Warren County sheriff reports 30 new hires, body cameras and jail changes in South Lebanon update

Warren County Sheriff Barry Riley told the South Lebanon City Council on July 1 that his office has hired 30 people in the past six months and made operational changes aimed at reducing contraband and strengthening accountability.

Riley said the office added two canines assigned to the jail and equipped every deputy assigned to road patrol with body-worn cameras. "I believe that video is everywhere. I would rather own it myself than somebody else own it," Riley said. He also said he restructured command staff and reallocated the chief deputy salary into other positions.

Riley described a 499-bed maximum-security jail and said the office has taken a "zero tolerance" approach to some offenses, with an increase in book-ins and book-outs of more than 1,000 people per year. He told council members he had asked the county commissioners for additional deputies and secured funding to hire two deputy sheriffs this year.

The sheriff said the office has expanded its social media presence, reinstated snow-level emergency notifications, launched an internal newsletter and revised its mission statement. He also noted the office has improved recruitment by "rebranding" and said he wants the agency to be a destination for officers rather than a training ground.

Mayor Burke and council members thanked Riley. He invited council members to tour the new facility and said he would remain available for questions.

Ending: Riley asked whether council members had any questions and said Sergeant Adams would present more detailed statistics later in the meeting.