MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has asked the city to chip in $7,500 for a new used car for the children services investigator. Since 2007, the city has given the KCSO a used police cruiser for the investigator’s use.
Law Director Robert Broeren said that the arrangement came about because the Mount Vernon Police Department could not handle the caseload for children services. The county prosecutor at the time, current Municipal Judge John Thatcher, wanted one detective handling all of the children services investigations.
“Since the investigator would be operating in the city and the county, it made more sense [for the investigator] to be a county detective,” said Broeren.
The city therefore agreed to help with expenses and the county would provide the investigator.
This year, rather than providing a decommissioned police cruiser, Sheriff David Shaffer requested the city pay half of the cost for a newer used car. Shaffer said that since the donated cruisers already have a lot of wear and tear on them, the KCSO has had to put a lot of money into repairs.
“I don’t think this request is unreasonable by any means,” Police Chief Roger Monroe told council members on Monday evening during a meeting of the city’s Finance and Budget Committee. “When you compare the $7,500 to the amount of money we would have to pay [to investigate our own cases], I’m sold.”
Monroe said the two cruisers available to give to the KCSO are not in good enough shape to pass on. One has more than 60,000 miles, the other more than 45,000; both are 2 years old. Monroe said the MVPD has already put $3,100 into repairs on one cruiser and $1,400 on the other; warranties took care of other repairs.
Additionally, said Monroe, having the county investigator handle the city’s investigations “frees up man hours for my detectives.” “[That agreement] is not mandated. We could be made to work our own cases,” he said.
Last year, 50 percent of the cases Det. Sgt. Dan Bobo, the county investigator, handled were city cases. For 2016, 2015 and 2014, the numbers were 61, 48 and 64 percent, respectively.
In 2017, Bobo handled 23 actual cases for the city. “That’s roughly 10 hours a month that my detectives cannot be doing something out in the city,” said Monroe.
The 23 cases represent felony cases only and do not include another 100 calls that need to be checked out. Bobo also goes on home visits with children services case workers.
Monroe estimates the MVPD would spend another $4,500 in training if the city had its own investigator. Bobo is a task force member with the FBI and Internet Crimes Against Children.
“He already has resources set up that we would have to cover if we don’t put in the $7,500,” said Monroe. “My point is, the stuff they do is well worth the $7,500.”
Although he said he understands the efficiencies and quality control that come with one investigator, Councilman Chris Menapace said his issue is spending money on a county employee. Councilman Matt Starr suggested the city have a contract or a Memorandum of Understanding with the county regarding the use of the $7,500. “Contracts seal relationships,” he said.
Although city officials can make the decision since the $7,500 is under the cap that requires council’s approval, Mayor Richard Mavis said he wanted council’s input in light of the $1 million revenue shortfall the city will face with the closing of Siemens Energy. Council gave no formal recommendation.
