Officials push for clarity on sheriff coverage
Concerns regarding law enforcement coverage in the Town mount, leading Mayor Ron Williams, during the mayor’s report segment of the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s Thursday, April 9 meeting, to ask Town administrator David Smoak to contact Municipal Technical Advisory Service.
Smoak will be asking MTAS to “provide an analysis of current duties and responsibilities of the Knox County Sheriff’s [Office] and primarily throughout Tennessee, particularly as it pertains to cities … that have no additional law enforcement,” Williams said.
“Also, I would like to ask MTAS to research what authorities cities have to reach agreements with their county sheriff for enhanced law enforcement coverage,” he added.
“Let’s do it,” Alderman Drew Burnette added.
“I think it would help give us a lot of guidance,” Alderman Alex Cain added.
“Our residents have been pretty vocal about the need of having sheriff’s coverage, patrols, in our community for some time now, and I think getting this moving is a great idea,” Alderman Joe LaCroix said.
“I agree,” Vice Mayor Scott Meyer said. “Fantastic idea.”
“We’ve done research on this, but I think it would be helpful for MTAS to weigh in,” Town attorney Tom Hale said. “They’ve probably answered your question any number of times over the years, although I’m sure it comes up frequently.”
“Well, it has,” Williams said. “And, it’s come up frequently here in Town to the point to where we no longer have a precinct in our Town, and we’re the only town that doesn’t have one.
“My concern is what can they do to help us?” he added.
“We’ll be happy to contact MTAS about the question,” Smoak said. “We’ll try to get an answer as soon as we can.”
