Flatt Announces Candidacy For Lawrence county Sheriff
Submitted by James Earl Flatt
I, James Earl Flatt would like to take this opportunity to announce my candidacy for the position of Lawrence County Sheriff in the upcoming May 6th 2014 Democrat Primary. In making my announcement I was born and raised, in Southern Lawrence County, TN now residing in Lawrenceburg, TN since 1980. I attended Five Points Elementary School and Loretto High School.
In 1978 I was sworn in as a Reserve Police Officer with the Lawrenceburg Police Department under the direction of former Commissioner of Safety Coyce Beecham and continued as a Reserve Police Officer until 1988.
In 1989 thru 1997 I owned/operated a Private Security business providing Security for Crockett Hospital in Lawrenceburg, TN. I employed Security Officers to perform crowd control along with employee and patient safety.
In April 1998 I pursued my career in Law Enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department under the former Sheriff William Dorning. In January 1999 I attended Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in Nashville, TN and became certified Police Officer in the State of Tennessee. After graduation I was assigned to working as a Deputy Sheriff working through out Lawrence County serving warrants, responding to citizens complaints, patrolling the roads and streets of Lawrence County PROTECTING and SERVING the citizens and businesses of this great county. In June 2003, I was promoted to Sergeant as Training Officer for the department until August 2006.
During my tenure of service with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Dept. I attended various training opportunities to enhance my skills as a Police Officer.
1999-16 hour Seminar over Homicide Investigation, Processing and Protection of Crime Scene.
1999-32 hour course on Tactical Movements for Police Officers presented by Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms Agents.
2000-16 hour seminar over crime solving techniques by Dr. Henry Lee.
2001-20 hour Seminar on blood spatter identification and case studies by Dr. Henry Lee. Hostage negotiation, bank robbery situations presented by Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms Agents.
2001-24 hour Courtroom Security Training.
2001-40 hour Mid-Level Management School presented by Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy.
2002-40 hour Criminal Drug Interdiction and Patrol presented by Regional Counterdrug Training Academy.
2002-20 hour seminar on outdoor crime scene investigation and Officer related shootings gunshot wound identification presented by Dr. Henry Lee.
2002-16 hour Highway Drug Interdiction Techniques with Traffic Stops Workshop presented by Agent Shane Fisher with the 21st Judicial Task Force.
2002-40 hour Driving under the Influence and Standardized Field Soberity Testing School presented by Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy.
2003-40 hour Street Crimes and Surveillance Techniques presented by John E. Reid and Associates.
2003-40 hour seminar on Child Death Investigation, Child Sexual Abuse presented by Dr. Mary Case.
2003-40 hour Instructional Design & Development for Law Enforcement presented by University of Memphis and Mid-South Training Institute.
2003-40 hour Firearms Instructor School presented by Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy.
2005-40 hour Doppler Traffic Radar Instructor presented by Kustom Signals.
2005-40 hour Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor for Law Enforcement presented by Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy.
2005-32 hour Inmate Supervision and Behavior Management presented by Bradley County Sheriff’s Dept.
2005-16 hour training for Disturbance Control for Inmates presented by Bradley County Sheriff’s Dept.
2005-8 hour Sabre Law Enforcement Aerosol Projectors Instructor course presented by Williamson County Sheriff’s Dept.
2006-196 hours of Jail Training at Bradley County Corrections Academy.
2006-16 hour Interpersonal Communications for Correctional Officers and Inmates.
In 2006 I was employed by The Lawrence County Communciations District as a 911 Dispatcher until 2008.
2008-24 hour Certified Advanced Emergency Medical Dispatcher presented by National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch.
2008-40 hour course for Public Safety Telecommunicators presented by Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy.
In 2008 thru present I am employed by The City of Lawrenceburg Police Dept. as a Patrolman protecting and serving the citizens in the City of Lawrenceburg.
The reason I have decided to seek the office of Sheriff in Lawrence County is the fact that I feel I have a duty to serve the citizens of Lawrence County as a PUBLIC SERVANT. I WILL be a FULLTIME WORKING SHERIFF wear a full uniform drive a marked patrol unit and serve the citizens of Lawrence County and be AVAILABLE 24 hours a day 7 days a week. My office WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN to serve the citizens or if you just want to visit. I believe in SERVING and VISITING the citizens, Community centers of this great county NOT JUST AT ELECTION TIME. I have lived in this county my whole life, along with my family and friends. My parents the (late Tonie Flatt) and Helen Flatt. I am married to Vickey A.(Smith) Flatt for thirty five years we attend Coleman Memorial United Methodist Church. I am a member of the Mens Club at Coleman, member of the Lawrenceburg Kiwanis Club and longtime member of the Faternal Order of Police Lodge #33. We have two children Andrea M’Lee (FLATT) Kerr and Husband Chris and Daughter M’Kala Kerr. Tyler Flatt wife Brynn (STUTTS) Flatt daughter Ally and sonTucker Flatt.
My goal is to run a clean campaign and NOT SAY or PROMISE ANYTHING I cannot deliver. I believe that the Sheriff’s Department has a primary responsibility, serving the People of Lawrence County by the creed of "Serve and Protect" and helping the people that can’t help themselves. Essentially the Sheriff’s Department is a Business that Serves the People and WILL be treated that way. Also with the size of the department and the budget, we MUST be more efficient and conservative with taxpayer dollars. I will focus on adding more Deputies on the roads and patrolling of needed areas of Lawrence County rather than highways and in the city limits that have Police protection, where the Sheriff’s Department needs to be to reduce and deter crime. I will put a stronger focus on the BIG DRUG and the BURGLARY/THEFT problem and less on Traffic Enforcement to make our great county safer for our families and children. I will work in conjunction with County Commissioners and Lawrence County School Board in order to PLACE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN ALL LAWRENCE COUNTY SCHOOLS WITHOUT raising property taxes. The Department will be PROACTIVE and not REACTIVE, a Department that treats ALL people with the upmost respect and courtesy no matter what they have done or who they are.
Another Important factor of being Sheriff is the personnel at the Sheriff's office. The Deputies, Reserve Officers, Jailers, office staff are representatives of the Sheriff’s Department and representatives of the citizens of Lawrence County. My GOAL is to have certified, properly trained and qualified officers and staff to perform duties of the Sheriff’s Department and that can TAKE CARE of the citizens in Lawrence County.
If you’re a victim of a crime they will ALL be investigated to the FULLEST and you WILL be contacted by an investigator no matter of the value or type or how long it’s been since the crime was committed.
I will make it a main GOAL to keep the citizens informed of the progress and status of the Department, as I said earlier, the department works FOR the people. Finally, my biggest goal is to make Lawrence County a SAFER place to live for our families and children. I believe the most important is to make the public proud of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department. I look forward to meeting as many citizens as possible of the county in the next few months. If I didn’t think that I was the best person I would not seek the position. I Humbly ask for your VOTE and support in the Democrat Primary on May 6th 2014.
Thank you |
