GPS device to help sheriff’s office keep up with meth offenders

By Patrick McCreless

staff writer

Many habitual Cullman County meth users and makers will soon have little choice but to change their ways.

The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office recently obtained their own proverbial eye in the sky through new Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices. The devices, which are connected to ankle bracelets, will be attached to several habitual meth addicts throughout the county.

“The goal is to modify an offender’s behavior,” said Rich Fondo, regional account manager for iSECUREtrac, the company that provided the GPS technology. “It’s a way of holding them accountable.”

The tracking equipment was acquired through a $1 million Alabama Sheriff Assistance grant, which was made available to every sheriff’s office in the state.

“We’re the fourth agency in the state to take advantage of this innovative program,” said Sheriff Tyler Roden. “All it’s going to cost us is a little more time to learn the system.”

The ankle devices, which will be active 24 hours-a-day and seven-days-a-week, will constantly beam information to a satellite, which in turn will relay that information to tracking equipment used by Cullman County Narcotics Task Force (CNET) agents. Fondo said if an offender is not where he or she is supposed to be on a certain day, such as a drug treatment facility, an agent will be instantly notified.

“Many meth offenders are able to make bond fairly quickly and when they get out, they will oftentimes relapse and go back to using again,” said Roden said. “Hopefully in time this (equipment) will be a deterrent.”

Agents will also be notified if the tracking device is tampered with in any way.

In addition to tracking, Fondo said the equipment could also be used to solve crimes.

“If say a robbery occurred, you can see if someone with a GPS unit was in the area at the time,” Fondo said. “That may lead to solving the crime and will help save on manpower.”

Roden said the Cullman County district attorney’s office and county district judges are all on board with the tracking program. He said a judge would decide at a meth abuser’s bond hearing if he or she would wear the ankle bracelet.

“If they violate any terms, their bond is revoked,” said Cullman County District Judge Kim Chaney.

Chaney said he was optimistic about the tracking program.

“It will free up jail space for more serious offenders,” Chaney said. “I consider it using technology to keep the community safer and to give offenders the opportunity to improve their lives.”

• Patrick McCreless can be contacted by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.