PODCAST (Click Play Above) - Newly elected Rutherford County Sheriff Kenneth Barrett was on the air with WGNS' Scott Walker on Wednesday and discussed the sobering realities and evolving challenges facing local law enforcement today. Drawing on his 28-year career with the department, Sheriff Barrett opened up about the demanding transition into his new leadership role and the heavy toll the current drug crisis - specifically involving fentanyl and methamphetamine - is taking on the community and the deputies who work drug-related cases.
All too often, deputies respond to overdose calls and witness firsthand the devastating consequences of drug addiction. The conversation carried a necessarily serious tone as Barrett and Walker delved into the dangers of interstate drug trafficking along I-24, the intense stress experienced by dispatchers and detention officers, and the critical need to prioritize mental health and peer support for first responders who witness tragic situations on a regular basis.
Another important topic that was highlighted in the podcast, the need for a brand new jail. Right now, the current jail remains too small for the population that is housed in confinement. Secondary to the size of the detention center, is the fact that the building itself is slowly degrading in multiple areas. Tune-in to hear the podcast above.
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Click PLAY above this description to hear the entire episode of the Action Line.
