You are here: / / / December

KPD e-News Release: K.P.D. Encourages Sober Driving by Participating in THSO Booze It & Lose It Campaign

,

Kingsport Police Department

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT: K.P.D. Encourages Sober Driving by Participating in THSO Booze It & Lose It Campaign
DATE: December 21, 2016
GENERAL NARRATIVE
From December 15, 2016 through January 1, 2017, the Kingsport Police Department is participating in the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) Booze It & Lose It Campaign. This campaign encompasses both the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday weekends, which are statistically two of the deadliest weekends of the year for motorists.

According to the THSO, Booze It & Lose It is designed to reduce impaired driving instances, injuries, fatalities, & associated economic losses. The Booze It & Lose It campaign provides for increased law enforcement efforts and public service messages to accomplish its goal. The intervention targets all drivers who are impaired due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Impaired driving and impaired-related crashes constitute one of the nation’s leading health problems. These events result in more deaths each year than do total homicides; furthermore, alcohol is a factor in 35% of all crashes throughout the United States.

The following D.U.I.-related statistics are provided courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

1) Over a five-year period, almost 4,000 people died during drunk driving crashes during the month of December.

2) In December 2015, fatal crashes involving drunk drivers were almost 4-times higher at night than during the day.

3) In December 2015, drunk driving crashes resulted in 840 deaths.

As part of the Booze It & Lose It campaign, and in the ongoing effort to reduce the problem of Driving Under the Influence (D.U.I.) and related crashes, injuries, and fatalities, the Kingsport Police Department will be stepping up its D.U.I. enforcement efforts. While D.U.I. laws are enforced year around, every officer at the Kingsport Police Department has been asked to make D.U.I. enforcement a top priority during this campaign.

The Kingsport Police Department continues to stress that Tennessee D.U.I. laws apply not just to alcohol, but to any substance that impairs the ability to drive, including illegal drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, as well as prescription drugs, even if they are prescribed by a physician. Remember…Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving!

For more information on the THSO Booze It & Lose It campaign, please visit:

http://tntrafficsafety.org/drunk-driving
RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

kingsport 100 logo

A New Year’s Eve Party 100 Years in the Making!

nye-cover-photo

Join us in Downtown Kingsport to ring in the new year and celebrate Kingsport’s 100th birthday!

Think it will be too cold? We’ll have heated benches (provided by Jackson Jones) and patio heaters to keep you toasty.

Something for the kiddos? Absolutely! The YMCA is sponsoring a kids station with a magician, face painting and more!

Do you like free stuff? Josh Smith, with WJHL, will be giving away free goodies all night!

Always wanted to go to Times Square? Join us and avoid the traffic! We will have a ball drop at midnight – ours is a big “100”!

Do you like a discount with your dinner? Great! Various downtown restaurants will be staying open late to make sure your last 2016 meal is great!

Come celebrate with Kingsport and be a part of history as we kick off our centennial year! We can’t wait to ring in the new year with the Kingsport spirit!

nativity scene

Church Circle Nativity Scene

This year marks the 50th anniversary of one of Kingsport’s most beloved Christmas traditions, the Church Circle nativity scene. The nativity scene was first introduced in 1966 with 18 figures in the original set. Since then, a few more pieces have been added. The Kingsport Jaycees have managed the maintenance and storage of the figures since they were donated 50 years ago. All of the original pieces are still on display each year, with the exception of the baby Jesus figure. The original baby Jesus figure was stolen a few years ago and recovered, only to be stolen again. After the second theft, it could not be recovered and was replaced. This year, the Kingsport Jaycees asked for donations to help fund the complete refurbishment of the set, which is now on display at Church Circle.

santa train

The Arrival of The First Santa Train

Santa’s Special Railroad Car pulled into town on November 26, 1943, marking the first Santa Train excursion. The night before, a delegation of Kingsport merchants, staff writers and photographers from the Kingsport Times News joined Mr. Phetteplace, general manager of the Clinchfield Railroad Company, in Kingsport to journey to Elkhorn City, Kentucky. It was from there that the delegation met up with Santa Claus and escorted him to Kingsport on the specially-designed railroad car for the occasion. The railroad offered special round-trip fares for the day for people to ride the train with Santa and come to Kingsport to do their Christmas shopping. Santa requested that children along the Clinchfield Railroad that could not come to Kingsport be sure to be at their respective railroad stations so Santa could talk with them. Do you celebrate the Santa Train tradition?

fire dept logo

Kingsport Fire Department Assists with Gatlinburg Fires

On November 28, our friends and neighbors in Gatlinburg, TN sent out the call for help containing a wildfire that had spread throughout their community. Kingsport is blessed with a great group of firefighters who were willing to answer that call.

The first call went out at 7:17 p.m. on Monday evening and only 13 minutes later at 7:30 p.m, a team of five firefighters and an engine truck were already in place and heading to help. A new crew of five or 6 firefighters was sent every night for the next four nights. They worked 24-30 hours before a crew arrived to relieve them. All Kingsport firefighters returned home by December 3rd.

The Kingsport Fire Dept. had a total of 825 man hours assisting. They worked search/rescue efforts, fought fires, and assisted with clean-up operations.

Scott Boyd
Scott Boyd,  serves as the “District Coordinator for Mutual Aid” covering 8 counties and includes all fire departments and rescue squads. When the Gatlinburg needed help, he immediately took action. He coordinated and sent crews/vehicles to assist by working closely with TEMA (TN Emergency Management Agency).Scott Boyd worked tirelessly to coordinate firefighters and apparatus going to Gatlinburg. He fielded over 300 calls to set up the teams for deployment and handled over 1,000 calls during the week. He also left on Thursday to help in Gatlinburg and returned last Friday night.

Thank you Scott for your dedication and hard work!

Listed below are firefighters that assisted with the Gatlinburg fires.

David Chase
Warren Bishop
Jason Bledsoe
Luke Wood
Dustin Olson
Chris Lowe
Gene Lady
Eric Wilson
Wes Mann
Shane Warren
Jim Everhart
Chief Dye
Lynn Feagins
Shea Payne
David Hawkins
Todd Carter
Caleb Sick
Sean Broyles
John Hollowell
Jared Dawson
Jubal Roe
Jerry Reed
Jim Carter
Jeremy Pitts
Chris Corey
Bill Donoho
Adam Delph
Andrew Catron
Robert Brown
Jared Lindholm
Kevin Mitchell
Billy Triplett
Marcus Osburn
Ben Wexler
Josh Cox
Jonathan Seay

KPD e-News Release: Wanted Man Nets New Charges After Being Captured While in Possession of Meth and Nearly $10,000

,

Kingsport Police Department

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT: Wanted Man Nets New Charges After Being Captured While in Possession of Meth and Nearly $10,000
DATE: December 19, 2016
CASE #: 16-027334 (Arrest on New Drug Charges)

16-027336 (Arrest on Outstanding Warrant)
GENERAL NARRATIVE
On December 18, 2016 at approximately 1:00 AM, a Kingsport Police Officer encountered an individual, later identified as Robert L. Farmer, staggering along the ramp between West Stone Drive and Lynn Garden Drive in Kingsport. The officer stopped to check on him and learned in conversation that he had just left the Hog Wild Saloon, located in close proximity to this intersection. The officer noticed that Mr. Farmer appeared extremely nervous, his pupils were constricted, and he appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic.

A warrant check revealed that Mr. Farmer, also known by the moniker “Superman,” was currently wanted on an outstanding Sullivan County arrest warrant for Violation of Probation, which led to his immediate arrest. During a routine search of his person incident to arrest, the officer located two syringes, one in his pocket and one in his briefs, the latter of which was already loaded and ready for delivery of a Subutex solution by a non-prescribed method.

He was also found to be in possession of multiple plastic baggies, several of which contained a crystal like substance believed to be Methamphetamine. Furthermore, he possessed multiple bundles of cash that totaled nearly $10,000. Mr. Farmer was unable to explain the exorbitant amount of cash. By his own admission, he was only employed on a part time basis working small jobs for an unnamed swimming pool company.

In addition to the pre-existing charge of Violation of Probation, Mr. Farmer was charged with Possession of a Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine) for Resale and Possession of Unlawful Drug Paraphernalia. The cash was seized as suspected proceeds from recent drug transactions, while the drugs were also seized and will be sent to the T.B.I. Crime Lab for analysis.

Mr. Farmer was transported to the Kingsport City Jail for processing and later transferred to the Sullivan County Jail in Blountville for confinement. He currently remains incarcerated in lieu of a $1,500 bond as set by the presiding judge or magistrate.
SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name Robert L. Farmer

a.k.a. “Superman”
Age Date of Birth 1/14/1982

34 Years of Age
Gender/Race Male/White
Residency 5745 Orebank Road

Kingsport, TN
Charge(s) 1) Possession of a Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine) for Resale

2) Possession of Unlawful Drug Paraphernalia

3) Also Arrested on Outstanding Sullivan County Warrant for Violation of Probation

RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

KPD e-News Release: Detectives Attempting to Locate Additional Victims of Suspect’s Indecent Exploits

,

Kingsport Police Department

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT: Detectives Attempting to Locate Additional Victims of Suspect’s Indecent Exploits
DATE: December 15, 2016
CASE #: 16-014771 (4500 West Stone Drive)

16-019618 (2306 Sullivan Gardens Parkway)
GENERAL NARRATIVE
On November 23, 2016 at approximately 1:00 PM, Paul M. Slaughter was arrested on an outstanding warrant for 2 counts of Indecent Exposure. He was arrested at his place of employment, Cintas, located at 125 Regional Park Drive in Kingsport. He has since been released from jail after posting a $1,500 bond as set by the presiding judge. His arrest followed an investigation by the Kingsport Police Department Criminal Investigations Division into two incidents of indecent exposure reported two months apart.

On July 13, 2016 at approximately 7:00 PM, an adult female victim reported an incident of indecent exposure that she had witnessed at a shaved ice business, located at 4500 West Stone Drive in Kingsport. The woman was visiting the business with a church youth group when she observed a gold Buick sedan circling the parking lot. When the driver parked the Buick next to her car, she noticed that he was not wearing any pants. She said that the driver looked directly at her and began masturbating in plain view of her and the general public.

Two months later, on September 12, 2016 at approximately 12:00 Noon, an adult female victim reported an incident of indecent exposure that she had witnessed at a convenience store, located at 2306 Sullivan Gardens Parkway in Kingsport. The woman was pumping gas when a man approached her in a gold Buick sedan and called out to her. She observed the man to have his pants pulled down with his genitals in full display, and he began masturbating in full view of her and the general public.

During the course of the investigation, the male suspect in both of these aforementioned incidents was positively identified as Paul M. Slaughter. While being interviewed by Detectives, Mr. Slaughter corroborated both of these incidents. He also confessed to as many as four additional similarly indecent acts that he had allegedly committed over the same period of time between July and September 2016; however, he did not provide any specific details.

Realizing that these are likely not isolated incidents and seeing an obvious pattern of lewd behavior, Detectives are asking any additional people who may have been victimized by Mr. Slaughter’s vulgar exploits, and have not yet reported those incidents to law enforcement, to please come forward.

A photograph of Mr. Slaughter is included in this release. He is a 22 year old white male adult. He stands approximately 6 feet tall and weighs roughly 230 pounds. He has brown eyes and long stringy dark brown hair and a beard. As previously mentioned, he typically travels in a gold Buick sedan.

Anyone wishing to file a report of this nature that they believe involved Mr. Slaughter may contact the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division at 423-229-9429 or call Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111.
SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name Paul M. Slaughter
Age Date of Birth 2/11/1994

22 Years of Age
Gender/Race Male/White
Height/

Weight

 6 feet

230 pounds
Hair/

Eyes

 Long stringy dark brown hair and beard

Brown eyes
Last Known Address 1000 University Boulevard

Allandale Falls Apartment F-44

Kingsport, TN
Charge(s) Indecent Exposure (2 counts)

RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

kingsport academic village logo

New Kingsport Academic Village Website

Tennessee’s best higher education opportunities are all in one location – The Academic Village in downtown Kingsport. Through the collaboration efforts of the City of Kingsport, Northeast State, Milligan College, Lincoln Memorial University, East Tennessee State University and King University, individuals can take classes and earn their degrees from these participating colleges.

The best and most current place to find information about The Academic Village is their newly launched website – www.kingsportacademicvillage.com. Through this site, potential students can decide which college is the best fit along with learning about the degree programs, classes required, and what classes are offered.

Classes are held at The Kingsport Academic Village, a 6 building, $12 million, 54,000-square-foot facility. With lecture halls, computer labs, engineering labs and more, students will be able to get the education and degree they want with the best and most up-to-date equipment.

For more information, please visit www.kingsportacademicvillage.com.

steve hightower

Highlighting Heroes: Fleet Maintenance Manager Steve Hightower

,
steve hightower

Mechanic to Manager: A Lesson in Change

Loyalty is what Steve Hightower knows. Leadership is what he does.

From his roots as a mechanic to his past twenty years as a manager, Steve knows that change is a must. For Kingsport, Steve creates positive change that yields efficiencies, time and time again.

Steve is the Fleet Maintenance Manager for the City of Kingsport. This department keeps fire trucks, police cruisers, snowplows and all of public works’ vehicles running smoothly.

With 37 years on the job, Steve continues to find innovative ways to increase productivity in his department.

During his time as manager, the fleet department received these recognitions:

  • Top 100 Green Fleets Nationwide – given to those who use alternative fuels for city vehicles
  • Emissions Reduction Award – given by the Governor for the State of Tennessee,
  • 1-star certified green fleet award – also given by the State of Tennessee

In order to receive these recognitions, Steve and his department works hard to improve all city vehicles. “These awards shows us, and the tax payers, that we are going in the right direction,” explained Hightower.

The “green” fleet is now over 40 vehicles, which has reduced fuel costs 34% in the last year. Currently, the city is saving $1 per gallon by using propane instead of gasoline.

Steve’s dedication to his job allows him to feel a sense of pride in what his department has accomplished through this recognition and others like it.

From his early days as a mechanic, Steve understands the importance of his job. When asked what his department does, Hightower responded, “It’s our job to make sure all of the departments can provide services to the city.”

Often Steve and his team’s work is not seen by the public. However, their role in the community is undoubtedly important.

Inspiring Steve is simple. “The opportunity to make sure that any fire truck or police car is getting where it needs to go at any time to ensure safety. They can get their job done because of the work we do.”

 

KPD e-News Release: Law Enforcement Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment (2nd and Final Notice)

,

Kingsport Police Department

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT: Law Enforcement Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment (2nd and Final Notice)
DATE: December 12, 2016
GENERAL NARRATIVE
REMINDER: The CALEA Accreditation Public Information Session for the Kingsport Police Department will be conducted this coming Wednesday evening, December 14, 2016, from 6:00 PM—8:00PM, in the Auditorium (Room 137) of the Kingsport Higher Education Center, located at 300 West Market Street in Downtown Kingsport.

If for any reason an individual cannot speak at the Public Information session but would still like to provide comments to the Assessment Team, he or she may do so by telephone during a “call-in” session scheduled for December 13, 2016 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. The public may call and leave comments at 423-229-9378 during this scheduled time.

As previously released:

The Kingsport Police Department will have a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) arriving on December 12, 2016, to examine all aspects of the Kingsport Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The Kingsport Police Department was originally accredited by CALEA in March, 1992. This scheduled re-accreditation review is to maintain the department’s status for the next four years.

Verification by the team that the Kingsport Police Department meets the Commission’s state-of–the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session, December 14, 2016, at 6:00 PM. The session will be conducted at the Kingsport Higher Education Center, located at 300 W. Market St., Room 137 Kingsport, Tennessee. If for any reason an individual cannot speak at the Public Information session but would still like to provide comments to the Assessment Team, he or she may do so by telephone during a “call-in” session scheduled for December 13, 2016 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. The public may call and leave comments at 423-229-9378 during this scheduled time.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to ten minutes and must be for the specific purpose of addressing the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. Copies of the standards are available upon request at the Kingsport Police Department.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Kingsport Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write to:

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA)

13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320

Gainesville, Virginia 20155

For Advanced Accreditation, CALEA has 481 individual Law Enforcement standards. Most of these standards are subdivided, resulting in well over 1,000 required proofs of compliance for each year the agency remains accredited.

The Accreditation Program Manager for the Kingsport Police Department is Sergeant Glenn Cradic. The Assessment Team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places within the service area where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors are:

Team Leader- Deputy Chief Stanton Gragg – Mount Pleasant, SC Police Department

Team Member- Lieutenant Susan Bass – Greenville, NC Police Department

Once the commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to retain accredited status in 2017.

Accreditation is for four years during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with all applicable standards.

For additional information on the Kingsport Police Department’s accreditation program or to view copies of the CALEA standards, contact Sergeant Glenn Cradic, Accreditation Manager, at 423-224-2411.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. please write the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) at, 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155, call (703) 352-4225, or visit the CALEA website at www.calea.org.

RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee