LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — If Laurel County Sheriff John Root could double his manpower, covering the massive area of the county with regular patrols would be a prime goal. But since the Sheriff’s Office runs strictly on a budget approved by the Laurel County Fiscal Court with contributions from the court and from the state, that goal may take some time to achieve.

In the meantime, Root told citizens that neighborhood watch programs and information from the public were essential to helping the Sheriff’s Office combat the large number of crimes and offenses occurring within the county. Root credited the public for solving recent thefts that included catalytic converters and gas and license plates thefts that his department funneled to media outlets such as newspapers, television, radio and Facebook.

“For the past 15 months, the public has helped us,” Root said to the crowd attending the Town Hall meeting at Camp Ground Volunteer Fire Department on Monday night. “If we work together, we can make a difference in the county.”

The Sheriff’s Office is a site of activity, handling approximately 5,300 calls through Laurel Dispatch since Jan.1. Root said 23 meth labs have been destroyed during the first four months of 2012 and the latest drug roundup netted 58 arrests of prescription pill dealers.

“Drug arrests are down, but thefts are up about 70 percent,” he said. “A lot of that is due to drugs,  and drug tips come in daily.”

Several residents expressed concerns about the response time of Sheriff’s officials when crimes are reported, with Root explaining the limited amount of manpower is one problem his department deals with daily.

“We may have an officer dealing with a 10-46 (accident with injuries) down at the Spillway on Laurel Lake and another officer dealing with a non-injury accident over by the Walmart Distribution Center on west 80,” he explained. “I’m not going to lie to you. It may take us some time to get here.”

Joining Root and other sheriff’s officials were Laurel County Clerk Dean Johnson, who informed citizens of a new program through the state in which persons whose auto insurance had lapsed were being notified by letter. Johnson said persons receiving such letters and who had had their insurance re-instated needed to come to his office to get the matter cleared up.

Johnson also praised the good working relationship between officials in the county, stating that the cooperation among elected officials was “the best since I’ve been around, and I’ve been around 26 years.”

Laurel District Judge John Chappell also attended Monday night’s meeting and explained some of the processes of the court system. Chappell said the new eWarrant system allowed him to electronically sign warrants, saving law enforcement officials both time and effort when pursuing offenders.

“We are one of four states using this system,” Chappell said, adding that he had signed two warrants while en route to Monday’s meeting.

Lt. Rodney Gay with the Laurel County Detention Center was also in attendance for Laurel Jailer Jamie Mosley, who was out of town on Monday. Gay said extensive remodeling of the first floor of the jail had been completed and sights were set on renovating the second and third floors of the jail. The institution of several programs, including the faith-based Celebrate Recovery, has been a key factor in helping inmates dealing with drug use and abuse. But the key to that success, Gay said, is strict enforcement of contraband coming into the jail.

“We’ve prided ourselves by giving them the opportunity to recover, but these people are never going to get off drugs if contraband is allowed in,” he said. “We hear people saying they hate our jail and that’s what we want. We want them to get off drugs.”

District 1 Magistrate Roy Crawford, who represents citizens in the Camp Ground area, said he visited fifth-grade students at Camp Ground Elementary recently and was amazed at the number of people who had relocated to that area from other states. Crawford said of the students he spoke to, their backgrounds were from five other states. Crawford credited good roads, good schools and a healthy and safe environment for the desire to live in Laurel County.

Also attending Monday night’s forum was Donna McClure, field representative for the Eastern District of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell’s office. McClure said five of the 24 counties she serves as McConnell’s representative had been damaged by the March 2 tornadoes. She said the response of residents in the local area had been “incredible.” McClure was one of many volunteers assisting tornado victims and churches serving meals to those suffering from the devastating aftermath of the storm. She recounted watching some citizens loading up their vehicles with supplies meant for the tornado victims.

“They were stealing from the tornado victims. We contacted police and they got the supplies,” she said. “Some of the people knew the ones doing that and they knew the children needed stuff.”

Laurel County Attorney J.L. Albright also spoke during Monday night’s meeting, telling citizens his office is always willing to help citizens of the community. When asked how a person could obtain a warrant, Albright explained that his office issues warrants and summons based on information given when citizens come to his office. Though the situation may not always require or qualify for a warrant, Albright said his office personnel are always willing to listen and assist citizens as they can. Albright also praised the good working relationship among elected officials.

“It’s the best in the 20 years I’ve been around,” he said.

Root said the cooperation among local officials is also being extended to Knox County.

“We are soon going to sign an interlocal agreement between county law enforcement in the eight surrounding counties,” Root said.

Such a measure will allow Laurel law enforcement to pursue suspects outside of the county without assistance from that county’s law enforcement officials. This measure would allow for more cooperation between the other counties. In the recent thefts of catalytic converters, a Knox County man was arrested for the Laurel County thefts and involved members of the Barbourville City Police.

Cooperation between Laurel and Knox counties is essential for more than just local officials, however. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and Laurel court judges also work between the two counties. With the 27th Judicial Circuit serving both counties, Laurel District Judges John Chappell and Wendell “Skip” Hammons, Laurel Circuit Judges Greg Lay and John Knox Mills, and Laurel Family Court Judge Durenda Lawson as well as the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office rotate between the two counties. An agreement between those two counties, especially, would accelerate the apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders.

Chappell and Albright both said Laurel County had a high rate of convictions for crimes, depending upon the individual situation. Chappell said he and Hammons have a hard stance against offenders and often worked together to ensure the same penalties are enforced by both benches.

“I despise a thief,” he said.



njohnson@sentinel-echo.com