Senior Outreach Program

One of the most important and impactful programs that Sheriff Berrong began in the year 2001 is the Senior Outreach Program. After seeing the number of Blount County citizens who were not receiving the needed assistance to maintain their health and well-being, Sheriff Berrong kicked of the program with a handful of dedicated volunteers who had a passion for helping people. The BCSO currently has 18 well-trained volunteer teams who go out on a daily basis to check on elderly and shut-in citizens, spending thousands of hours visiting a client-base of around 120 clients each year.

“The bonds these volunteers form with the people they visit with is incredible,” Sheriff Berrong said. “Our volunteers are so dedicated to serving, going above and beyond to help these vulnerable citizens who often never receive visits from anyone else. I am incredibly proud of this program and the good that it’s done for so many people since its inception. This program just keeps getting stronger and its reach deeper. I never imagined when we launched this program the impact it would have on so many citizens.”

Citizens Academy

Sheriff Berrong launched the Sheriff’s Citizens Academy in the mid-1990s, and since then, hundreds of thousands of Blount County’s citizens have taken part in this program. The program allows individuals to experience the Sheriff’s Office in ways not many people do – participants witness the day-to-day operations and participate in hands-on experiences to learn about the different functions within the Sheriff’s Office. This highly sought after program allows individuals to see the inner working of how the Sheriff’s Office works, and they get to meet the incredible deputies who serve them and Blount County. The Sheriff’s Office also gains advocates for the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement in general, something the world needs right now. This was the vision of Sheriff Berrong.

Sheriff’s Chaplain Corp

An integral part of the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Berrong started the volunteer Chaplain Corps early in his tenure as a way to assist and comfort victims and their families during what is often the worst day of their lives. Sheriff Berrong also saw a need for a core group of spiritual leaders to help employees and their families following critical incidents. Sheriff’s chaplains are committed to serving the community and Sheriff’s employees. Sheriff Berrong created rigid guidelines for those who serve as chaplains, assuring they are trained and accredited through the standards set forth by the International Conference of Police Chaplains.

Sheriff’s STAND (Sheriff and Teens Against Negligent Driving) Program

The newest line-up in Sheriff Berrong’s continued focus on community is the ever-popular STAND class. STAND, which is short for Sheriff and Teens Against Negligent Driving, is a program Sheriff Berrong started several years ago after receiving numerous inquiries from citizens about driving classes geared toward young drivers. With the withdrawal of drivers education from Blount County Schools, Sheriff Berrong started this free, 12-hour class that’s offered twice a year during the summer for students who have their permits or graduated drivers licenses. Since its inception, STAND has given hundreds of young drivers the skills and confidence they needed to be the good drivers we knew they could be with just a little help. STAND is here to stay, and Sheriff Berrong hopes to help Blount County’s newest drivers for years to come.