In our pursuit of excellence at the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office we can often be misunderstood. Ted Engstrom listed seven marks of excellence in his book, “The Making Of A Christian Leader.”

These seven principles, which are as relevant to the secular world as they are to the Christian church, are as follows:

Excellence is a measurement and assumes a standard of accountability.

Excellence demands a goal and that is the willingness to take risks for others.

Excellence demands priorities and that is telling other people or yourself what comes first in life.

Excellence is a process and that means continually checking progress.

Excellence has to do with style and that means deciding what gifts God has given you and how to use them.

Excellence has to do with motivation and that is what it is all about.

It is a huge job getting 212 people headed toward the same goal. At the same time you have to give account to about 100,000 other people. I am up for the challenge, along with my senior staff at the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office.

Law enforcement is a living, breathing and changing thing. It is never stagnant in this 21st century world. As the elected leader, I must continue to grow and adapt to the landscape, so to speak, that is presented to me each day.

My senior staff must have that capability, as well.

We, certainly, can meet and overcome the new challenges without compromising who we are as straightforward, decent, hardworking people of integrity. All who know me know that I don’t talk a lot, but I do try to live out the biblical admonition to let “my yea be yea and my nay be nay.”

In an earlier conversation I told this readership that I would try to be transparent in our law-enforcement dealings.

I am doing that.

I, also, stated that there are some areas that I cannot tell everything that I want to tell in a timely fashion. The very nature of the information requires it simmers a little longer.

That is the situation, whether it be a case that is under investigation or a personnel matter where it my not be prudent or may even be injurious to innocent people. Words spoken cannot be recalled. We must, also, make sure no one’s rights are violated.

I will always endeavor to give grace to the affected individual, whether friend or foe. However, there is a line drawn in the sand that I won’t cross, nor will I let friend or foe cross.

We have parted ways with some employees in recent weeks for different reasons. I need not speak further of these lawful reasons at this juncture.

However, the basis of the lawsuit filed, recently, by a Chattanooga attorney, who has sued the sheriff’s office before, has already been heard in the federal court. This was when former Sheriff Dan Gilley fired five deputies back in 1988. Tennessee is an “at-will” state and the federal jury found he had a right to fire them.

We do have policies and procedures on disciplinary matters. These require increasing serious steps to be followed in discipline being administered, unless the infraction is grievous enough on it’s own for termination of an employee.

The office of sheriff is multi-faceted and rarely do you have a dull day. Even with many distractions and the little barking dogs that vie for attention, I enjoy being your sheriff.

Thanks for hiring me!

I will continue to hire, orient and train our deputies to strive for excellence. I will show grace and compassion in my relationship with all our employees.

I appreciate all of our employees who have hearts to serve. Having worked my way up through the ranks I do understand what it means to be a rookie and, also, a ranking senior officer.

I am asking that all of our deputies strive for personal excellence as we protect and serve Bradley County.

Thanks for listening.