Paris, Tenn.–Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew announced today the establishment of the SRO Help Unit which will assist home bound countians receive essential items, including food and medications that they need.
Belew said the SRO Help Unit will begin doing welfare checks of all countians in need effective Tuesday, March 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The School Resource Officers (SROs) will have assistance of some Metro Crime Unit and patrol officers.
If you elderly and don’t feel safe going out or have health complications, Belew said, call the non-emergency number at the sheriff’s office at 731 642 1672 and the unit will be able to help.
“We’ll help you in any way that you can with whatever you need,” Belew said.
At today’s presentation, Sheriff Monte Belew, was accompanied by County EMA Director Ron Watkins, Chief Deputy Damon Lowe, and County Mayor Brent Greer, all standing the required distance from each other. The presentation was made to the SROs who were seated at a distance from each other in the meeting room.
The presentation was posted on Facebook live on the Henry County Sheriff’s Office page. You can watch here: https://www.facebook.com/HenryCountySheriffsOffice/videos/240117790368735/
He also called on everyone to keep an eye on their neighbors especially at this time. “If you haven’t seen your neighbor in awhile, please call and let us know and we’ll check on them,” he said.
Belew said the sheriff’s office patrol division will still respond to calls, but low priority calls requiring a report will be handled over the phone. He said the sheriff’s office has suspended subpoena, garnishment and warrant execution services until March 31 at which time it will be reevaluated.
As for the Corrections Facility, Belew said the sheriff’s office is following CDC and TDOC guidelines in its operation. The facility is being disinfected twice a day and inmates’ temperatures are being taken twice a day. They are screening and taking the temperature of each new inmate.
The jail population is relatively low right now, at 75 percent, Belew said. “We’re working with Judge Parish, Judge Vicki Snyder, District AG Matthew Stowe, Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Griffey, Public Defender Tas Gardner and Assistant Public Defender Jeff Fagan on a daily basis to help monitor our jail population.”
All classes in the jail are suspended temporarily, including jail ministry, GED and parenting classes.
Photo: Sheriff Monte Belew, center, is flanked at a distance from County EMA Director Ron Watkins and Chief Deputy Damon Lowe for today’s presentation. (HC Sheriff’s Office photo).