What I Will Do As Sheriff

My goal as Sheriff is to make Wilson County safer, stronger, and more livable for every family, every neighborhood, and every business.

That requires modern policing, smart crime fighting strategies, strong community partnerships, and leadership that puts people first.

Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence

I will have Detectives assigned to a Special Victim’s Unit to investigate domestic related crimes.  Every domestic related report created by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office under my administration will be followed up by a detective from this unit.

• This includes follow-up investigations into domestic calls for service reports.

• Advising victims of their rights as victims of domestic violence.

• Provide resources that victims may need to help protect them from going back to their abusers.

Create a Dedicated Criminal/Traffic Enforcement

Through traffic enforcement these members will be trained and equipped to identify criminal activity through traffic enforcement. There will be two types of teams that will focus specifically on traffic enforcement throughout the county.

• One team will be dedicated to:

  • local roads

  • school zones

  • funeral escorts

  • neighborhood traffic complaints

  • DWI Enforcement and more

• The other team will be

  • Specifically assigned to Interstates in Wilson County concentrating on:

  • Criminal Interdiction

    • Illegal Narcotics (including fentanyl)Weapons

    • Human trafficking victims

    • Stolen property

    • Fugitives

    • Large-scale criminal proceeds

Each team will be available for other specialized operations.  We will intercept criminals before the drugs ever reach our neighborhoods. Seized assets from this enforcement can be reinvested to relieve the taxpayer burden.

Fix and reform the Wilson County Animal Shelter

Quality of life includes how we treat animals.

As Sheriff I will,

• Conduct a full operational review

  • shelter practices

  • staffing

  • conditions

• Establish clear standards

  • for animal care

  • sanitation

  • medical treatment.

• Restore partnerships with nonprofits and rescue groups.

• Expand volunteer opportunities.

• Increase adoption events and reduce overcrowding.

• Train civilian staff and deputies in animal-welfare law.

• Hold anyone accountable for mismanagement.

The shelter will operate with transparency and professionalism.

Improve Response to Mental Health and Crisis Calls

Many calls for service involve mental health crisis.

I will:

• Establish a Co-Responder program that assists in mental health crisis calls. It is made up of social workers who are specially trained to handle mental health calls for service. These groups have resources readily available to assist in a metal crisis that does not always need to involve law enforcement. Expand crisis-intervention training for deputies.

• Ensure deputies have the tools and support to resolve these situations safely and compassionately including hostage negotiators in the event one is needed immediately.

This improves outcomes for families, deputies, and those in crisis.

Reduce Repeat Offenders and Violent Crime

Too often, the same offender’s cycle through the system. That must change.

I will:

• Rebuild strong working relationships with other law enforcement agencies.

• Assign task force deputies to investigate more complex cases.

  • My vision for those deputies will be for them to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to target violent and habitual offenders.

• Our office will coordinate with courts, probation, and treatment providers to reduce re-offending while still holding criminals accountable.

Public safety will always be the priority.

Transparency

I will have a Public Information Officer who will be responsible for disseminating information, keeping the citizens more informed than they have ever been.

I will create social media accounts for the office that will be utilized to provide real time updates.

The public deserves honest, clear information.

You as residents of Wilson deserve to be informed.

Target Property Crime and Theft

I plan to host educational seminars to better educate the public, work with retailers, farmers, and businesses to prevent and solve theft. My office will prioritize investigations of burglary, vehicle theft, and rural property crimes.

Using intelligence-led policing and surveillance to target repeat offenders.

Detectives will see these cases through, maintain an open line of communication with victims and do what’s necessary to secure convictions in these cases.

Neighborhood Watch & Business Watch Programs/ Educate Public on Scams

I will ensure members of my office host bi-annual classes (Spring and Fall) teaching crime prevention to all who are interested. This course will also go over crime trends in the county as well as scams that have been reported.

During the meetings, we will have community input about what others are seeing in their neighborhoods.

This meeting will be accessible via (teams or zoom) for those who cannot attend in person. Everyone deserves to be informed.

Community Partnerships/Youth Groups In Wilson County

Youth engagement and mentoring programs

• Juvenile delinquency prevention initiatives

• Early-intervention partnerships

  • Schools

  • Churches

  • Nonprofit Organizations

  • Civic Groups

When we give young people opportunity and guidance, we reduce future crime and build stronger communities.

Host events for Special Needs Population

Senior outreach- such as designated welfare checks for seniors that can be conducted upon request.

Modernizing the Sheriff’s Office

• Modernize Case Management and Camera Systems

• I will do a total review of current systems being used at the Sheriff’s Office to include

  • reporting systems

  • body worn and in-car camera systems

I want to ensure that systems being utilized are working efficiently and modern. Through these newer technologies we can strengthen supervision, transparency, and accountability. This helps ensure professionalism, strengthens cases, and leads to greater public trust.

Closing

My vision is about professional leadership, real public safety, and restoring trust in the Sheriff’s Office.

Wilson County deserves a Sheriff who is proactive, accountable, and committed to every part of our community from our neighborhoods and schools to our highways, our seniors, and even our animal shelter.

This is just the beginning; there are many other ideas and initiatives that I plan to bring forth once in office. A social media post/campaign agenda could never completely address each need of an office such as the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.

This is just the beginning and I appreciate your support.

Thank you.

Bobby Knight

That is the leadership I will bring.