Sevier County Sheriff Using Technology to Foster Communication with Community

A new website aims to provide real time safety information and increase communication between the public and Sevier County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office officially launched its new mobile-friendly website www.seviercountysheriff.com on Monday. It is integrated with the department’s social media accounts, including its Twitter feed of real time traffic alerts and announcements. Along with information about each division, the website has easy to use forms for citizens to communicate directly with many of the divisions. For example, they may submit animal complaints and enroll in the free doghouse program with the Animal Control Division or report unsafe road conditions and traffic complaints to the Traffic Unit.

In response to the growing problem of domestic violence in Sevier County, the Domestic & Family Violence Unit was established in 2015 and the new website now contains domestic violence resources for victims.

“It has been designed to reflect the current needs of the sheriff’s office and the citizens of Sevier County but also builds upon technology capable of addressing future needs as Sheriff’s Office programs expand,” the department said in a release. “Sheriff Ron Seals is committed to sharing public information with our citizens and media, collecting crime tips, sharing information on registered sex offenders, jail information, and overall maintaining sheriff’s office transparency and helping to keep the citizens of Sevier County safer.”

Through a Community Video Partnership, the department is asking commercial and residential property owners that have video surveillance cameras to voluntarily register on the website. If a crime is committed in the area and officers know where video surveillance exists that may have captured an image of the perpetrator or perpetrator’s vehicle, an officer may then contact the property owner to review the surveillance video for leads.

Information is available about various community outreach programs such as the Kid’s Camp and Citizen Academy. Anyone who is going to be away from home for an extended period of time can request an officer check on the property by submitting a Vacation Home Check.

Using data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Sex Offender Registry, the website offers maps showing the density of sexual offenders residing in the community.

Employment opportunities with the Sheriff’s Office and Sevier County Jail are posted, along with a downloadable employment application.