The Evening Times
Sheriff’s Dept. launches Farm Watch Association
1 December 2014
By: Ralph Hardin
Last Monday, the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department, working in conjunction with Crittenden County Farm Bureau and Crittenden County Crime Stoppers, officially kicked off the new Crittenden County Farm Watch Association.
Sheriff Allen described the program saying, we are using “new technology and alarms pivots in the field that are activated when wires are cut and the GPS technology that dispatches Sheriff’s deputies to the alarm sites”.
The new 4-wheel drive trucks being utilized by the Sheriff’s Department will also assist deputies in getting to thieves faster.
“An alarm went off recently in a field near Crawfordsville where two suspects with a ladder were arrested in the act of stealing pivot wire,” Allen said.
Chief Investigator Mike Callender and Chief Zane Boyd addressed the group with tips on how local farmers could best assist law enforcement.
– Mark all items, such as farm equipment, for easy identification
– Communication will be key in working together
– Text alerts will be sent to area farms, with information regarding thefts in the county
– Incentive programs through the Farm Bureau and Crime Stoppers
– Signs for farmers to post offering rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons committing theft, arson, vandalism and other crimes
– Farm Bureau offering $2,500
– Crime Stoppers offering up to $2,000
Sheriff Allen said that enrollment in the Farm Watch Association is open.
Contact Sheriff Allen or Chief Callender to be added to the contact list.
