Sheriff’s Department will hire new intelligence officers

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Hamilton County commission on Wednesday approved a grant to hire crime intelligence officers for the Sheriff’s Department.

The $250,000 Justice Department grant will pay for their salaries for 4 years.

The grant requires the county to pay more money on the officers.

But Sheriff Hammond says it is worth it.

“What’s unusual about this and I’m sure you’ve already noticed, 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, in service going forward for the sheriff’s office, this is going to take us light years ahead in terms off planning and forecasting for crime and looking at the analysis to help us solve many more crimes.”

In other action, the commission is being asked to amend the sheriff’s department budget by some $400,500 from the general fund for expenditures.