Private security proposed for Montgomery County Veterans Plaza

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Montgomery County could soon add a new private security detail to Veterans Plaza.

At Tuesday’s informal meeting, the County Commission discussed a resolution that would amend the general fund in order to hire a private security firm to patrol the plaza instead of the Sheriff’s Office deputies.

Need for security

During the meeting, Commissioner Joshua Beal asked Mayor Wes Golden how the county would fund the effort and why it was necessary when two deputies are already assigned to the area.

The mayor explained that if the deputies were called to the scene of an accident or other event, the plaza would be left without security. He told the commission the county has heard several requests from local officials who preside over that area to get something done.

“The deputies that are over there, they don’t have the same exemptions like they do for our courthouse, and they have a duty to respond,” he said.

The Montgomery County Courts Center is staffed with MCSO deputies.

The mayor said the cost would not exceed $50,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year and that the move would not eliminate any deputy positions.

“The savings is there from the vacancies that we’ve had at the Sheriff’s Office,” Golden said, noting that the savings will be enough to cover the cost right now, but the county will have to budget for security if the vacant positions at the Sheriff’s Office are filled.

Sheriff support

During Tuesday’s meeting, Sheriff John Fuson addressed the staffing issues.

“I know security over at Veterans Plaza has been an issue. Staffing has been an issue, not just for my office but for every office across the state,” Fuson said.

“Of course, whenever we have vacancies on our patrol unit, we’re going to staff those before we staff positions over at the plaza. That’s my primary responsibility, but we’ve always had at least one deputy over at the plaza manning a security post over there.”

The sheriff said that if deputies were needed in the area after a security team was hired, they would respond the same way they would to any other call.

Furthermore, the sheriff explained where exactly the funds to hire a security team would come from.

“When the mayor and I first talked about that, we identified funds that are in the healthcare portion of our benefits package,” he said. “So, there’s monies left in that to help the mayor do what he wants to do for security over there for other contracted services.”

The County Commission will vote on the measure Monday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. at the County Courthouse.