Commission debates added expenses for the Sheriff’s Department

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Hamilton county sheriff’s department is moving ahead with plans to use Silverdale Corrections as its primary jail.

And Sheriff Jim Hammond wants to get inmates with mental issues out of his facility.

But in the meantime he’s asking commissioners to approve a “COPS” grant and to arrange a permanent plan to pay inmate medical expenses.

Hamilton county commissioners wanted all the details for a 250-thousand dollar grant from the department of justice to hire highly specialized crime analysts. It would pay their salaries for 4 years. But it will also cost the county.

Sheriff Hammond said “What’s unusual about this and I’m sure you’ve already noticed, uh for, for a change we’re having to pay more than we’re getting, over this – about a hundred thousand dollars difference here, but I can tell you in value and service going forward for the sheriff’s office this is going to take us light years ahead in terms of planning and forecasting for crime and looking at the analysis to help us solve many more crimes.”

Commissioner Greg Martin said “What is the long term plan with regard to these two positions if they’re important now, in year one two and three, do we not need them in six?”

Sheriff Hammond responded “They will be even more important going forward. I can tell you that because this is the trend, technology wise, in crime analysis and crime fighting it leans more and more on all the new technology, the statistical information, being able to forecast where crimes are happening.”

The commission is being asked to amend the sheriff’s department budget by more than 400-thousand dollars to take care of medical expenses for inmates taken to Erlanger. Commissioner Joe Graham asked sheriff’s deputy Don Gorman.

Commissioner Joe Graham said “Is the, that includes lock and key, that’s everything, medications, that’s the, staff, Don’s (Gorman) shaking his head – (VOICE OF DON GORMAN) – No sir that does not include medication. That’s just for the staffing. GRAHAM: That’s just staffing. GORMAN: Medication’s an additional Three Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand a year. GRAHAM: And do we pay Erlanger for the medication? GORMAN Yes sir. We do.”

The commission will vote on those resolutions at next weeks meeting.