By Sheriff Jeff Shrader
March 1, 2019
Last year we began developing a strategic plan to use as a guide for our decisions and actions over the next five years. The well thought out format of a strategic plan allows us to focus on specific tasks and initiatives, better manage personnel and resources, and be more accountable to you, our citizens. Certainly it is far preferable over a shotgun approach to providing public safety services in Jefferson County. Therefore, in January we began implementing our 2019 – 2023 Strategic Plan.
The year-long planning process involved creating a steering committee comprised of leaders within the organization, surveying citizens who had come into contact with the sheriff’s office during 2018, and conducting a SWOT analysis with other governmental partners. A SWOT analysis looks at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of an organization to help find areas in need of improvement or gaps in service. These findings ultimately help us create goals that, if achieved, will improve the agency and fill the gaps that may exist.
Through the planning process we created four goals that we will focus our energy and some of our financial resources on for the next five years so we can improve the sheriff’s office and our public service to you. Our vision is for Jefferson County to be a safe place for all people to live, learn, work, and play. I believe the following goals and their action items will help us achieve that vision.
1.
Optimize Workforce Development
a.
Attract employees who match the demographics of our community’s workforce
b.
Reduce the time it takes to hire new employees
c.
Create a plan to retain current employees and train them as future leaders
d.
Implement training to improve work performance and reduce workplace accidents
e.
Use technology to improve our efficiency
2.
Enhance Public Safety Practices
a.
Deploy deputies and resources to areas in greater need
b.
Reduce the occurrence of domestic violence and sexual assault, and enhance services to victims of these crimes
3.
Improve Relationships between Public Service and Our Communities
a.
Develop community policing partnerships between patrol deputies, sergeants, residents, and business owners
b.
Facilitate better services for the homeless or individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues
c.
Minimize at-risk behaviors in youth through education and effective enforcement
d.
Make better use of our emergency management program
4.
Create an Environment for Efficient Fiscal and Facility Management
a.
Participate in the county’s Facility Master Plan process for the jail and courthouse
b.
Maintain greater accountability of equipment with an inventory management system
c.
Remain financially responsible through governmental partnerships and by employing best practices
Each of these goals is ambitious and some action items are formidable, but they are attainable if we use the strategic plan as it is intended – to serve as guidance for thoughtful decision-making and resource allocation. The strategic plan is also designed to be flexible however, for priorities can change over five years. While the plan allows us to be proactive, we will also continue to be responsive to more urgent issues that may arise during its lifespan. But whatever our future over the next five years, we are committed to achieving our vision for Jefferson County to be a safe place to live, learn, work, and play. Simply put, to your future.
Our 2019 – 2023 Strategic Plan is available in its entirety
here
Jeff Shrader, Sheriff
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office