By Gary Lloyd
The Clay City Council last week approved an extra $2,000 per month to go toward increased police presence in the city.
Councilman Ricky Baker, the council’s liaison to the Public Safety Committee, made the motion.
“It would be a very good way to put more deputies on the streets,” Baker said.
The city was paying $5,000 per month for Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies to patrol the city. The city has one full-time contracted deputy through the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and three that have patrolled on a part-time basis, said Mayor Charles Webster. Upping the monthly budget for deputies to $7,000 will allow Clay to add another deputy or two, Webster said.
The city’s full-time contracted deputy will come up with the schedule for the part-time deputies.
“The plan is to have deputies visible in Clay around the clock,” Webster said
.
Webster said he hopes an increased police presence will “deter” people who are thinking about committing a crime in Clay. He said the city will probably have three deputies patrolling the city at any one time.
“The leadership in Clay is to be commended for recognizing that one of the important building blocks of any vibrant community is public safety and any time that is enhanced the citizens win,” said Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Randy Christian.
John William Gallagher contributed to this story.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.