Tobacco is banned at county sheriff ’s office

Policy applies to employees, inmates and public

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

BENTONVILLE - A policy implemented by Sheriff Kelley Cradduck bans all tobacco products at the Sheriff’s Office and county jail.

The policy started June 1 and applies to all Sheriff’s Office employees and the public. The ban includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, snuff pouches or any other product that uses tobacco leaves, according to the policy.

Cradduck wants to use the policy to promote a healthier way of life, a Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said.

Deputies cannot smoke in their patrol cars or any other county vehicle. Deputies also cannot smoke in uniform, according to the policy.

Three large ashtrays were still outside the entrance to the Sheriff’s Office on Friday morning as Dan Biesot smoked a cigarette.

“The butt-cans are going to be removed and No Smoking signs placed up,” said Keshia Guyll, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

Biesot disagreed with the policy and said it was his choice to buy cigarettes and the government collects taxes from the sales.

“I hope I don’t frequent the campus,” Biesot said. “I will comply with it, but I won’t respect it.”

A new tobacco policy has been discussed for the last four months, Cradduck said.

“I encouraged the debate and I did receive some push back,” Cradduck said.

The tobacco ban will raise standards at the Sheriff’s Office, Cradduck said.

“We needed to raise the bar,” Cradduck said.

The policy also will help in the constant battle to stop tobacco products from being provided to inmates, Cradduck said.

“If it’s not allowed, then it is one way to help ensure tobacco is not brought into the jail,” Cradduck said.

Deputies and other employees can go to the county Human Resources Department to get help with smoking or tobaccorelated issues and also receive financial assistance for any medical costs, Cradduck said.

The tobacco policy is much like the dress codes for people who come to the jail to visit inmates, Guyll said.

“People don’t come here and hang out,” Guyll said. “Most people probably come to visit someone and then they leave.”

No one will be ticketed, arrested or jailed if they violate the policy, Cradduck said.

“I’m not going to have anyone patrolling for smokers, but we will remind people of the policy if they are smoking,” Cradduck said.

County Judge Bob Clinard said he discussed the tobacco policy with Cradduck, and he is drafting a similar policy for other county properties.

“I’m going to write up a policy and present it to the elected offcials at our next meeting, which will be the first Tuesday in July,” Clinard said.

The proposed ban doesn’t just apply to smoking, but to all other tobacco use as well, Clinard said.

“We’ve got employees who use other kinds of tobacco products,” Clinard said.

News, Pages 4 on 06/12/2013