ARTICLE TOOLS
Cleveland: Commissioner calls sheriff’s video 'childish'
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — County Commissioner Jim Smith says a video posted by Sheriff Tim Gobble on the department Web site is childish and an attempt to bully him into not performing oversight duties.
Mr. Smith denounced a video titled “Shootin’ Up The Joint” that was posted after Mr. Smith and other commissioners visited the jail.
Speaking at Monday’s County Commission meeting, he said the visitors found damaged walls and ceilings where the SWAT team had practiced indoors with paintball weapons.
He said the damage had to be hastily painted over. And just as parents don’t want their children shooting paintballs indoors, taxpayers don’t want that inside of the new $16 million justice center, Mr. Smith said.
Mr. Gobble said on his video that said the “simunition” is water soluble. He demonstrated by firing a round onto the wall in his office, then wiping it clean with a damp sponge.
ON THE WEB
Sheriff Tim Gobble’s video is at BradleySheriff.com
SWAT officers need that kind practice for crises in offices, schools, the courthouse and even the justice center, the sheriff said. He also denied that the practice had damaged the building.
The video closes with a version of the Hank Williams Sr. song, “Mind Your Own Business.”
“That’s what got me,” Mr. Smith said. “‘Mind Your Own Business,’ That was childish.”
Mr. Smith played the video for the full commission, saying it demeans rank-and-file officers and was put together by the sheriff’s “Internet lackeys.”
The theme song shows ignorance of the law, Mr. Smith said, including the commission’s charge to oversee maintenance of county property. He read a statement slamming the sheriff’s action and saying that commissioners will not be bullied.
Mr. Smith said the old Waterville School building is available for SWAT practice, and other law enforcement agencies use it.
Mr. Gobble was in the audience but did not publicly respond.
When asked for a response afterwards, Mr. Gobble said, “The video speaks for itself. I guess he won’t be nominating me for an Academy Award.”
Share This...
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Publishing Company, Inc.



Comments
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.