Thursday, July 1, 2010
Taylor Seeks Reelection As Sheriff
Submitted by the candidate.
I am Sheriff Kenny Taylor and I would like to announce my candidacy for Re-election for Sheriff of Lawrence County.
I would like to thank the citizens of Lawrence County from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity you gave me to serve as your Sheriff for the past four years. As you remember four years ago the Lawrence County Jail had been closed by the State Fire Marshall for overcrowding.
When I took office September 1, 2006 I had 85 inmates and no jail. The inmates were being housed in other counties across the state at a cost of approximately $130,000 per month. I met with TCI (Tennessee Corrections Institute) and the State Fire Marshal to see what we could do to fix the problem.
We immediately started renovation on the old jail and were able to bring 34 inmates back to Lawrence County. The county commission was working with the State and architects on the plans for a new facility but this was going to be a long process. I then asked TCI for permission to build a temporary facility so we could get all the inmates home.
After several meetings with the Commission, TCI and the Fire Marshal, permission was granted to build a temporary jail at the land fill in Industrial park in Lawrenceburg.
Construction of the temporary jail allowed the inmates to be brought home and brought jobs back to Lawrence County. It also saved the wear on our vehicles which were transporting inmates across the state on a daily basis.
Bringing the inmates home created jobs in Lawrence County and saved thousands of Dollars to the taxpayers by not paying someone else to house our inmates, and in fuel savings and man hours for transportations.
Construction of the new jail also made it possible to start work release for the inmates. The inmates have worked to clean up Lawrence County and continue to do so on a daily basis.
They have cleaned cemeteries, community club properties, and have taken over the mowing of county owned property and several maintenance projects throughout the county.
They also did the demolition of the Sheriff’s Office saving approximately $75,000. The inmates along with me and Chief Deputy Terry Beecham erected two communication towers to provide the county government with wireless internet service to tie communications together.
The Sheriff’s Department also applied for and received state and federal grants for communications equipment, computers, and other equipment necessary for the safety of officers and enables them to do their jobs more efficiently.
The list goes on, of the things that we (the department) have accomplished, working as a well oiled machine.
As your sheriff for the next four years I pledge to you to continue to do the best possible job, to continue to make Lawrence County safer for the citizens that I have sworn to Serve and Protect.
We will continue to fight the war on drugs as we have the past four years. In 2009 the crime suppression unit of the Sheriff’s Department was voted the Number 1 drug enforcement agency in the State of Tennessee. That’s hard to beat!
I was born and raised in Lawrence County and spent my entire Law Enforcement Career (40 years) here in Lawrenceburg and Lawrence County. I retired from the Lawrenceburg Police department in June 2006 and ran as an independent candidate for Sheriff and you chose me for the job in August of 2006.
I am a military veteran and served my county as an infantry soldier in Vietnam in 1969-70 and was honorably discharged. I served with the 4th infantry division. Also, I served 12 years with the Tennessee Army National Guard.
I am a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy, Basic Training and supervisors training, Certified Defensive Tactics Instructor and Quick action Deployment instructor. I have studied Criminal Justice and Criminal Law at Columbia State Community College and maintained a 3.0 G.P.A.
Since being elected as your Sheriff I graduated the New Sheriff School at the Tennessee law Enforcement Academy before taking office September 1, 2006. Since then I was elected to attend the National Sheriff School in Long Mont, Colorado in September 2008. I have continued to train with the other Sheriffs bi-monthly in Nashville, Tennessee to keep my certification.
I am humbly asking for your vote on August 5, 2010 so that I can continue to serve as your Sheriff because of the jobs I have as your Sheriff it will be impossible for me to get out and meet many of you; however, I still maintain an open door policy and invite you to come by the office to talk to me. I’m generally at the office by 8:00 AM daily to talk and answer questions.
Please exercise your right and vote on August 5, 2010 or early voting starts July 16, 2010.
Thank You for Your Support
Sheriff Kenny Taylor
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