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KPD e-News Release: Law Enforcement Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment

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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
DATE: November 17, 2016
GENERAL NARRATIVE
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

KPD e-News Release: Kingsport Detectives Attempting to Identify Female Check Forger

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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: Kingsport Detectives Attempting to Identify Female Check Forger
DATE: November 17, 2016
CASE #: 16-014881
GENERAL NARRATIVE
On July 8, 2016 at approximately 6:00 PM, an unidentified female suspect visited the drive through of Commercial Bank, located at 1072 East Stone Drive in Kingsport. The woman presented false identification purporting to be an actual bank customer and cashed a forged check for the amount of $1,860.40.

The transaction was captured by bank surveillance cameras, and a photo of the suspect taken from that footage has been included in this release. Anyone who recognizes her is asked to contact Detectives in the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division at 423-229-9429 or call Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111.

Alternatively, if an individual who is able to supply information related to this or any other case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link:

https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us

RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

State of the City Recap

To review the State of the City – 2016 Year in Review book, please check it out here.

CityofKingsport_weekly_Nov16_3

police badge

Kingsport PD Rolls Out New Uniforms

In 2017, the Kingsport Police Department, just like the city it serves, will be turning 100 years old.  While researching old photographs in preparation for the upcoming centennial celebration, it was discovered that the earliest police officers in Kingsport wore an all dark blue uniform. By the 1950s, K.P.D. had transitioned to a uniform consisting of a gray shirt and navy blue pants that would become the standard for the next 60 plus years.

K.P.D. has been discussing the possibility of a change in uniforms, and it has been decided that transitioning back to uniforms in the original color would be a great way to celebrate and commemorate the rich history and 100th birthday of this police department. While the original K.P.D. uniforms from a century ago were most likely constructed of very heavy wool, the new uniforms will be fashioned from more modern lightweight materials and will be significantly more comfortable.

While the new look most certainly pays homage to the early days of the Kingsport Police Department, it also has an up-to-date style, more in line with today’s most progressive law enforcement agencies. An updated badge has been designed to accompany the new uniforms. The transition to the new uniforms will be at no additional cost to the taxpayers, as K.P.D. already has a line item in the budget each year for uniforms.

Officers will have three basic uniform options available to them year around, depending on the weather and their assignment.  The Class A uniform will consist of a long-sleeve solid navy blue shirt and tie, the Class B uniform will consist of an open-collar long-sleeve solid navy blue shirt, and the Class C uniform will consist of an open-collar short-sleeve solid navy blue shirt.  All three options will be worn with matching solid navy blue trousers.

Look for these sharp new uniforms out in the community!

Jim Clark Hero Shot

Highlighting Heroes: Police Officer Jim Clark

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Jim Clark

Kingsport Police Officer Serves For Others

Officer Jim Clark protects communities through strong communication channels.

Since 1992, Clark has been serving as Direct Patrol for the Kingsport Police Department. He loves his job because it allows him to become involved and connect with residents. He strongly believes communication between the police department and the residents they protect is the most important aspect of community safety.

Clark has seen first-hand the positive effect communicating with residents has on his job. After working closely with Kingsport communities and getting to know the residents, he created trusting relationships. These relationships allowed Clark to connect with residents and instill that he was there to keep them safe.

Once communication flowed more freely, residents started reporting things they saw to Clark. Eventually, these communities slowly because a more safe and secure environment for residents.

“What we do is sometimes social work, or we’re a preacher or law enforcement,” said Clark. “We see people at their worst sometimes so we have to be able to do it all.”

Through his efforts, he’s helped residents and other officers understand how important trust, communication and safety is for everyone.

KPD e-News Release: Suspect Sought in Armed Robbery of Colonial Heights CVS Pharmacy

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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: Suspect Sought in Armed Robbery of Colonial Heights CVS Pharmacy
DATE: November 9, 2016
CASE #: 16-024392
GENERAL NARRATIVE
On November 8, 2016 at approximately 7:45 PM, Officers from the Kingsport Police Department Patrol and Criminal Investigations Divisions responded to the CVS Pharmacy, located at 4106 Fort Henry Drive in the Colonial Heights area of Kingsport, in reference to an armed robbery. Their subsequent investigation revealed the following:

A lone suspect entered the store and loitered around for a few moments until ultimately approaching the pharmacy counter. He brandished a firearm, which was described by witnesses as an “old gun” and appeared to be a black in color revolver. He demanded prescription narcotics and access to a safe. He filled a trash bag that he had brought with him with a significant quantity of medications and walked casually out of the store. The stolen medications had a value of over $10,000.

The suspect was last seen running toward an access road at the rear of the business. A tracking attempt by a K.P.D. K-9 Unit proved unsuccessful. The suspect is believed to be a middle-aged white male adult. He appears to be approximately 6 feet tall and was described by witnesses as “scruffy looking.” He was wearing western style clothing consisting of blue jeans, a plaid shirt, a heavy brown or green overcoat, cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat. He was also reportedly wearing black thin-framed eyeglasses.

He absolutely should be considered armed and dangerous.

A photo of the suspect taken from store surveillance video has been included in this release. A clip of the actual video footage has been made available for viewing on the K.P.D. YouTube channel via the link below:

https://youtu.be/ElhiRbZ5060

Anyone who recognizes him is asked to contact Detectives in the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division at 423-229-9429 or call Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111.

Alternatively, if an individual who is able to supply information related to this or any other case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link:

https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us

RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

kingsport 100 logo

Centennial Merchandise – Get Yours Now!

Maybe you want to start your holiday shopping early for parents-to-be with a centennial baby blanket or perhaps the morning coffee drinker in your family needs a new centennial mug. Now is the time to start your centennial keepsake shopping and be thinking about how you want to celebrate our centennial year in 2017.

Centennial merchandise is on sale at your Kingsport Chamber, located at 400 Clinchfield Street. Merchandise available for purchase includes umbrellas, teddy bears, tote bags, magnets and two varieties of long and short sleeve t-shirts. There are also two different colors of youth shirts available. To view the merchandise, visit www.kingsport100.org.

Stop by the Kingsport Chamber and get your centennial keepsakes for 2017!

 

Tunnel Photo

Sensabaugh Tunnel

Happy Halloween! We saved the best legend for last. Today, “Ima Goner”, our ghostly friend, is visiting the infamous Sensabaugh Tunnel and learning about its spooky legend.

Sensabaugh Tunnel is a nationally recognized urban legend from Kingsport. Here are the three different tales of everyone’s favorite creepy tunnel.

Sensabaugh Tunnel was built in the 1920s and was named for the man that owned the land, Edward Sensabaugh.

In one version of this legend, Edward let a homeless man into his home as an act of charity. Their guest tried to steal jewelry and Edward confronted him with a gun. The thief grabbed Edward’s baby daughter to use as a shield and ran out of the house. He got away and drowned the baby in the tunnel.

In a second version of the legend, Edward Sensabaugh went mad and killed his entire family and threw their bodies into the tunnel.

But in the third version (that some claim is the most accurate), Edward Sensabaugh lived into his old age, not dying until the 1950s and had none of his children die as babies. By the time Edward grew old, vandals and teens had taken to using the tunnel for their fun. Edward wasn’t happy about it. So he would hide at one end of the tunnel and fill it with an eerie shriek, scaring off anyone hiding inside. Thus beginning the legend of Sensa­baugh Tunnel.

Legend has it, if you switch off your car engine in the middle of the tunnel, it won’t switch back on. Some say you can also hear the baby’s cry and the approaching footsteps of Edward himself. Some have even claimed when driving through the tunnel the shadow of a woman appears in your backseat.

Are you brave enough to visit the Sensabaugh Tunnel?

netherland inn

Netherland Inn Road

Halloween is three days away! What do you do to get in the Halloween spirit? Our ghostly friend “Ima Goner” celebrates by bringing you another legend of Kingsport.
Our legend today is that of Netherland Inn Road.
This notorious stretch of road is well known to Kingsport residents. Netherland Inn Road is also known to become enveloped in fog very easily, as it lies along the Holston River waterfront.
Back in 1922, five boys were in a serious accident caused by the fog. One of those boys was the son of Hugh Hamblen.
Hugh Hamblen was visiting his son in the hospital and upon returning to his car, discovered that the fog had set in. He was walking across Netherland Inn Road to his Model-T Ford when he saw a car approaching out of the fog. Hugh frantically tried to flag the car down to prevent from being struck by the car. Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain. The driver did not see Hamblen or his car and he was struck and killed instantly.
Over the years, there have been over 120 reports of people who have been driving along that stretch of Netherland Inn Road and claimed to have seen a man in a fedora, trench coat, and wearing a scarf frantically waving at them in the fog only to disappear as they approached.
Sometimes, people traveling along the Netherland Inn Road have also insisted that they saw a Model-T Ford along the road in the dense fog. Many report that car appeared wrecked or smashed, others have reported that it was intact. There are occasions when some have claimed that they have seen both Hamblen and the Model-T as he was standing next to it, waving away to warn of the fog.
Have you seen Hugh Hamblen and his Model-T?

Proactive Replacement of Crucial Sewer Trunkline

The Reedy Creek Sewer Trunkline project began last month.  A sewer trunk line is an underground pipeline that collects overflow from smaller lines and feeds into one main pipeline. It’s one of the crucial pieces to having a well-functioning sewer system.

The initial phase will begin at the Wastewater Treatment Plant with a tunnel under the railroad to West Center Street. Various sections will be replaced long Center Street and will eventually cross over to the old Fairway Ford property.

It will then travel along Reedy Creek until it comes out on Sullivan St near the triangle intersection, crossing Sullivan St.  It will then run along Reedy Creek again and tie in above Lovedale Sewer Lift Station, thereby eliminating the outdated station.

“This new pipe is bigger and will help the system function better,” said Ryan McReynolds, assistant city manager. “The existing pipeline is just too small and old. We’re proactively having it replaced instead of waiting until we have a major issue.”

The majority of the trunk line is 48” diameter that will be 18 to 20 feet deep in most places with some places being deeper. This trunk line will replace the previous trunk line that has been in place since the 1950s.

Construction will cost roughly $6.8 million and is expected to be completed at the end of December 2017.

reedy creek infographic

Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee