By Karen Hall

Editor

An unusually large number of Lewisburg police officers and some of their family members were in the audience when the city council started its work session Monday.

"It seems that we are well protected," joked Mayor Jim Bingham.

"We had two major incidents within days of each other," said City Manager Randall Dunn. "The missing teenager was found at the State Fair, and an arrest has been made in connection with the break in at Lone Oak (Cemetery). We want to thank these officers for all the hard work they did."

Officer Shawn Crawford received a Meritorious Achievement award. He was the one who spotted the missing girl, Jessica Marie Parham, in a crowd of thousands at the State Fair in Nashville. Crawford approached the girl, established her identity, and she was safely returned to her family.

"I can't tell you how exceptional that is," exclaimed Police Chief Chuck Forbis.

Crawford is the second Lewisburg police office to have a K-9 partner, Iwan. Forbis called this "money well spent," and noted "the bad guys paid for it," thanks to the drug fund.

Turning to other officers in the room, Forbis said, "Our detective unit has been inundated with cases, both routine and high profile." They have investigated murders, burglaries, and gang activities, as well as hunting for the missing girl, and spending hours helping prosecutors prepare cases and then testifying in court.

"These guys have gone above and beyond what we might expect," said Forbis. "They have put in a lot of extra effort, and reached successful conclusions in many cases. We can all be proud of our department, especially the detectives."

The detectives received a standing ovation as they were presented with Exceptional Service Awards.

To increase the security at Lone Oak Cemetery, a police officer may be invited to rent the house in the cemetery which was occupied by former City Managers Eddie Fuller and Tommy Engram. City workers are currently doing some renovation and repainting.

Dunn reported he did some research with a local real estate company, which told him the normal rent for a house that size would be $400 to $500 per month, but the home is isolated and in an unusual location.

"There's nothing in the handbook about being in the middle of a cemetery," said Dunn.

The city manager therefore suggested a rent of $150 per month, plus utilities. Councilmen Trigg Cathey and Odie Whitehead Jr. recommended $200.

"The city has a nice house there," said Whitehead.

Bingham said, "Let's split the difference, and charge $175," and this appeared to meet with general approval.

"It will benefit us to have somebody up there," concluded Dunn. "It would be a real deterrent (to crime in the cemetery)."