Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan is encouraging anyone who can to sign up to donate blood in honor of Law Enforcement or Fire/Emergency Management in the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive, an event that benefits Wilson County in a friendly competition between Wilson County Law Enforcement  and Wilson County Fire/Emergency Management.

“We’re in it to win it,” said Sheriff Robert Bryan of the 2016 competition for bragging rights between Wilson County’s Law Enforcement and Fire/Emergency Agencies. “This year is going to be Wilson County Law Enforcement’s year to win the Battle of the Badges.”

It’s important to sign up as soon as possible for an appointment through the Red Cross. To schedule an appointment, log onto redcrossblood.org and enter the following sponsor code: WilsonBattle. To make it even more convenient for all of Wilson County, the event will take place in two locations on two different dates and times.

The first event is scheduled in Lebanon from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, at the Jimmy Floyd Family Center Multi-Purpose Room. The second event is scheduled in Mt. Juliet from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, at the Mt. Juliet Community Center Meeting Room.

To save even more time, complete an online pre-donation and health history questionnaire at your convenience on the day of your appointment. You can save up to 15 minutes and skip the waiting time. To learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.

American Red Cross officials say the need for donations becomes even greater just before the busy summer vacation season begins when many regular donors may delay or skip donations because of other summer activities.

“As summer approaches, the American Red Cross encourages eligible individuals to give blood and help ensure a sufficient supply,” said American Red Cross Account Manager Brett Crystal. “Every day, the Red Cross must collect 14,000 blood donations to help meet the needs of patients across the country. Your donation may help accident victims, organ transplant patients and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.”

Fourteen Graduate WCSO Citizens’ Sheriff’s Academy Applications

Some 14 Wilson County residents have a new appreciation and better understanding of what it’s like to be part of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office following their graduation from the  Citizens’ Sheriff’s Academy Tuesday night.

Several of the men and women who completed the intensive 10-week course expressed surprise at how much they didn’t realize occurred behind the scenes at the Sheriff’s Office and Correctional Facility. Sheriff Robert Bryan thanked the citizens for taking interest and time out of their own schedules to experience up close how the men and women whom he counts on to make the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office run smoothly. Each graduate was presented with a certificate and token of appreciation to for their commitment.

Many will now go on to join the growing Academy Alumni Association. Leigh Mills, a past graduate of the Sheriff’s Citizens’ Academy and current Academy Alumni Association President, said of her experience  “I was extremely impressed with the program and believe other Wilson County residents can benefit from seeing exactly what the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office encounters from day-to-day. The Sheriff and his staff have created an excellent, intensive course that helps all of us better understand how the department serves the community. Each week, participants are taken through a series of classes that provide a close-up view of law enforcement techniques and shown exactly how much responsibility the Sheriff’s Office has with regard to the jail, courts, and process service functions we might otherwise never see. Presenters offer an entertaining and interactive way to learn the role of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and how it relates to our community. I would encourage anyone who has not done so to apply for this course. From graduation, participants are also encouraged to help serve the community by joining the Alumni Association, where they will have a chance to volunteer and support the Sheriff’s Office.”

There are no minimum physical requirements, just a desire to learn more about law enforcement and get exposure to day-to-day aspects of the many facets involved in enforcing the law and assisting fellow citizens. Applicants must pass a background check to be accepted.

“This class is designed to help foster a better understanding between the citizens and the Sheriff’s Office,” said Wilson County Sheriff’s Lt. James Lanier, who oversees the Academy along with a number of other veteran staffers at the Sheriff’s Office. “It familiarizes the citizens with how the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office operates in a hands-on situation. This course shows how different the Sheriff’s Office is from the other law enforcement offices in Wilson County and how much more responsibility the Office has compared to other agencies.”

Some of the classes cover topics such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, domestic violence, patrol procedures, Schools Resource Officers, Civil and Criminal Warrants, DUI awareness, handcuffing procedures and other law enforcement functions. The course also includes hands-on activities, field trips such as a three-hour jail tour, a visit to the firing range, lectures by Communications dispatchers, a representative from the District Attorney’s Office, demonstrations in boating safety and the Office’s Special Response Team among other activities including what a K-9 officer is capable of doing when ordered to search for a criminal suspect.

Members of Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, Mt. Juliet Police Department, Lebanon Police Department, Watertown Police Department and numerous city, state and county officials attended today’s solemn memorial service honoring fallen officers from Wilson County. The service coincides with National Police Memorial Week. Today’s event was held in Judge Barry Tatum’s Courtroom and hosted a large crowd of people from many walks of life on hand to honor the fallen officers. WCSO Police Chaplain Don Willis led the group in prayer before and after the law enforcement officials read the names of deceased officers from various part of Wilson County. Lebanon Police Detective David Wilmore, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 71 told the crowd the number of officers slain was up by 70 percent this year over last year while accidental deaths were down by 19 percent for a total of 36 to date in 2016. In addition, there were 12 K-9 deaths in the line of duty.

The public is invited to attend a ceremony to honor all fallen officers from Wilson County at 11 a.m. in Judge Barry Tatum’s Courtroom. The event will include reading of the names of the fallen officers by Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan, Mt. Juliet Chief James Hambrick and Lebanon Police Chief Mike Justice. The program will include a presentation of colors by the Joint Honor Guard of Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, Lebanon Police Department and the Mt. Juliet Police Department. Lebanon Police Detective David Wilmore, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 71 and Detective Jay Spicer Vice-President of Lodge 83 will give remarks regarding the Police Memorial Week Observation. Pastor Jim Kubic from Life Point Church will lead in prayer during the service.

WCSO Sheriff and SROs Now Taking Applications for Conflict-Resolution Camp in July

Sheriff Robert Bryan and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office SROs are taking applications now for a week-long, half-day camp to help students learn to cope with bullying and problems such as spotting potential online predators to peaceful conflict-resolution.

“The goal of the camp is to help our young people manage possible problems they are faced with on a daily basis, both in and out of school,” Sheriff Robert Bryan said. “Our young people today face so many more problems in a technologically savvy world than many of us faced in school. Our SRO Team wants to provide students with the tools they need to learn how to maturely manage problems and build self-confidence while avoiding becoming victims.”

Instruction areas will include such topics as: bullying; online predators; drug/alcohol awareness; confidence building, team-building exercises; a tour of the jail and examination of the juvenile court system.

The classes will be held from 8-11 a.m. July 25-29 for 25 qualifying students. Eligibility requirements include any male or female with a good disciplinary school record and good attendance record. Any male or female going into grades 6^th through the 8^th for the 2016-2017 school year will be considered.

The cost is free to any qualifying students. For more information, please contact your school’s SRO or the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.

Note: The WCSO SRO school camp is not associated with Wilson County Schools.

Sheriff Robert Bryant along with several members of his staff, state, county and local officials gathered at noon May 5 to Observe the National Day of Prayer. Department Chaplain Don Willis led the group in prayer for our country, our leaders and one another.

Lebanon’s VFW Post 5015 presents American flag pins to Wilson County Sheriff’s Deputies

Members of Lebanon’s VFW Post 5015 conducted American flag pinning ceremonies through Wilson County Monday to show solidarity between the military and law enforcement agencies. VFW Post 5015’s representatives were traveling to Wilson County Sheriff’s Department, Lebanon Police Department, Mt. Juliet Police Department and Watertown Police Department. They handed out hundreds of pins during roll call ceremonies to show their support of law enforcement as defenders of the people.

Several members of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, Wilson EMA and other organizations demonstrated various tasks they perform on the job and the equipment they use for an estimated 150 Cub Scouts from surrounding area. The event, Cub Scout Camporee, was held April 29-May 1 at the Stahlman Camp in the Boy Scouts Boxwell Reservation in Wilson County. Metro Nashville Police Sgt. Chris Warner, who is chairman of the camping committee for the Scouts, said they have two events each year, one for Cub Scouts  in the spring and one for the Boy Scouts in the fall. In addition to camping, the cub scouts got  some experience in  activities such as archery, map and compass reading and ther events, culminating with a Saturday night camp fire and retirement of a tattered U.S. Flag. The Cub Scouts prepared,” Sgt. Warner said, and enjoyed all the events despite periods of rain. “That’s what Scouts do: they come prepared for anything.”