Oak Ridge Today

Animal control officers resign, shelter open fewer hours

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Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

Two animal control officers have resigned, and the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Belgrade Road will be open fewer hours.

Two animal control officers resigned suddenly Tuesday, so the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter will reduce the hours it is open to the public, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Wednesday.

For now, the shelter on Belgrade Road in east Oak Ridge will be open from 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays thru Saturdays, a press release said.

Oak Ridge Police Chief James T. Akagi declined to name the two officers who resigned from the three-person staff or explain the circumstances.

The city is accepting applications for the two animal control jobs through Wednesday, Oct. 31. More information is available at oakridgetn.gov.

In the meantime, the press release said, volunteers are encouraged to continue to take part in shelter activities.

Citizen’s Police Academy starts Nov. 8

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A police academy that starts next month will give Oak Ridge residents a chance to learn about crime scene investigations, crime prevention and analysis, tactical operations, and the police canine program.

It’s called the Citizen’s Police Academy. The free 12-week academy starts Nov. 8 and ends Jan. 31. Classes are scheduled to meet Thursday evenings from 6–9 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Police Department is now accepting applications for the program, a press release said.

It said the academy will give residents a better understanding of how the ORPD is organized and how each division operates.

“Participants will observe first-hand the daily challenges facing law enforcement professionals,” the release said.

City officials said the goal is to “create and develop a growing nucleus of responsible, well-informed citizens who have the potential to improve community understanding regarding police practices and enhance service delivery.” They hope it will help build a lasting and productive partnership between the ORPD and the community.

“Graduates of the program will fulfill the critical role of providing input and information to their neighborhoods and work environment, which increases citizen involvement on issues of mutual concern,” the release said.

The Citizen’s Police Academy will include classroom and hands-on learning, the release said. Class subjects will include legal reviews, the job of a uniformed police officer, investigations, crime scene investigations, crime prevention, the canine program, tactical operations, crime analysis, and much more.

Participants will be involved in activities such as touring the communications facilities and police department, using police equipment, firing department service weapons, observing canine demonstrations, and touring both the Anderson County Detention Facility and the National Forensic Academy.

The press release said each applicant must complete an application and undergo a criminal background investigation. Applicants must also be at least 21 years of age and must work or live within Oak Ridge. The instructional course will be held at Fire Station #3 on Tuskegee Drive.

To download an application for the Citizen’s Police Academy, visit www.oakridgetn.gov or at the police department.

For more information, call Oak Ridge Police Sgt. Shannah Newman at (865) 425-3519 or e-mail her at snewman@oakridgetn.gov.

Public housing inspections lead to four evictions for criminal, drug activity

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Annual inspections of 127 public housing apartments this month led to four evictions for criminal and drug-related activities, the Oak Ridge Housing Authority announced Thursday.

Three of the evictions resulted in charges against a family member, a ORHA press release said. No one was charged in the fourth case due to the nature of the offense.

“However, in accordance with our policies, the offense will result in the family losing their housing assistance with ORHA,” the press release said. It did not give more information.

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Oak Ridge police accepting unwanted prescription drugs Saturday

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Expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs can be turned in to the Oak Ridge Police Department on Saturday.

It’s part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Saturday’s event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Police Department at 200 S. Tulane Ave.

The service is free and anonymous, and no questions will be asked, a city press release said.

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Warrants: Officer threatened to ‘get even’ after woman refused to swap pictures

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Travis Lee Adcock

Travis Lee Adcock

The former probationary police officer arrested Wednesday morning is alleged to have sent sexual messages to a woman through a social networking site, and he is accused of threatening to “get even” when she refused to text or swap pictures, according to court records.

Travis Lee Adcock, 30, of Coalfield, was arrested Wednesday morning, the Oak Ridge Police Department said. He is charged with civil rights intimidation and harassment.

Adcock allegedly contacted an Oak Ridge woman through meetme.com, sending her messages of a “sexual nature,” according to arrest warrants filed Wednesday morning in Anderson County General Sessions Court. He allegedly continued to send her sexual messages until he requested a picture.

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Oak Ridge police arrest former probationary officer

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A former probationary police officer was arrested Wednesday morning, the Oak Ridge Police Department announced in a press release.

The release said the Police Department this month started investigating the actions of former Oak Ridge Probationary Police Officer Travis L. Adcock, following complaints of harassment by a local resident. Adcock was an Oak Ridge probationary police officer from March 2011 to September 2011.

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Former Oak Ridge police sergeant files $600,000 lawsuit, alleges retaliation

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CLINTON—A former Oak Ridge Police Department sergeant alleged in a lawsuit filed this week that other employees retaliated against him and he was forced to resign last year after he complained that a lieutenant had sent him live ammunition for use in a training session.

Mark Coffey, who resigned in October 2011, filed the lawsuit in Anderson County Circuit Court on Monday. He is seeking a total of $600,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.

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Neighborhood Watch reduces crime, celebrates ‘Night Out’

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Cas Walker Ciderville Show

Bass player Jeff Tolson, from left, guitarist and vocalist Jamey Oran, guitarist Terry “Teep” Phillips, and banjo player David West perform as the Cas Walker Ciderville Show during “National Night Out” in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

Hundreds of residents on about 210 streets take part in the city’s crime-fighting Neighborhood Watch program, and that’s helping to cut down on illegal activity, Oak Ridge Police Officer Jeremy Upham said Tuesday.

“I think, personally, it’s making a huge impact,” said Upham, the police department’s liaison to the Neighborhood Watch program. “The neighbors are calling when they see suspicious things that don’t fit in.”

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ORPD could unveil public online crime mapping system this week

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James T. Akagi

James T. Akagi

The Oak Ridge Police Department could unveil a new online crime mapping system this week that will publicly display incident information. That information includes crime types, dates and times, and block addresses.

“It enables the public to go online and search out crime in any area, particularly in their own area,” Oak Ridge Police Department Crime Analyst David Gordon said. “You can log in today and see what was going on.”

Free to the public, the RAIDS Online system will show crimes such as assaults, burglaries, homicides, robberies, and thefts. Sexual assaults and traffic stops will not be reported, Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi told City Council members during a work session Monday.

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Council approves security upgrades to Police Department

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A quarter-million dollars worth of security upgrades to the Oak Ridge Police Department were approved in a 6-1 vote by City Council members this week.

Council approved a $277,000 contract with Richardson Turner Construction Company of Knoxville and agreed to add $20,000 to a professional services agreement with Bankston Architectural Group of Knoxville.

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Black bear passes through Oak Ridge

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Black Bear in Oak Ridge

A young black bear, about 15 months old and 150 pounds, gets ready to jump a fence in a yard on North Purdue Avenue.

A young black bear zigzagged through Oak Ridge Tuesday, hopping fences, crossing busy streets, and avoiding dogs and curious humans as it headed south.

Late Tuesday evening, officers from the Oak Ridge Police Department and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency tried to herd the elusive bear away from homes in the Woodland neighborhood, possibly south toward Melton Hill Lake and Y-12 National Security Complex.

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Officers who died honored at memorial ceremony

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Peace Officers Memorial

Law enforcement personnel from the Oak Ridge Police Department and Anderson County Sheriff's Department stand at attention Tuesday during a National Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony at the Municipal Building.

A Tuesday memorial service honored law enforcement officers who died while working and paid tribute to those who have died since retiring.

“Their sacrifices will never be forgotten,” Oak Ridge Police Chief James T. Akagi said after the afternoon ceremony at the Municipal Building. “It’s a sacred bond between law enforcement officers.”

Tuesday was National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and this week is National Police Week.

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