partners. Besides the FBI, the ORPD also works with, for example, the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark said he is not aware of any impact at this time, including on investigations or criminal proceedings. Clark said he just met with the Anderson County sheriff and the county’s police chiefs on Tuesday, and “there was no mention of anyone experiencing issues.” [Read more…]

ORPD accepting applications for Citizen Police Academy

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Police Department will be conducting a Citizen Police Academy in 2018. Classes will start Feb. 27, 2018. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Pictured above in the Citizen Police Academy in 2012. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Police Department)

The Oak Ridge Police Department will be conducting a Citizen Police Academy in 2018. Classes will start Feb. 27, 2018. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Pictured above in the Citizen Police Academy in 2012. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Oak Ridge Police Department)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department will be conducting a Citizen Police Academy this year. Classes will start February 27 and continue through May 8. Applications will be accepted until February 21 at 5 p.m.

Class will be held on Tuesday of each week with the exception of two sessions that will be conducted on Saturday. Each class will start at 6 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. The Saturday classes will be scheduled to fit the needs of the students, a press release said.

“Students will learn the policies and procedures of the Oak Ridge Police Department and experience firsthand how the department operates,” the press release said.

It said the mission of the Citizen Police Academy is to debunk myths about law enforcement as well as open lines of communication between officers and civilians. [Read more…]

Ridenour, an ORPD officer & former chief deputy, running for sheriff

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lewis Ridenour

Lewis Ridenour

 

Lewis Ridenour, an Oak Ridge Police Department officer and former chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, is running for sheriff in the 2018 election.

In a press release, Ridenour, a Republican, pledged to only serve two terms if elected as Anderson County sheriff. He cited “great concern” over career politicians when announcing his term-limit pledge.

Ridenour pledged to use his community and law enforcement experience, sound judgment, and “know-how” in office, the press release said.

“During my over 20 years of law enforcement experience in this county, I have gained an understanding of the complexities of city and county government, including its capabilities and limitations,” Ridenour said. “Most importantly, the primary role for the sheriff should be to be to make our entire county safe, while also being an advocate for the taxpayers. There are real issues facing our county relating to drugs and crimes against persons and property. There are also many financial issues that will come before us in the years to come. We need a sheriff with extensive experience as an administrator as well as law enforcement.” [Read more…]

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department celebrating National Police Week

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department will join law enforcement agencies across the nation in celebrating National Police Week, May 14 through May 20, a press release said.

May 15 is National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week containing May 15 has been National Police Week, since President John F. Kennedy signed Public Law 87-726 on October 1, 1962. It was not until May 15, 1982, that the first National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day service was held.

Activities during National Police Week now include the annual Candlelight Vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. The National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day Service on May 15 draws thousands from across the nation.

The Sheriff’s Department has lost eight officers in the line of duty. Seven were killed by gunfire, and one died in an automobile accident, the press release said. [Read more…]

Law enforcement to be honored during ceremony this afternoon

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Law enforcement personnel will be honored during a Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony in Oak Ridge today, and certificates and letters of commendation will be awarded to Oak Ridge Police Department personnel this afternoon.

The Oak Ridge Police Department is joining other law enforcement agencies across the nation in celebrating National Police Week, Sunday, May 14, through Saturday, May 20, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department will honor all law enforcement personnel during a Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony held in front of the Oak Ridge Municipal Building at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, May 15. The keynote speaker will be Bishop Richard Stika of the Diocese of Knoxville.

Beginning at 3 p.m., following the memorial service, certificates and letters of commendation will be awarded to Oak Ridge Police Department personnel in the Municipal Building Courtroom. [Read more…]

Chief Deputy Lucas thanks community for support of Sheriff’s Department

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mark Lucas

Mark Lucas

To the Anderson County community:

These are difficult times for the law enforcement profession. Since July 1, 10 officers have lost their lives in shootings. Two others died from vehicular assaults and two more from car crashes. Many others have been hurt or injured while performing their duties. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all officers that have died or been injured in the line of duty.

Our deputies are reminded to always be vigilant as they go about our duties—perhaps even into harm’s way—something they do every day without hesitation. Being safe and going home to their families at the end of the shift must remain foremost in their thoughts.

We have received many messages from our community extending their support for us, thanking us, and praying for our deputies. We are blessed to have a good relationship such as this in Anderson County. This is a direct result of what our deputies do—and how they do it—every single day. Our community supports us, and we support them. [Read more…]

Sheriff warns against drunk driving this holiday weekend

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

4th of July GHSO

By Anderson County Sheriff’s Department

Every year, Americans head out on the nation’s highways to celebrate the Fourth of July at picnics, parties, parades, and more. Unfortunately, for many, the celebrating includes drinking alcohol, which too often leads to drunk driving on one of the most heavily traveled holidays of the year.

To crack down on drunk driving this Independence Day weekend, Anderson County law enforcement will be out in full force, aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger.

Sheriff’s deputies will be out working to make the roadways safe.

“Don’t even think about drinking and driving this Fourth of July, or you will be arrested,” said Sheriff Paul White. “The ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign means zero tolerance for drunk driving…no excuses.” [Read more…]

ORPD to host Junior Police Academy this summer

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Junior Police Academy

Oak Ridge Junior Police Academy students at the National Forensics Academy in 2012. (File photo/submitted)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department will host the Junior Police Academy again this summer.

The Fifth Annual Junior Police Academy will be offered to 5th-12th grade students, including private school and home-schooled students. Students interested in learning more about the Oak Ridge Police Department and the criminal justice system are encouraged to apply. The academy is free to all eligible applicants.

The Junior Police Academy will be offered in three phases this year:

  • Phase I: Basic Law Enforcement Awareness—will be held June 20-24 and is for first-year cadets only.
  • Phase II: Intro to Forensic Investigations—will be held June 27-July 1 and is for second-year cadets only.
  • Phase III: Emergency Response and Readiness—will be held July 18-22 and is for third-year cadets only.

[Read more…]

U.S. attorneys, law enforcement target heroin, opioid trafficking, overdoses

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Bill Killian

William C. “Bill” Killian

DETROIT—U.S. attorneys and leaders of federal law enforcement agencies from across six states met in Detroit on August 26, 2015, to share strategies to combat the heroin and prescription pill epidemic across the region.

U.S. Attorney William C. Killian of the Eastern District of Tennessee was among those who attended.

The summit was called in response to the national epidemic of heroin and prescription pill abuse that has hit Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, particularly hard. Heroin overdose deaths in the United States have tripled from 2010 to 2013. Nationally, the number of deaths from all drug overdoses exceeded 43,000 last year, more deaths than from traffic accidents. Heroin use in the United States has doubled from 2007 to 2012.

In the Midwest, opioid deaths have increased 62 percent. The summit seeks to target this national and regional problem by dismantling drug trafficking organizations that distribute heroin and prescription pills and by increasing prevention and educational efforts. [Read more…]

Chief Deputy Lucas to speak to Democratic Women’s Club on Aug. 24

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mark Lucas

Mark Lucas

Chief Deputy Mark Lucas of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department will be the guest speaker when the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club meets Monday, August 24. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at Shoney’s Restaurant at 2405 North Charles Seivers Boulevard in Clinton.

Lucas, who has been in law enforcement for 37 years, will discuss “Duties and Responsibilities of the Office of Sheriff,” a press release said.

He has served as chief deputy for 21 years with three sheriffs, and he is now second in command to Sheriff Paul White. He began his law enforcement career in 1978 as a reserve deputy with the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, joining the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department in 1979. He attended Basic Police School in 1980 and served as a patrol deputy and sergeant. [Read more…]

Letter: Gives thanks, says this year’s Police Week a ‘great success’

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Police Week at Oak Ridge Police Department

This month, the law enforcement community celebrated Police Week 2015. For those who do not know, in 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.

Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, D.C., to participate in a number of planned events that honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Here in Oak Ridge, the Police Department celebrated on a smaller scale, honoring officers everywhere with a ceremony at the Police Station on the 15th. The week was also marked by a proclamation given by the City Council declaring an official Police Week in Oak Ridge.

I represent a group of wives of police officers in Oak Ridge. We worked to make this the best police week ever for our husbands and the rest of our blue family. We organized meals, snacks, and treats for the officers, and hung banners of love and support in the station to let them know we “see them.” [Read more…]

TBI report shows overall drop in crime, but murder reports up in Tenn.

Posted at
By 3 Comments

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released its 2014 Crime in Tennessee report on Monday, and it showed an overall decline in crime, but reported murders increased and arrests for driving under the influence were up slightly.

The annual study compiles data reported from each law enforcement agency in the state, providing an updated and comprehensive picture of the successes and challenges facing communities across Tennessee, a press release said.

Among the report’s findings: [Read more…]