Sheriff Ed Dean - As Your Sheriff |
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After Ed Dean was appointed Sheriff in 1998, the first order of business was to insure that the organization was value centered servant lead. This involved training for all employees and ensuring the proper supervision was in place. Next he emphasized increasing the number of patrol officers from .98 per 1000 residents to 1.2 per 1000 residents. This number has been maintained by adding a minimum of 10 deputies per year since being appointed as Sheriff. Instilling a “back to basics” philosophy which continues through today by continuing to add more marked patrol units and deputies on the Marion County streets to be pro-active crime fighters. This formula has resulted in your Sheriff’s Office having one of the highest crime clearance rates in the state and one of the lowest crime rates in the state, preserving our quality of life here in Marion County. A focus on technology, Ed Dean has assured deputies are equipped with the most up-to-date technology and law enforcement tools such as cell phones for every deputy and the mobile data computer terminals and printers to enhance the flow of information to and from our patrol cars in the field. Radars and camera’s are now in every marked patrol vehicle. Recently a new 800 MHz radio system was established to enhance communications. Software improvements continue which now include the creation of a computer generated uniform traffic ticket to save time and improve efficiency through paperless data collection reported to the Sheriff’s Office records and the Clerks Office. The Jail has established a 15 minute booking goal to ensure law enforcement officers can return to the street quickly. Ed Dean also established a County Inmate Work Farm, under his Jail-to-Work initiative, where sentenced inmates would grow crops and work livestock and fish in order to off set daily feeding costs of the jail population, while being exposed to work intensive programs designed to develop employable skills. Recently a female Work Farm was added to allow female inmates the opportunity to participate in the Jail-to-Work initiative. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has one of the lowest inmate cost per day, a no frills jail. Inmates have no TV’s or candy. They also are encouraged to work and inmates who don’t participate in work programs do not receive gain time. Inmates are used to pick up trash, clean offices, and assist other government agencies within Marion County which helps to save tax dollars using inmate labor. In 2000 Ed Dean won election to the office of Sheriff. He was presented his personalized badge and ID by Governor Jeb Bush.
Through a de-centralized Community Policing Initiative involving fourteen District Offices, Ed Dean has committed to a servant leadership philosophy by “Putting Citizens First.” Every employee knows who the customer is… the Citizens of Marion County. In 2004 Ed Dean was re-elected to a second term. The facilities continue to grow with a new jail expansion paid for by a 1 cent sales tax. This expansion included a new booking area, medical pod, kitchen, and additional inmate housing. A new Emergency Operations Center will break ground soon. This will involve a state-of-the-art EOC for Marion County. Funding has been secured for this project through state and federal grants as well as monies turned back to the county. A new 911 / Communications Center is also in the planning stage as funding is still being secured for this new project. Volunteers are also a very important to the Sheriff’s Office. Currently there are over 1500 civilian volunteers who augment the day-to-day activities of the Sheriff’s Office. Without these volunteers many activities would not be done as efficiently. Since 1998:
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On the local level, Ed Dean expressed his concern for the children of Marion County through his efforts in the formation of the Children’s Alliance. This organization is comprised of several agencies from throughout the County who focus on ensuring all children have a safe, healthy and nurturing environment in which to grow.