MOUNT VERNON — Plans are underway to enhance the safety of Knox County’s three dog wardens. A significant focus is a closer relationship with the county’s 911 system.
911 operators have access to LEDS, the Law Enforcement Data system that contains records such as warrants, protection orders, and other investigative information. Operators can provide vital information to the wardens, such as whether there is a history of violence or mental health issues at the residence.
“The safety aspect of that will be huge,” Dog Warden Brian Biggerstaff said.
The 911 CAD system provides greater protection through its tracking capabilities. The county’s wardens check in when they arrive at work, when they arrive and leave a call site, and when they leave work.
“Wardens are law enforcement officers as well, and are armed,” Commissioner Thom Collier said. “Parts of the county may or may not have good [cell] service. In the event of an emergency, we know where they are.”
The CAD system also tracks mileage, firearms registration, and preliminary information associated with a call. The wardens can update the information as they respond to a call.
In addition, the county is considering adding body cameras and tasers to the wardens’ equipment, similar to what the Knox County Sheriff’s Office uses. The equipment is cloud-based and meets all of the protocols for record retention.
County Administrator Jason Booth said the tasers give the wardens a non-lethal option when responding to a call.
Biggerstaff agreed, saying, “Right now the use of force is from nothing to deadly.”
The increased documentation and cameras provide extra liability protection for the county, especially since the wardens carry firearms.
Miscellaneous
At their Jan. 3 organizational meeting, the commissioners appointed Commissioner Thom Collier as president and Commissioner Bill Pursel as vice president of the Board of Knox County Commissioners.
They also approved the following resolutions between Jan. 10 and Jan. 19:
•Star Ohio Bank Statement for General Fund Interest Earned in December 2022 in the amount of $9,876.33
•Star Ohio Bank Statement for Program Income Fund Interest Earned in December 2022 in the amount of $129.44
•Knox County Treasurer Depository and Investment Income for the month of December 2022 in the amount of $55,264.75
•Contract for Services between Knox County Board of Commissioners and Area Development Foundation, Inc. in the amount of $90,000 for the time period Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2025.
•2023 lease agreement with Greg Magers for farmland use for $1 plus tax assessments
•Lease agreement with the City of Mount Vernon for the gravel parking lot located at the Knox Area Transit Garage for the time period Feb. 1, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2023
•Proposal from Bennett and Williams Environmental Consultants for monitoring and sampling at the Knox County Landfill for the first half of calendar year 2023 in the amount of $30,700
•A contract with William Elder, M.D., for inmate medical care at the Knox County Jail covering Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023
•A request for payment for Brinkhaven’s CDBG sidewalk improvement project in the amount of $9,600
•A budget training agreement with former Knox Area Transit director Martin McAvoy, not to exceed 20 hours
•A temporary liquor permit for the Memorial Theater for a March 3 event
•Continuing to designate one-quarter percent of the county sales tax toward 911 operations
•Approving the Knox County Sheriff’s Food Cost Per Meal Report for January 2023. Total costs of $13,934.57; total meals prepared of 6,672; and food cost per meal of $2.03.
