A fully equipped search and rescue boat will soon be part of improvements to the Hempstead County Sheriff's Department, according to Sheriff James Singleton.
Singleton gave a detailed report at Thursday's Hempstead County Quorum Court meeting of accomplishment's during his first year as sheriff.
“It is something there has been a great need for,” Singleton said. “We have had several drownings in the county. We have always had citizens ready to volunteer their boats and equipment, but this is something the county hasn't ever had.”
With the boat being county law enforcement search and rescue equipment, it will be faster for the officers to access, possibly saving a life even, in the case of emergency.
“It is being custom built right now. It will be a 17 and one half foot, built to our specifications; some features include being able to see 300 feet into the water around the boat, lights and drags,” Singleton said.
He said it will be all purpose, meaning it will work in various water body types, like small streams, or big rivers.
It was purchased through a U.S. Homeland Security grant for $17,778.00.
Thursday was also the first day of use for another desperate need, a padded cell for inmates that do things like tear sinks off the walls in their cells, Singleton said.
“We confined him to that for a while and he was a different person,” Singleton reported to the court.
The padded cell consists of nothing but padded walls and one hole in the room's center for toilet use. A person away from the cell monitors from a camera and is in control of the flushing mechanism.
Singleton reported to the court on how the approval of the Certificate Pay Plan, an incentive for officers to gain more education had also been highly successful for his department.
The officers get $75 extra a month equalling $900 a year for each certificate they can earn above the basic certificate (academy and one year on the job), according to Singleton. He said there are four certificates that can be acquired. The HCSD also assists in scholarships for the officers.
“The certificate pay program has encouraged deputies to attend training therefore resulting in better educated professional law enforcement officer’s that serve Hempstead County,” he said.
He said it resulted in zero turnover of deputies for 2011. “Hempstead County should be proud to have these caliber of men and women that serve them day in and day out,” Singleton said.
“The plan has had a positive impact on the deputies not only a financial gain for them but a gain for the county as well with better trained and educated employee for the sheriff’s office.”
He said when attorney’s sue counties and entities it is often due to “failure to train.”
“We have received the proper training to protect us from lawsuits,” he added.
Hempstead County deputies have completed 1,632 hours of training since January 1, 2011.
“We are striving to seek out the most cost effective and up to date training for deputies to attend,” Singleton said. “We also try to conduct what training we can in house with our certified law enforcement instructors. Detention officers have completed 583 hours of training, not only have I required the deputies and detention officers to attend training. I have attended as well.”
Singleton also completed two executive training courses. He was the only sheriff in Arkansas selected to attend the the 40 hour Arkansas Leader Course at the Criminal Justice Institute. He was then selected one of two sheriffs in the state to attend The National Sheriff’s Institute in Longmont, Colo., for a 40 hour executive leadership course for first term sheriff’s.
There are only four sheriffs in the state ever to be selected to attend the National Sheriff’s Institute, out of those four only three are still active as sheriff, according to Singleton.
“ It was a great honor to represent Hempstead County and the State of Arkansas in that course. I will continue stress the need for up to date training to all employees including myself,” he said.
He thanked the court and those who work with him on all levels.
“ I can't express the gratitude I have for the men and women who work in the sheriff's department. Our civilian and law officials do their jobs very, very well,” he said.
HCSD applied for and received numerous grants that have also added to the quality what the department wants to achieve, according to Singleton. So far this year, they have applied for and received several grants that have enabled the dept. to upgrade and have programs without dipping into the operating budget.
They received a $10,000 dollar grant to help educate the youth of Hempstead County about the dangers of underage drinking and drug abuse.A $7,160 grant to help fund a video first appearance system was received.
“The system enables suspect’s charged with crimes to receive a first court appearance without ever leaving the secure area of the detention center. That resulted in less time spent by detention officers transporting suspects to and from the courtroom, and provides a safer environment for other offices in the courthouse and the general public,” Singleton said.
He said the video system has reduced the amount of contraband being smuggled into the jail by not allowing the suspect to come in contact with the general public and have their first appearance in a timelier manner as well.
The courtroom has a large flatscreen monitor mounted on the wall in clear view of the judges sight. The prisoner will converse with the judge through this large clear screen.
“ The judges are happy with the system,” Singleton said.
Another grant for $3,500 was received for the purchase of camera equipment for the HCSO Criminal Investigation Division and crime scene technicians.
They were able to also purchase two sets of spike systems that disable a vehicle that is being pursued by law enforcement or is operated in a reckless manner by deflating the tires of a car on the getaway.
“We received $13,000 from Homeland Security to purchase 12 AED’s automatic defibrillation devices to be placed in the Detention Center, patrol cars, and courthouse. All deputies are equipped with the AED’s and all detention, court security, and deputies have been trained in their use,” Singleton reported.
Working closely with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the HCSD has been able to re-establish the D.A.R.E. program in all county schools with the main funds coming from the Drug Forfeiture Fund, he said.
“A more than generous donation from the McLarty family and Hope Auto Company of a 2006 4-wheel drive 4- door Jeep Commander to be used as a D.A.R.E. vehicle to promote awareness of the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and other illegal substances to students of the county schools and general public,” he added.
The sheriff’s office received a surplus Humvee from the United States Marine Corps to be used as a search and rescue vehicle. The Hummer is a 1987 M998 military vehicle which had been retired from use and was obtained through the DOD reutilization plan.
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A fully equipped search and rescue boat will soon be part of improvements to the Hempstead County Sheriff's Department, according to Sheriff James Singleton.
Singleton gave a detailed report at Thursday's Hempstead County Quorum Court meeting of accomplishment's during his first year as sheriff.
“It is something there has been a great need for,” Singleton said. “We have had several drownings in the county. We have always had citizens ready to volunteer their boats and equipment, but this is something the county hasn't ever had.”
With the boat being county law enforcement search and rescue equipment, it will be faster for the officers to access, possibly saving a life even, in the case of emergency.
“It is being custom built right now. It will be a 17 and one half foot, built to our specifications; some features include being able to see 300 feet into the water around the boat, lights and drags,” Singleton said.
He said it will be all purpose, meaning it will work in various water body types, like small streams, or big rivers.
It was purchased through a U.S. Homeland Security grant for $17,778.00.
Thursday was also the first day of use for another desperate need, a padded cell for inmates that do things like tear sinks off the walls in their cells, Singleton said.
“We confined him to that for a while and he was a different person,” Singleton reported to the court.
The padded cell consists of nothing but padded walls and one hole in the room's center for toilet use. A person away from the cell monitors from a camera and is in control of the flushing mechanism.
Singleton reported to the court on how the approval of the Certificate Pay Plan, an incentive for officers to gain more education had also been highly successful for his department.
The officers get $75 extra a month equalling $900 a year for each certificate they can earn above the basic certificate (academy and one year on the job), according to Singleton. He said there are four certificates that can be acquired. The HCSD also assists in scholarships for the officers.
“The certificate pay program has encouraged deputies to attend training therefore resulting in better educated professional law enforcement officer’s that serve Hempstead County,” he said.
He said it resulted in zero turnover of deputies for 2011. “Hempstead County should be proud to have these caliber of men and women that serve them day in and day out,” Singleton said.
“The plan has had a positive impact on the deputies not only a financial gain for them but a gain for the county as well with better trained and educated employee for the sheriff’s office.”
He said when attorney’s sue counties and entities it is often due to “failure to train.”
“We have received the proper training to protect us from lawsuits,” he added.
Hempstead County deputies have completed 1,632 hours of training since January 1, 2011.
“We are striving to seek out the most cost effective and up to date training for deputies to attend,” Singleton said. “We also try to conduct what training we can in house with our certified law enforcement instructors. Detention officers have completed 583 hours of training, not only have I required the deputies and detention officers to attend training. I have attended as well.”
Singleton also completed two executive training courses. He was the only sheriff in Arkansas selected to attend the the 40 hour Arkansas Leader Course at the Criminal Justice Institute. He was then selected one of two sheriffs in the state to attend The National Sheriff’s Institute in Longmont, Colo., for a 40 hour executive leadership course for first term sheriff’s.
There are only four sheriffs in the state ever to be selected to attend the National Sheriff’s Institute, out of those four only three are still active as sheriff, according to Singleton.
“ It was a great honor to represent Hempstead County and the State of Arkansas in that course. I will continue stress the need for up to date training to all employees including myself,” he said.
He thanked the court and those who work with him on all levels.
“ I can't express the gratitude I have for the men and women who work in the sheriff's department. Our civilian and law officials do their jobs very, very well,” he said.
HCSD applied for and received numerous grants that have also added to the quality what the department wants to achieve, according to Singleton. So far this year, they have applied for and received several grants that have enabled the dept. to upgrade and have programs without dipping into the operating budget.
They received a $10,000 dollar grant to help educate the youth of Hempstead County about the dangers of underage drinking and drug abuse.A $7,160 grant to help fund a video first appearance system was received.
“The system enables suspect’s charged with crimes to receive a first court appearance without ever leaving the secure area of the detention center. That resulted in less time spent by detention officers transporting suspects to and from the courtroom, and provides a safer environment for other offices in the courthouse and the general public,” Singleton said.
He said the video system has reduced the amount of contraband being smuggled into the jail by not allowing the suspect to come in contact with the general public and have their first appearance in a timelier manner as well.
The courtroom has a large flatscreen monitor mounted on the wall in clear view of the judges sight. The prisoner will converse with the judge through this large clear screen.
“ The judges are happy with the system,” Singleton said.
Another grant for $3,500 was received for the purchase of camera equipment for the HCSO Criminal Investigation Division and crime scene technicians.
They were able to also purchase two sets of spike systems that disable a vehicle that is being pursued by law enforcement or is operated in a reckless manner by deflating the tires of a car on the getaway.
“We received $13,000 from Homeland Security to purchase 12 AED’s automatic defibrillation devices to be placed in the Detention Center, patrol cars, and courthouse. All deputies are equipped with the AED’s and all detention, court security, and deputies have been trained in their use,” Singleton reported.
Working closely with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the HCSD has been able to re-establish the D.A.R.E. program in all county schools with the main funds coming from the Drug Forfeiture Fund, he said.
“A more than generous donation from the McLarty family and Hope Auto Company of a 2006 4-wheel drive 4- door Jeep Commander to be used as a D.A.R.E. vehicle to promote awareness of the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and other illegal substances to students of the county schools and general public,” he added.
The sheriff’s office received a surplus Humvee from the United States Marine Corps to be used as a search and rescue vehicle. The Hummer is a 1987 M998 military vehicle which had been retired from use and was obtained through the DOD reutilization plan.
