[August 03, 2008]

Walker sheriff balances safety needs in a large, rural county

(Chattanooga Times (Free Press, TN) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 3--Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson joined the department in 1986 and has served as sheriff for the past 12 years.

Over that time, Sheriff Wilson has watched the population grow steadily in Walker County's narrow, northern end. But sheriff's department duties span the entire county, including the broad, rural south end. The county has a population of more than 64,000, according to 2007 U.S. census estimates, and is one of the larger counties of North Georgia at 446 square miles.

Protecting so large an area, especially in the face of rising fuel costs and possible economic downturns, requires the sheriff to weigh tactics for serving residents and conserving funds.

Sheriff Wilson talked to the Chattanooga Times Free Press recently about how he sets priorities as the county's top law enforcement officer.

Q: What's unique about covering Walker County, a fairly large, rural North Georgia county?

A: It's a challenge; it's always been a challenge. I've been with the Sheriff's Department since 1986.

I remember as a deputy patrolling on the top of Lookout Mountain and being dispatched to the Villanow community on a call. That's 35 road miles away. If you compare Catoosa County and Walker County, they're about the same population but we're twice the land size.

Q: What methods help you keep a balance between services and funding?

A: You have to balance the man-hours in the areas where you receive the most calls, which is near Chickamauga and in the north section of Walker County. But, we have to provide equal services to people in the more rural parts.

Just because gas prices increase doesn't mean you stop patrolling those areas. Those folks pay taxes just like anyone else. There are ways to conserve -- don't leave a car running for long periods of time; do extra patrols while answering dispatch calls. Most changes are common sense rules you use without compromising services.

Q: You've been sheriff for 12 years, so you're no stranger to working with budgets. What's the context of this current situation?

A: In 2004 we had a serious crisis in Walker County, had to trim our budgets and tighten our belts. We haven't yet had to meet on budget negotiations (this year). The best-case scenario is we get our full request for funding from the county. We can justify our full request. But I understand that times are tough right now, and, as county employees, we have to tighten our belts.

Q: Does the announcement of the Volkswagen plant choosing Chattanooga affect Walker County? If so, how do you envision it will affect your job?

A: We hope we'll see some growth. Walker County unemployment is at a high rate, so we hope to see jobs related to VW in Walker County. With the plant coming, it's only a matter of time until the unemployment rate goes down. When unemployment rate goes down, you'll see a decrease in crime.

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