Sheriff Election

[jarhead]

I have no idea Bull but I'm sure more than I can even lift today and then climbing mountains like Hill 1103 which means it was 1,103 meters high. I wasn't there long before I volunteered to be a radioman. The "prick twenty five" radio weighed 23.5 lbs, then a couple of batteries---the M-16 rifle—13 loaded magazines---2 bandoleers of ammo—at least 4- M-26 grenades---13 canteens(which were rarely all full)—chow---C-4---det cord---- etc ---oh Lordy, my back hurts just thinking of it. Thanks Bull for getting me in trouble with Wilma for straying from the thread. 
Mike, if all that weight on a belt hurts your back then I would imagine this 50 lb spare tire I carry around my waist might cause pat of my back pain.
Back to the thread---I have heard people ask, they wonder if you are elected sheriff if you plan on keeping the current deputies and dispatchers or will you get rid of them all and put "your people" in the positions ?

[Wilma]

Jar, you are not in trouble and neither is Bull.  Your comments have nothing of a personal rant in them.  Besides, I like your stories of your service days.

Also, that is a very good question.  What prompted it?

[Mcordell]

Jarhead,

I do not believe it would be proper to discuss specifics of personnel actions I plan to take, however my answer is neither. There are some good people working for the SO and I would love for them to stay. I have no intention of wiping the slate clean and hiring all new people. That would be a terrible mistake and would be unfair to those who deserve to stay. There are also some issues that need to be addressed and I will not promise nobody will be replaced. What I can tell you is those who are doing their job and deserve to stay will be afforded that opportunity if they wish and I look forward to working with each of those people. I have had discussions with a few employees and I have told them already that I will not be getting rid of them.  I have not spoken with everyone so please don't read that as I am getting rid of the ones I haven't talked to! That's not the case at all.

[srkruzich]

redcliffsw,

  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.

Quickly as possible is the key word.   How quick do you think you can respond to a situation 15 miles away from howard down ELK COUNTY roads?   These roads are barely maintained and passable in dry weather much less wet weather like we have had the last month. 
Seriously folks live out here because they want isolation and its not to make drugs and do illegal activities either, and don't care about the conveniences of having a sheriff show up 5 min after your call to 911.  I come from a area of the US where the LEO's are the problem and I don't trust cops.  OF the handful i do, Hanks is one i would trust.  Why?  I've seen him personally in action responding to the death of my friends baby on memorial day a few years ago.   While i was performing cpr on her, he was assisting me when he arrived and that man must have drove like a bat out of hell to get there because the ambulance was 1 hour getting there he was there in 15 min.
I know I and most likely mr. redcliff will have taken care of any altercation that might have transpired long before you or anyone else could possibly get there.  The only thing you'll have to do is cleanup and reports.  Safety is our responsibility not the LEO's responsibility.   Again i point out that it took mr. Hanks about 15-20 min to get there when my friends baby died. We had to rely on ourselves for that period and we did the best we could.   Now we know that nothing we could do would have saved her not even if the ambulance was next door.  We rely on ourselves out here, not LEO's. 

[srkruzich]

       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. T

In town i agree but out of town on county 5 mph isn't going to make a difference.

What has surprised me is a seeming resurgence of heroin, at least in the urban scene.

War on drugs is a waste of money, it hasn't worked in the last 30 years its been in effect only has gotten worse. AND a major reason Pot and heroine is on the rise is that the doctors won't prescribe pain killers for folks that are in critical pain.  Now when your in major pain you can go to the local heroine dealer easier than you can go to the doctor to get the same medication cheaper.

Want to stop that, then allow doctors to prescribe pain meds.

[srkruzich]

You don't see a correlation between crime rates and law enforcement staffing? If you are looking for government conspiracy you will find one whether it's there or not. I can assure you if I'm elected at no point will I or my deputies be "gearing up" to suppress the populace. I want an agency that is part of the community and serves to protect the rights of citizens.

What crime rate?  Seriously is Elk County the new chicago?

[srkruzich]

I don't have an issue with click it or ticket. The intent is that grant money is provided to pay for the overtime wages of officers who work the campaign. It's not intended to be a way to gain money for other uses. By having the grant money, the agency is able to field officers who are specifically working toward occupant safety enforcement. This is, in my opinion, better than using county tax dollars to accomplish the same goal.

In other words its a excellent money generating scam

[srkruzich]

   
      I do have issues with checkpoints where you are detained simply for using the road and are scrutinized in every aspect. It is like being in another country.

Coming soon to your area!

[srkruzich]

I think one of the biggest questions that redcliff, ross and others on here are wanting to know is, are you going to be a constitutional sheriff.  By that I mean, the sheriffs office is the highest position In a state. Feds have no authority over a Sheriff in his county whatsoever as he is elected by the people of the county not appointed by a central government.  The question i have are you going to STAND with the citizens if the feds come in and start enforcing obama executive orders and any law that violates the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 9th and 10th amendment.   As it is our country is falling apart due to the irresponsibility of our central government and it will be upon the sheriff's of each state to stand with and defend the states against a federal tyrannical overtake. 

I see you dismiss redcliffs beliefs easily about tyranny.  I don't.  I see your point but i also see his and see the tyranny growing every day.  Our freedom is PARAMOUNT over and above any law that may be passed and i personally will defend my freedom.

[Bullwinkle]

       I may be wrong, but it my understanding that the Highway Patrol is the top of the ladder as far as law enforcement. Perhaps Mr Cordell can elaborate on this. It is the troopers that generally set up check points with cooperation from county and city officers. I know of at least one time that they were stopping people in downtown Howard and I think we had a trooper living here then. So, it isn't coming soon, it has already been here.

      Mr Cordell has responded to questions in a manner that makes me feel he would not be waging any campaign to glean money from enforcement of the law. I know several areas do. Take a look at Leon's speed trap for one. Before that it was the same thing in Andover.

     I have issues with young kids riding their hopped up ATV's around town well over the speed limit. I have no problem with someone riding one safely. That is where an officer has to make the call as to to danger present. With the whole countryside to ride as fast as they want and endanger themselves, speeding around town is simply irresponsible.