Murphy – A larger than expected turnout of more than 50 people filled a room inside the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 28, creating the need to add additional chairs.
The subject of interest that brought out members of the community in the evening hours was a proposed Cherokee County Sheriff’s Auxiliary.
Sheriff Dustin Smith and Capt. David Williams shared their experiences and why they chose a career in law enforcement to start the meeting. Then they shared that the department is seeking help from individuals in establishing an auxiliary program that will utilize volunteers in many different ways.
The extra help will in turn free up valuable time, allowing sheriff’s personnel and law enforcement to focus on providing other needed services. They added that the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Inc. is and will remain a non-political civilian organization, with monthly meetings.
“We are excited to work on revitalizing this program. We want to work together with our citizens to be as open and forthcoming as possible,” Williams said. “Even if you don’t want to volunteer, we encourage as many people who can to attend our citizens academy, once implemented, to have a better understanding of how your office and the criminal justice system works.”
The auxiliary is divided into two programs:
- Sheriff’s Volunteer Auxiliary Program – providing volunteers with an opportunity to serve in clerical and support positions throughout the sheriff’s office.
- Citizens Action Program – an enhanced mobile neighborhood watch program that reports suspicious activity to the sheriff’s office in addition to other duties.
Auxiliary membership will require individuals to complete the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Civilian Academy. The curriculum will offer a wide variety of subjects that, after training, will allow members to better assist the sheriff’s office.
Auxiliary members themselves will be offering their own thoughts and ideas on what they want
the academy curriculum to look like. Some of the academy subjects may include crime scene investigation, fingerprinting process, Patrol Division and 911 Communications, as well as animal control, county emergency operations and forensics.
Planning for the program is in its infancy, with additional informational and implementation meetings being scheduled. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. All membership positions and graduates of the citizens academy are unpaid volunteers.
Want to go?
- What: Next meeting of the proposed Cherokee County Sheriff’s Auxiliary.
- When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9.
- Where: Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, 577 Regal St. in Murphy.
- Details: Call 828-837-2589.