Memorial Day Holiday Weekend Starts Summer Boating Season

May 24, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The 2020 Memorial Day holiday weekend is upon us and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency wants to emphasize the use of life jackets along with boating in a safe and responsible manner.

The Memorial Day holiday weekend is regarded as the unofficial start to the summer boating season and is one of the year’s busiest boating weekends. Last year, there were no boating-related fatalities during the holiday weekend for the fifth consecutive year.

In 2019, there were 21 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests made over the holiday weekend. TWRA wildlife officers reported five injury incidents and six property damage incidents.

Along with the use of life jackets, TWRA wants to stress the responsible use of alcohol while boating. It is important to consider the effects of drinking and driving whether on water or land. In a boat on the water, the effects of alcohol increase because of external stressors such as engine vibration, wave motion and glare from the sun. Operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal in Tennessee.

“Boating incidents are preventable,” said Capt. Matt Majors, statewide boating investigator. “Boating under the influence is irresponsible and illegal. Our wildlife officers will be out day and night on our waterways to ensure the safety of our boating public.”

The TWRA is seeing a boom in the increased use of paddlecraft such as kayaks and paddleboards throughout the state. PFDs are required equipment on kayaks and stand up paddlecraft (SUPs).

For many residents, the Memorial Day weekend will be the first time to have the boat on the water this year. TWRA officials say taking a few minutes to check some of the boat components may be the key to having a nice, safe outing. Performing a simple maintenance check before getting on the water may prevent problems. Check hoses to make sure they are in good shape. Make sure the lights work and carry extra fuses and bulbs.

In addition, TWRA urges all boaters to remember the basics:

*have a wearable life jacket for every person onboard

*if your boat is 16 feet or longer, there must be a Type IV throwable device onboard

*have onboard a working fire extinguisher if you have enclosed fuel compartments or cabins

*children age 12 and younger must wear a life jacket at all times while the boat is underway – drifting is considered underway

*any boat operator born after January 1, 1989 must have onboard the TWRA-issued wallet Boating Safety Education Certificate

*choose a designated boat operator

*make sure there is a current boat registration

Boat Operation Basics:

*keep a proper lookout at all times

*maintain a safe speed

*turn off the engine while boarding from the water or entering the water from the boat

*be aware of the carbon monoxide hazards that exist and keep fresh air flowing

*”no wake” means idle speed

*boating safety courses – log onto www.tnwildlife.org for information.

May 24, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has completed a new technology upgrade by putting Global Positioning System (GPS) devices in all patrol and jail transport cars. The move is intended to improve safety, efficiency and response times.

When a call comes in to the 911 center, the GPS system will allow dispatchers to determine which deputy is closer for a response.

“The dispatcher now will be able to look on a computer screen and see the closest unit that is located to a call. Before installing the GPS system, dispatchers would rotate calls to the patrol deputies. If another deputy was closer to the call, that deputy would have to tell dispatch by radio that he would be responding. By doing this, it would often cause excessive radio transmissions , be confusing to the dispatcher, and take extra time dispatching calls when seconds mattered,” said Sheriff Patrick Ray.

By being able to track the movement of deputies especially during pursuits and inmate transports, the GPS system serves another useful purpose.

“Sometimes a pursuit will go beyond the DeKalb County line into another county where our deputies may be unfamiliar with roads. With this GPS system, the dispatcher can advise them and other officers of the location,” Sheriff Ray continued.

“Correctional officers at the jail often transport inmates to and from other jails as well as to medical facilities. The GPS technology will allow central dispatch to monitor these transports in case there is a problem,” he said.

GPS units have also been installed on the Sheriff’s Department’s two litter trucks used for roadside litter pick up by supervised inmates from the jail.

The technology can even be used to track the mileage of the patrol cars, where they have been, and the maintenance schedule.

“The system will allow me to monitor where the patrol cars have traveled, their speed, how long the cars idled and to see in real time what the vehicles have been doing,” said Sheriff Ray.

“Patrol Supervisors can also be alerted when a vehicle needs to be serviced. Oil changes and other maintenance issues are the life of a patrol vehicle. We not only have to look at the age and the mileage of the vehicle, we must also account for the patrol cars’ idle time at wrecks, crime scenes, and other calls. Another thing we look at is the transmission. Every night we do security checks on around 40 businesses and once a week we conduct security checks at about 55 churches. That is a lot of shifting the cars’ transmission back and forth from park to drive,” he said.

The GPS system was acquired from funds already available in the sheriff’s department’s budget.

“The system was bought based on a state contract price. There is a monthly payment for data use but fees will come out of my current budget. I will not be asking for an increase in next year’s budget for the GPS system. If the system saves any maintenance cost to a patrol vehicle it should pay for itself. If it saves an officer’s life, it will pay for itself for many years to come,” added Sheriff Ray.

May 23, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Courts and Sheriff’s Department made history last year by launching a new video arraignment system. The first county in the seven county 13th judicial district to do so. It was part of an effort to beef up courtroom security. The system was funded by a grant through the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts.

In an effort to further enhance courtroom security, the county has been awarded another AOC grant. Under this grant the county will receive a total of $24,005 with no required local match to purchase four tasers for court officers, a camera and DVR system to be installed on the third floor of the courthouse to monitor the hallway in front of the courtrooms, panic buttons for the courtrooms as well as the Clerk and Master and Circuit Court Clerk’s offices, and bullet proofing for the judge’s bench in the lower courtroom.

“Sheriff Patrick Ray, Clerk and Master Debra Malone, Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin and myself met with Chancellor Ron Thurman to discuss court security and minimum courtroom security standards. There was some money still available from the Administrative Office of the Courts Courtroom Security Grant Program. I applied for a grant and DeKalb County was awarded $24,005 with no match to purchase the items requested. This brings the total DeKalb County has received from three AOC grants to $75,300. These grants lessen the financial burden on the county of meeting required minimum courtroom security standards,” said County Mayor Tim Stribling.

The equipment will be funded as a reimbursement grant which means the county must first purchase the security equipment and then provide the AOC with a receipt and any other supporting documentation.

With the video arraignment system installed last year, a judge can have the formal reading of criminal charges to an incarcerated defendant without them being in the room. The inmates are beamed into the courtroom through video chat rather than physically being transported by deputies from the jail to the courthouse.