Sheriff completes session of NSI

From left, Jenkins County Sheriff Tim Fields is shown with Sheriff Darren Mitchem of Twiggs County and Jimmy McDuffie from Effingham County during the 93rd Session of the National Sheriffs' Institute (NSI) held in Longmont, Co., Sept. 9-15. Sheriff Fields was elected chaplain/ historian of the session and is the first sheriff from Jenkins County to graduate from the NSI. (Photo contributed)

Jenkins County Sheriff Tim J. Fields completed participation in the 93rd Session of the National Sheriffs' Institute (NSI) held in Longmont, CO, Sept. 9-15. Sheriff Fields was awarded his degree of completion from Jim Barbee, correctional program specialist, National Institute of Corrections (NIC), and Fred G. Wilson, director of operations, National Sheriffs' Association (NSA). Sheriff Fields was elected Chaplain/ Historian of the NSI 93rd session and is the first sheriff of Jenkins County to graduate from the NSI.

The NSI is the only national executive development program designed for sheriffs. Sheriff Fields was joined by 26 other sheriffs from across the country to address the pressing issues faced by sheriffs. During the NSI 93rd session, Sheriff Fields and the other sheriffs discussed the numerous ways to respond as leaders to emerging and continuing issues in criminal justice and public safety, such as homeland security, school violence, court security, leadership, drugs, disaster relief, jail operations and community relations in the current context of increased awareness for public safety.

Wilson said, "Sheriff Fields is a leader with vision for the Jenkins County Sheriff's Office. It is an honor to have Sheriff Fields join the over 3,000 graduates of the NSI since 1973."

Sheriff Fields commented, "There were 26 sheriffs from all over the United States, and it was great being the first from our county and also to have been elected as one of the four officers. I hope this will prepare me to be the best Sheriff I can for the citizens of Jenkins."

The NIC is a division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons. The NIC has been a long-time sponsor of the NSI and is the premier national resource for jail operations, jail design and programming.

The NSA is a non-profit professional association located in Alexandria, VA. NSA represents the nearly 3,100 elected sheriffs across the nation and has more than 20,000 members, including deputy sheriffs, other law enforcement professionals, students and others. Since 1940, NSA has served as an information clearinghouse for sheriffs, deputies, chiefs of police, other law enforcement professionals, state governments and the federal government. NSA also provides management training for sheriffs and their command personnel in school safety, court security, offers liability insurance, and administers the highly successful National Neighborhood Watch, Weapons of Mass Destruction Response and Triad Programs.