Christian County Sheriff Tyler DeArmond revealed several truths about he and his department Tuesday afternoon, enlightening the Hopkinsville Rotary Club about some of the joys and difficulties of this career chapter.
Tax collection might be the station’s purest purpose, especially with those efforts beginning October 1, but several other responsibilities fall DeArmond and his deputy’s way.
Most recently, he said multi-agency efforts to contain and harness details of a digital threat toward Christian County Public Schools comprehensive and effective. It took time, he added, because they had to shake down lead after lead on IP addresses, and that it wasn’t just one kid involved — but a group.
He said CCSO had its “hot wash” directly after the incident, in order to further discuss and analyze better response tactics if such a threat again comes not only to a school — but anywhere in the community.
DeArmond added that a multi-agency drill will likely happen somewhere on the CCPS campus during Fall Break.
When asked about his waking top priorities and potential growing concerns about the community, DeArmond gave a detailed, two-part answer.
First and foremost, he said he constantly thinks about his staff.
And secondly, he said the potential for active shooters across the state’s second-largest county, on top of record natural disasters, remains high — and with that comes a need for community and agency preparedness.
DeArmond said it was his belief that there are two types of criminals — those that need help out of a bad place, and those that need serious incarceration for their violent actions. And one of the main focuses for his office has been more availability and participation in community events like the Citizen’s Academy, pet adoption gatherings, Operation Safe Halloween, school career fairs, Touch-A-Truck, the annual Chili Cook-off, “Shop With A Cop” and the Christmas Parade.
He also noted that three recent measures from the Kentucky General Assembly have garnered considerable attention:
+ House Bill 5, targeting violent offenders, now mandates that a person convicted of a violent felony who has two previous, separate, violent felony convictions be sentenced to life without parole. It’s essentially known as the “Three Strikes” rule.
+ House Bill 5, targeting trespassers and similar offenders, gives prosecutorial powers for unlawful camping. If someone knowingly enters or remains in a public or private street, sidewalk, area under a bridge or other construct, a park, a cemetery, or some other area designated for pedestrians and/or vehicles, they can now be charged.
+ And Senate Bill 20, targeting juvenile offenders, orders children aged 15 and older charged with Class A, B or C felonies in which a firearm was used be proceeded as a youthful offender, and moved to circuit court as an adult.
In 2023, CCSO answered more than 31,600 calls for service — an average of 87 per day.
DEARMOND’S VISIT:
