Bradley County Sheriff's Office - New Year Message 2026

Bradley County Sheriff’s Office: 2026 New Year Update

In a board meeting held on January 22, 2026, Sheriff Steve Lawson provided a comprehensive update on the state of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO). Highlighting the progress made since 2018, the Sheriff also issued a candid call to action regarding officer compensation and future department needs.

Key Highlights & Accomplishments

Sheriff Lawson reflected on his 2018 commitments to protect officers, children, and strengthen the jail. Major updates include:

Technology & Safety: Every patrol vehicle is now equipped with top-of-the-line in-car cameras, and all patrol and School Resource Officers (SROs) wear integrated body cameras.

School Security: An SRO is now stationed in every elementary school, with enhanced security at middle and high schools. High-end equipment for these officers has been provided via private donations at no cost to taxpayers.

Jail Improvements: The facility achieved Tier 1 accreditation from the State of Tennessee for the first time. Recent infrastructure upgrades include a new tankless hot water system, 50 new HVAC units, and a new roof for the older building and courts.

Exceptional Crime Clearance: Lawson shared impressive TBI statistics, noting Bradley County’s clearance rate for aggravated burglary is 60.9% (compared to the state average of 18.2%) and a 78.1% total crime clearance rate.

The 2026 Budget: Prioritizing People

Looking ahead, Sheriff Lawson outlined four primary areas where he is requesting budget increases. He emphasized that while the department remains stable in most areas, these four are critical for sustainability:

Officer Pay: Lawson reported that BCSO is losing seasoned officers to surrounding agencies (like Cleveland PD and even Murfreesboro) that offer significantly higher starting salaries. He is proposing a plan to move BCSO pay to the "middle of the pack" compared to regional peers.

Fleet Maintenance: A request for new patrol vehicles to maintain a reliable fleet for emergency responses.

Building Maintenance: The jail is now 22 years old and requires increased funding for repairs and to address modern safety issues, such as "anti-jump" fencing recently installed to prevent inmate injuries.

Uniform Allowance: A proposal to increase the annual allowance from $400 to $500, the first such increase in over a decade.

"Competitive pay is not a reward. It's a recognition of the responsibility we place on their shoulders every day... I represent my officers, and I'm not worth a grain of salt if I don't do that." — Sheriff Steve Lawson

Community Impacts & Operations

Modernized Jail Protocols: The jail has moved from paper logs to a barcode-based check system using specialized handheld devices (without internet access) to ensure hourly inmate checks are performed and logged accurately.

Immigration: The Sheriff has signed a 287(g) agreement, allowing the department to check the status of individuals arrested for criminal offenses to identify those in the country illegally.

Upcoming Events

Next Week: Meeting featuring a presentation by Chief Gibson.