Dyersburg State Gazette: Local News: Grant to pay for new LED lights on Sheriff's Dept. vehicles (02/10/10)

Dyer County Sheriff's Department patrol cars will soon be outfitted with new LED emergency light bars, thanks to grant monies.

The sheriff's department expects to receive a little more than $17,000 from a Byrne disparate funding grant. The department has already received a $12,600 check, earmarked for equipment. The remaining funds have been designated for overtime pay.

Sheriff Jeff Holt said the old strobe lights are beginning to have problems.

The Dyer County Commission's Law Enforcement Committee approved the grant usage during its meeting Jan. 21. The issue is expected to be presented to the full commission Monday night.

The sheriff's department also auctioned off some surplus cars and generated $14,677.50 in revenues. The committee approved the sheriff's request to spend half of the money on office equipment and half on vehicle maintenance. The request will now proceed to the commission's budget committee for approval.

In other business, Holt presented year-end jail statistics to committee members Tom Reasons, Bennie Spain, Debbie Bradshaw-Hart and Jimmy Wells.

The report showed:

* Bookings had increased from 4,087 in 2008 to 4,569 in 2009.

* Average daily population in the jail rose from 187 in 2008 to 214 in 2009. The jail has 188 beds. The population on Jan. 21 was 198 persons.

* Calls for service rose slightly from 9,416 in 2008 to 9,467 in 2009. The number of calls received declined significantly after rerouting cell phone calls made inside city limits to the police stations in Dyersburg and Newbern, he said. Most of the calls to the sheriff's department were made on a non-emergency line; only 3,472 calls came through 911.

* The sheriff's department entered 3,571 criminal and civil warrants and successfully served 3,444 of them.

* Persons ages 26-30 make up the highest population group in the jail. Persons ages 41-50 comprise the second-highest group. Holt said most of those in the 30- to 40-age group are probably serving time on the weekends.