Sheriff Chipp Bailey
By: John Galles
  
                        
Known for his intelligence, integrity and good humor by Jan Thompson, Sheriff Daniel E. (Chipp) Bailey has been Sheriff of Mecklenburg County since February 5, 2008. Sheriff Bailey's law enforcement career began with the Mecklenburg County Police in 1972. After the Mecklenburg County Police and the Charlotte Police Department merged in the early 1990's Sheriff Bailey supervised the new agency's planning and research unit until he joined Sheriff Jim Pendergraph in 1994 as the Chief Deputy Sheriff.
 
Sheriff Bailey is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the largest sheriff's office in North and South Carolina. His responsibilities include: overseeing a jail system housing an average daily population of over 2600 inmates, providing security for over one million visitors to the County's courthouse each year, ensuring timely service of over 100,000 civil and criminal papers each year, receiving and booking over 40,000 arrestees a year, registering and monitoring 700 sex offenders, and issuing gun purchase and concealed weapon permits.
 
His educational background consists of a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Pfeiffer University and a Masters of Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina. A native Charlottean, Chipp and his wife, Sharon, have two sons. Whenever Sheriff Bailey has time in his busy schedule, he enjoys writing mysteries. He published his third mystery, A Lowcountry Murder, in August of 2007 with Silver Dagger Mysteries. Sheriff Bailey is an active member of Matthews United Methodist Church.
 
With over 1400 employees and over 2600 inmates, Sheriff Bailey oversees the largest Sheriff department in the Carolinas. He also looks after 40,000 arrestees each year and over 1 million visitors to the courthouse. He is proud that he has lowered the supervision ratio from one officer to every 80 inmates to one officer for every 66 inmates. He also has oversight over new construction and a new 1700 bed high-rise facility is expected to be ready in 2014. Original estimates were for $350 million, but he has winnowed that down to a little over $200 million. He expects that Mecklenburg County will need about 5000 spaces as a result of population growth not as a result of an increase in the crime rate.
 
Sheriff Bailey went into considerable detail about the Work Release and Restitution Center where jail inmates in Mecklenburg County have an opportunity to pay their debts to society literally as well as figuratively. In 1997, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office opened a 150-bed Work Release and Restitution Center (WRRC) on Elizabeth Avenue. In addition to a paycheck, inmates who qualify for the program, receive job search and job retention training, behavioral and substance abuse counseling and life skills assistance, building an effective support network before their release. Inmates who are already employed may be able to continue in their existing jobs if appropriate.
 
Residents contribute 20 percent of their gross income to Mecklenburg County to help cover the cost of their room and board. They are required to pay for any outside counseling and payments ordered by the court such as child support, attorney's fees or victim restitution. They are also expected to save an additional 10 percent of their income.
 
Candidates are screened carefully before being admitted into the program, ideally, before they are sentenced. If accepted, they participate in a pre-employment seminar that covers effective job search strategies, completing applications, resume writing, effective interviewing and how to handle inquiries about their criminal history. Once employed, they are required to attend classes on issues such as accepting criticism and problem solving, conflict resolution, time management, good work habits, stress management and job retention. GED classes and college courses are also available.
 
With guidance from the treatment team staff and counselors, each resident must also complete a life plan and a specific behavioral treatment plan. Residents with current or previous problems with substance abuse are required to participate in alcohol and other drug education, a recovery group or a relapse prevention group, and attend two Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings each week. Residents must submit to four drug tests (urinalysis) a week and three daily alcohol tests while at the WRRC. Any positive test results in immediate suspension from the program, and a trip back to Jail-Central.
    
Head Table: Alan Simonini, Ed turner, John Snyder, Jan Thompson, Joey Godbold, Ron Campbell;
Invocation: Floyd Davis;
Visitors & Guests: Sandy Chambers; Health & Happiness: Tony Zeiss; Song & Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• Two new Rotarians were introduced on Tuesday. Tom Worth, principal with Harris, Crouch, Long, Scott & Miller, was introduced by Ken Samuelson. Tom can be reached at tcworth@hclsm.com; Beverly Grant-Turner is executive director for International House and can be reached at bgrant@ihclt.org. Beverly is sponsored by Edwin Peacock. Welcome to Rotary!
             
• Thanks to all that participated in the school supplies collection. Classroom Central received several bags of supplies and cash donations totaling $604.
   
• Flight of Honor (WW II Vets to Washington) donations are payable to Rotary Flight of Honor and mailed to P.O. Box 495, Gastonia, NC 28053.
   
• John Tabor recognized club members that have achieved Paul Harris Fellow. Congratulations. Paul Harris Fellow: Tod Thorne, Terri DeBoo, Ron Campbell, Wes Sturges, Matt Ryan and Todd Owens; Level One: Bill Allen, Steve Montgomery and Martin Grable; Level Two: Bill Stegelmeyer; Level Three: Neil Burkhead; Level Four: Charlie Pitts; and Level Five: Katie Tyler.

Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, contact the Rotary office by 08/31/2009.

An auction for a private wine tasting of five high-end wines and a five course gourmet dinner for three couples will be conducted during the September 8th Rotary meeting. The wine is provided by Vintage Wine Cellar and Bistro; Kevin and Ingrid Howard & Chef Tom will prepare the gourmet dinner; and proceeds will benefit the Rotary Public Safety Scholarship Fund. Auctioneer Chip Scholz would like you to know the fair market value for this gourmet package $400. There is no minimum bid.

There is still a need for auction, raffle and goody bag items. Please note September 22 is the deadline to sign up to play golf. Non-golfers are encouraged to attend the wine tasting (4:30) and BBQ dinner and awards (5:15). October 5th, Cedarwood Country Club.