Dandridge Board Of Mayor And Aldermen Upgrade Police Protective Gear

Law Enforcement Officers for the Town of Dandridge will be getting additional body armor and helmets, thanks to the unanimous action of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen Tuesday evening. Aldermen Depew and Thornhill brought a motion that will ramp up the protection available to Dandridge Police by providing the new armor and helmets to Officers. The idea of purchasing additional armor was first brought in Work Session last week by Depew who voiced his concern about the growing violence against police on a national level and the possibility that the local force could be at risk with the current body armor. Dandridge Police Chief Carson Williams stated that the type of armor in question would cost in the neighborhood of $4,000. Initially, Williams and Town Administrator Peagler hoped to use grant money for a portion of the purchase but, upon closer checking, found that funding avenue was not possible. Peagler suggested that the Drug Fund account, which currently sits at $56,211, could be used to pay for around half of the cost of a new software upgrade, which would take around $30,000 of the fund balance, and the remainder of the software purchase could be financed. According to Peagler and Williams, a portion of the remaining Drug Fund balance ( $26,211) could be used to purchase the additional body armor.

Boy Scout Troup 77 leads the Dandridge Board of Mayor and Aldermen with Pledge of Allegiance, August 9, 2016

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen debated the purchase, with Alderman Kesterson raising the idea of purchasing helmets, at a cost of around $1600. Chief Williams agreed that the department did need the helmets, particularly in situations like those that recently occurred at Mountain View Youth Development Center. Alderman Depew spoke to the need for additional body armor, stating that”.. there is no comparison between protection and software”, and citing recent statistics that point to a 44% increase in police fatalities in 2016 and the proximity of Officers to the heavily traveled interstate, as well as other risks. Chief Williams concurred, stating that, given the choice, he would choose to protect his Officers, though he did reiterate that the software is something that the department has been saving to purchase. Alderman Chambers inquired about the possibility of using the recent Hall Tax windfall of more than $150,000 to make the purchase and leave the Drug Fund for the software purchase. Peagler stated that the Hall Tax funds have been received and there would be sufficient funds to pay $5600 for both the helmets and body armor. Depew/Thornhill included the Hall Tax funds as the funding method in their motion for purchase of upgraded body armor and helmets and the motion was supported by all members of the Board.

In other action, the Board allocated their budgeted contingency fund to cover the purchase of a compressor ( up to $5,000) and transmission service system (not to exceed $4,000). They also approved, on second reading, an increase in the salary of Town Mayor. The Ordinance passed with a 4-2-1 vote ( Kesterson, Chambers-No, Gantte- relinquished the chair for this item and was not present in the room).