Editor’s Note: The following is a state of the sheriff’s office opinion piece written by Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith.
Just before midnight on January 14th 2019, I met with three other officers and a Walker County Commissioner in the front lobby of the Sheriff’s Office. Those men laid hands on me, and prayed for safety, wisdom, and guidance in the next administration moving this county forward. At 12:01am on January 14th 2019, I accepted the huge responsibility of serving as the Sheriff of Walker County, Alabama.
The responsibility of serving and protecting every citizen of Walker County isn’t one that has been taken lightly, and I believe that the progress we have made since then is evidence that campaign promise was kept, and the Sheriff’s Office is running as efficiently as possible.
Here’s a little of what we have accomplished in 2022 alone:
Total arrests: 2, 108
Total calls for service: 16,844 (Average of 1,403 monthly)
Civil papers served: 1,457
Jail transports to rehab: 60
Jail transports to prison: 46
Also this year:
– We were able to finish our final phase of the School Resource Officer Program. With the addition of the Dora and Parrish School Resource Officers, every campus in Walker County is now protected!
– A $22,000 grant was secured for traffic safety
– Held Active Shooter Training for each School Resource Officer
– Re-implemented a CIRT Team for the Walker County Jail to assist with contraband issues and jail emergencies
– New helmets, vests, and uniforms for our SWAT Unit
– In 2022 alone, our litter crews picked up 13,201 bags of litter from the roadsides of Walker County. In addition, hundreds of tires and 1,303 bags of recyclable cans were picked up. The funds from those recyclables were donated to local non-profits. In 2023, Solid Waste Officer Wayne Jones will be working closely with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to recover thousands of dollars for the county in the proper recovery of tires on the right of way
– Three Dodge Chargers, one Tahoe, and one Truck were added to the Patrol Division fleet
– Grants were secured for our Drone Program, along with a grant from the Fraternal Order of Police for new ballistic vests to help keep our staff safe
– The Chaplaincy Program in the Walker County Jail baptized over 100 inmates in 2022
– New radios were purchased for the Walker County Jail Staff
– Sheriff Smith as able to directly take responsibility for the inmate meals inside the Walker County Jail. Eliminating the contractor that has handled this in the past will eliminate $500,000- $800,000 in expense over the next term
– Several new HVAC units were supplied to the Walker County Sheriff’s Office and Walker County Jail
– Over 100 dogs have been rescued
– Our staff authored and taught a church security training program to over 20 churches this year, equipping worship centers of all faiths with the tools and knowledge needed to better protect their congregations
– Created a new procedure for reviewing Deputy performance on calls for service
– Two Deputies obtained FAA Pilot Licenses, forming the first Aviation Unit for the Walker County Sheriff’s Office
– Multiple searches for reported missing persons
– Inmate litter crews were able to clean high school football stadiums after every football game in Walker County
– Wayne Jones was named Solid Waste Officer; Tony Reid was named SWAT Commander; Jimmie Vann was named Animal Abuse Investigator
– Over 100 children were able to take part in our Little Miss Sheriff/Little Mr. Detective events
– Darrell Mote was named Deputy of the Year, highlighting his 25+ years of service to the Walker County Sheriff’s Office
– This year, we also added a new Jail Administrator to the team. Welcome, Justin White!
– First Place in the WCCCAA Bowling Tournament
– In November, Sheriff Smith was elected to a second term to serve as Sheriff
– Held three women’s self defense classes
– Open the rifle-sight in to the public at the Walker County Sheriff’s Office range
– Began parenthood classes for the Walker County Jail
– Narcan (and pouches) for all Walker County Jail staff
– Completed two Citizens Academy classes
– Started free Jiu-Jitsu classes for Walker County Sheriff’s Office employees
– The Federal Inmate Housing Program brought in over $500,000 for the Walker County Jail
– Additional cameras were installed on our campus and inside the jail for added security
– E-Bikes obtained for patrolling events
– SWAT van obtained
– Walker County accreditation is in the last phase, pending an onsite review in January of 2023
– 1,013 reports for domestic violence
– 512 reports for assaults
– 113 reports sexual assaults
– Took reports for 597 Felony cases, closing all except 134 so far
– 16 people were reported missing in 2022 all of which have been accounted for
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you, Walker County. Most of all, thanks for your support and cooperation as we make Walker County Alabama the best place we can to raise our families!
– Sheriff Nick Smith
