Sheriff Election

[Mcordell]

redcliffsw,

You have referred to government approval of the elected sheriff twice now but your wording is both incorrect and misleading.  The government doesn't approve the sheriff candidate.  That would imply the voters could elect a sheriff and the government could reject that choice because the government disagrees with it.  That is simply not the case.  The sheriff is elected entirely by the voters in the county.  The sheriff, like every other law enforcement officer, has to be certified and has to meet the standards of CPOST which is the Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training.  That is not government approval, but a requirement to meet the minimum qualifications to which every officer is held.  That's not a bad thing.  I'm not sure why anyone would want to elect someone to lead an entire agency that cannot meet the basic standards of a peace officer. 

As for manpower now versus the way it was in the 70's, we don't live in the same world.  In the 70's hallucinogenic drug use was more prevalent in large cities and heavily populated areas.  Now we are seeing a significant increase in the production, distribution, and consumption of drugs like methamphetamine in rural areas.  Along with this drug activity comes increases in property crimes and violence.  Elk County is not immune to these issues.  In the 70's people were probably a lot more comfortable leaving their homes and cars unlocked than they are now.  In the last few years working in Wilson County I have seen countless burglaries in rural areas, thefts from rural properties, and victimization of county residents.  These issues are not isolated to the cities.  In a great number of these cases, the suspect has been a known drug offender who is involved in either the use or distribution of Methamphetamine. 

As for the speed limit on county highways, the Sheriff has no control over that.  If enough people agree that the speed limit on county highways should be changed then it should be brought to the county commissioners who have the authority to make those changes. 

I do not believe stepping back manpower within the agency and reverting back to the way things were done in the 70's would be in the best interest of the citizens of Elk County.  There are other ways to work in a more budget friendly manner than to reduce the level of service the County should be receiving from the Sheriff's Office.  I certainly respect the opinions of the citizens and I'm glad to have this forum to discuss issues and to get insight into the views of those who I hope to serve.  I would leave you with this.  We don't keep fire extinguishers in our homes because they are good decorations.  We don't wear seatbelts when we drive because they are comfortable.  We don't install and maintain tornado sirens to let us know when it's noon each day and we don't install tornado shelters at our homes to give us somewhere to store canned goods.  All of these things are put in place not for the good days, but for the bad.  Likewise, we don't staff and equip a law enforcement agency for the times when nothing bad is happening.  We equip law enforcement agencies and provide sufficient staffing for those times when someone's safety is in jeopardy, when someone is being victimized, or in a time of need.  I have said before and I stand by the statement that in your time of need you deserve to be able to call for help and know that help is coming, that those who are coming are doing so as quickly as possible, and that when they get there they will be competent and capable to help you in the best way possible.  During the times when we are not being called upon it is our job to proactively work to keep citizens safe and secure and to defend those individual rights that are the foundation of this country. 

We certainly have some differing political views and that's ok but one thing I think we can definitely agree on is that the Sheriff's Office should serve to protect and defend the constitution and your individual rights.  That is better accomplished with sufficient manpower and equipment to do the job in today's world.

[redcliffsw]

Sir, the CPOST that you mentioned is new to me however it's still the same modern thinking that people must be trained by and according to government standards.  Government standards are not Constitutional standards - they're socialist standards.  This country is not getting any better by the instruction of its people in the government indoctrination centers like CPOST.  Could this CPOST type of thing be another mandate by the Fed's? 

In most places the Sheriff is still electable.  I get the feeling that our overseers would like to do away with the office of Sheriff.  Nowadays, the Sheriff has to have the blessing of government to be the Sheriff and that appears to be pretty clear.  Like I said, let's call it government approval to be the county sheriff.

CPOST even has a website: 
http://www.kscpost.org/

You're right that we have differring views.  You're staying right in there.

Thank you.

[Bullwinkle]

       It is insane to suggest a 65mph limit for 99, especially through Howard. There are children that cross it as well as seniors. I have seen wrecks and near misses that happened because the speed limit was ignored. The DOT has studied the accidents and their recommendations for speed limits is based on real data. 99 is fine at 65 where it has been upgraded to a super two north of town. A look at how many semi trucks have caught the shoulder and wrecked south of town should tell anyone it is not a safe highway. Even the military crashed just south of town and shut the highway down.

      Meth has been a problem for quite some time. It isn't hard to spot a meth head, for one thing their teeth fall out. Meth labs have been a part of rural America many years. Matt Samuels was killed because of it. Hallucinogenic drugs are a thing of the past. What has surprised me is a seeming resurgence of heroin, at least in the urban scene. Both definitely are the cause for burglary, theft  and robbery becoming more common. Users can't get the money they need any other way. They need too much. That , I believe should be the main focus of any "war on drugs" as it poses the greatest threat for other criminal activity increasing.

[frawin]

Bullwinkle we agree with you on the speed limit, 55 is fast enough. We both spent many years in Elk County and were Witness to some BAD Accidents. We have seen Livestock on the Highway, Young People on Bicycles on the Highway. Bullwinkle we don't know who you are, but we like how you think and what you say.

[Mcordell]

I think 65 is too fast for a lot of the county because of the hills. There are plenty of places where it's already easy enough to crest a blind hill and have a hard time avoiding someone who is stopped on the other side. There are also some intersections that are on blind hills. Increasing the speed limit would make those areas more dangerous but again that's not within the sheriff's control.

[redcliffsw]

When the limit was 70, the vehicles were larger.  What's so hard about keeping a vehicle on the highway these days?  Is 55 too relaxing to drivers and putting them to sleep at the wheel?  Maybe the 40 to 45 mph range would be better.   

The limit on county roads is understood at 55 mph.   

Law people used to advertise themselves as proponents of public safety.  Cause why?   

Nowadays we hear 'click or ticket" ads on the radio paid for by the State or Federal government for their seat belt laws enforced by the State for money from the Fed's.  Shall we salute and honor our overseers for stealing our liberty?   

[Mcordell]

Driving used to also be an activity to which people dedicated their full attention. Now people are messing with their stereos, GPS, phones, and other electronic devices. People are talking on the phone with others and in many cases texting. Driving no longer gets the attention it deserves.

[readyaimduck]

Red:  "Click it, or ticket" is a seat belt law.  It was passed and enacted.
Just because you don't care for your Constitutional rights, (or is it free will), to be compromised or taken away, why would you question a Sheriff when he is just following the law of his jurisdiction?  He/she has no control.  You do...vote out the SOB's that try to stifle you...not the Sheriff. 

I used to drive the back roads, too at 45.  To enjoy the scenery...until others got high and decided to play chicken.
It's not the speed, it's the "loose nut behind the wheel" !
ready....to walk in the woods where it may, or may not be safe with the 'meth cookers'.

[redcliffsw]

Ready:  He'll have control if he's elected to the office of Sheriff.  The seat belt law was passed so that the State would have access to Federal money - the Fed's paid the State to pass the seat belt law.  Get it?  Why vote them out - put 'em in jail where they ought to be.  They're tyrants stealing American liberty and the Sheriff is in defense of American liberty - I hope.

And the woods are full of ticks, chiggers and copperheads - until Fall.   

[redcliffsw]

Driving used to also be an activity to which people dedicated their full attention. Now people are messing with their stereos, GPS, phones, and other electronic devices. People are talking on the phone with others and in many cases texting. Driving no longer gets the attention it deserves.

Yeah, well if they run off the road, they probably won't be telling you that.

Funny that you mention that because most of the drivers using cell phones that I see are lawmen.  Nothing wrong with talking on a cell phone while driving.