Q: A 40 percent increase in the Bartholomew County local income tax has generated new revenues for county and municipal governments. What sheriff’s department program needs should get the highest priority when budget decisions are made to allocate new revenues?
A: School safety and security is a priority. Our jail needs to be fully functional. It sits half empty. There is a need to critically analyze where the money is going and what programs are in place, along with effectiveness.
Q: There have been increasing instances of female Bartholomew County Jail inmates who are concealing drugs in body cavities to sneak contraband into the jail. What screening steps can and should be taken to reduce this activity?
A: Body-scanning devices need to be utilized.
Q: Since the fatal school shooting in Florida and subsequent threats reported at schools in Bartholomew County, the sheriff’s department and other local police have spent more time checking in at schools across the county during school hours. Should that daily effort continue, or does that leave other enforcement areas at risk?
A: School safety is a priority. When our DARE officer is only allowed to be in the schools two days a week vs. five days a week in the previous administration, this shows a lack of concern by the sheriff.
Q: What would you do to bring more females and minorities into the ranks of deputies, jail personnel and administrators?
A: Start with a female sheriff. Administrators need to understand the usefulness of females and minorities. As a female, I understand this well. The sheriff should become more involved with the local C4 Law Enforcement Program. Recruitment is currently nonexistent. It has been this way for more than 30 years.
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Name: Tamara ‘Tami’ S. Watson
Political party: Republican
Age: 47
City of residence: Columbus
Occupation: Lead instructor and outreach coordinator, Watson Chambers Defense Institute
Education: Associate Degree in Science, Vincennes University, 1990; Indiana State Police Academy, 1998.
Previous offices held: None
Previous offices sought: None
Community involvement: None listed
Immediate family: Two sons
