Public gets inside look at Warren County Sheriff’s Office
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — The Warren County Sheriff’s Office is pulling back the curtain on its day-to-day operations through “Partners in Safety,” a four-session program designed to give participants a closer look at the people, equipment and responsibilities behind the agency.
The first session was held Monday at the Sheriff’s Office Training Center at Sugar Maple Square. Participants received an agency overview, toured the facility and got an up-close look at equipment used by deputies.
Showing what happens behind the scenes
Sheriff Brett Hightower said many people may see law enforcement in the community without realizing the full scope of what happens behind the scenes.
“I find that so many people that live in this community never understand fully law enforcement and or even county government,” Hightower said. “And so this is an opportunity just to bring folks in and let them kind of see behind the scenes of how many employees we have, what we do day to day activity, what our real roles are within this community and how we interact with everybody.”
The four-session showcase is led by Hightower and members of his staff.
Beyond patrol deputies, the Sheriff’s Office has responsibilities that include vehicle inspections, school resource officers, court security and business operations.
Where taxpayer dollars go
Hightower said he hopes participants leave the program with a clearer picture of how those different responsibilities are funded and carried out.
“I hope they understand when they leave here, it’s kind of really where their tax dollars go,” Hightower said. “When they see cruisers drive around, they see people. They can kind of see what we have going on here.”
He said the goal is for participants to see the different layers of the Sheriff’s Office and “where their money’s actually going and kind of what return on that investment they’re getting each and every day.”
More demonstrations ahead
The program continues Friday, Sept. 25, with virtual reality training, the Simunitions House and the Sheriff’s Office unmanned aircraft system.
The Sept. 28 session will feature K-9 and motor demonstrations along with traffic stops.
Sheriff hopes to expand the program
Hightower said interest in the program has encouraged the Sheriff’s Office to consider making similar opportunities available to a broader group of residents.
“This program has been, you know, very, very well sought after,” Hightower said. “And so what we hope to do is kind of open it up to other citizens.”
The current program is being offered through Western Kentucky University’s Society of Lifelong Learning, but Hightower said he would like future versions to reach beyond that group.
“We want to open it up to kind of different age groups and different folks within this community,” Hightower said.
Hightower pointed to the reception of another local citizens police academy and said he believes the Sheriff’s Office could offer something similar.
“I think that we can do something very similar to that, but on a county level,” Hightower said.
