Posted by glarson (Gwen Larson) on May 16, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Here's your home for debate on electing the 2008 sheriff election.

Posted by truelovecharlie (anonymous) on May 18, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If you want the best; get Lt. Larry Adams to run for sheriff. He has been on the Police department for over 30 years and will enforce ALL laws. He would be the one to unite the Police department and Sheriffs office. He would be the best choice for all of Lyon County.

Posted by emporian (anonymous) on May 18, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If anybody still somehow thinks the SO would be a great place to be, on the Lyon County website they are hiring Dispatchers, Deputies, and Jailers. I expect lots of people to apply since Eichorn is so great...

Posted by MyOpinion (anonymous) on May 18, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

After 30 years with one agency, why is Larry Adams only a LT? Sounds to me like he should be Chief if he is the best candidate for Sheriff.

Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 19, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't know if Larry Adams would be the best choice but it doesn't mean anything that he is still a LT. Some people get to a certain level and enjoy the work and don't want to move anywhere. There are some officers that have been on the streets for 20+ years that would have made excellent choices for higher ranks but love the job that they do so they stay there.

As for all of the openings, it appears that there has been a mass exodus from the department in anticipation of another term for the current administration. I know that quite a few people hung around anticipating this to be the last year of the Eichorn/Old show. Seeing that it wasn't going to be that way, they made the decision to move onto better things.

Posted by truelovecharlie (anonymous) on May 19, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Lt. Adams has remained a Lt. by choice. Many years ago he considered running against the long term sheriff of that time. Emporians want the sheriffs department straightened out and more cooperation between the sheriffs office and the police department. I stand by my word that Adams is the number 1 answer. I have known Larry since he moved to Emporia and joined the police department and was a student teacher at teh middle school (junior high at that time). He is 100% devoted to enforcing the laws; no matter who breaks it or what laws they compromised. He has risked his life many times over the years in the line of duty.

Posted by MyOpinion (anonymous) on May 19, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Call him up and get him on the ballet... Sounds like he has at least one vote.

Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 19, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sometimes you have to roll the dice. They are better off being away from that department and Lyon County is good for them. It was really good for me.

Posted by reason (anonymous) on May 19, 2008 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Blackshirt characterized the sheriff's loss of deputies as a mass exodus which seems a little extreme. Last I checked there were 26 authorized deputy slots. For the last five or six years maybe one deputy a year has left. That's just a 4% turnover rate. So far this year four deputies have left, including one that is still on the payroll as a part-time deputy; so they only actually had 3 leave. Thats a turn-over rate of 12%. Many of the smaller departments in Kansas have 25-50% turnover rates. The only reason 3 looks so bad is that it has been so low for so long.

Often times the public doesn't get both sides of the story, some employees leave for more money, some leave for better benefits or working conditions, some leave because they don't like the way the department is managed. Good people often leave and move on to better jobs, and sometimes folks leave because they don't agree with the way the boss is running things and they think they know better.

Unfortunately, the way the employment and privacy laws are now days, a boss can't always tell every employee, why things are done the way they are. Sometimes, it comes down to the fact that someone has to make the final decisions and in this case, it is the Sheriff that has to make those decisions.

If you are concerned about the way the Sheriff is running his department, or have a suggestion, call him and make an appointment to discuss it with him.

Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

By all means call the sheriff and get an appointment. If you make a contribution to the campaign you might get the changes that you seek.

Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The best thing about blogs is that contributors are anonymous. The worst thing about blogs is that contributors are anonymous. Consequently, readers can find insight into subjects and they can find total garbage. The secret is to be able to discern the difference.

Blackshirt is obviously bitter at the Sheriff. Perhaps he is a criminal that the Sheriff has held to an accounting. Perhaps he is a disgruntled current or former employee. Perhaps he wants to be the Sheriff himself. I don't know what his agenda is.

I have known Sheriff Eichorn for many years, as have many of us in this county. Those of us who know him can tell you that, without reservation, he is an honest and fair minded person whose only motivation is to provide professional service to his constituents. Has he been perfect? Probably not. Few have. I will support him for re-election knowing full well that there is no one else who can lead that department, understand the county and its needs and have the requisite background like Gary Eichorn. In the mean time, I hope that Blackshirt can come to a reconciliation with whatever it is that has caused his bitterness.

Posted by lawman (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Amen, Jayhawker.

I have been a law enforcement officer for a long time in this community. I have known sheriffs, deputies, chiefs of police, detectives and patrolmen and worked with many of them. Most have done a very good job, but some have not. That is the way with humans. Unfortunately, if you do your job, you will pick up enemies along the way.

I'll bet anything that Blackshirt is a current or former law enforcement officer. For whatever reason, he is no longer objective about the Sheriff. My guess is that he got into trouble over something. Cops are just human and are a reflection of the community, as they should be. We are not perfect, although we are (properly) held to a higher standard than the rest of the citizens. Blackshirt probably failed to live up to that standard and Gary Eichorn is probably the man that had to deal with Blackshirt over his failures. Being the Sheriff is not an easy job.

Gary Eichorn has been an excellent Sheriff and I am glad that he is running for another term. People like Blackshirt are like a mosquito to a police administrator, but they will not keep the good ones from doing their job. I just hope that we can see Blackshirt for what he is, and that we can see Gary Eichorn for what he is. Instead of being critical of the Sheriff, we should thank him for the job that he is doing.

Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nice ploy lawman, but your speculation is misdirected and off course.

Posted by lawman (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 9:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If I am wrong, Blackshirt, why don't you tell us why you stand behind a curtain and continue to take cheap shots at the Sheriff. You don't have to use your real name, so you can be honest. What is it? Have you been arrested for something? Do you want to be the Sheriff yourself? Did you get fired? Show some courage and tell us exactly what your personal agenda is.

Posted by cepperly (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Personally, I feel if your truely have a bitch about something and hide behind your anonymity, you don't have a bitch at all. On the other hand, if you back up your complaint with your name and reputation, then you truely have the right to express your issue.

If I was not clear about my issue, let me spell it out... Employees are NOT managed, they are lead. I am very confident that some of the employee who have left and some current employees would say that the micromanagement of the department is crushing the morale of the employees. Giving people the power to supervise and failing to let them do so is a management issue, and a poor one at that. Give your supervisors direction, and let them surprise you with the outcome. Let them lead their people to accomplish your goals, not arm chair quarterback every situation to check their progress.

These comments have grabbed the attention of management at the SO and they to have to use anonymity to give their "reason" for the issues. I can take those same numbers and give you a completely different outlook as to the percenage of turnover rate and for what reason.

Like I said before, you can only grade your leaders by asking the ones who they lead. No number is going to justify poor leadership or rationalize certain situations especially if you have to claim the fith amendment as to who you are.

I am cepperly, and that is how I see it. I don't care if you like it or not, its my opinion, not yours.

Posted by lawman (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think that we can all agree with your characterization of good leadership, Clint, but where your argument fails is in your description of the Sheriff's Department's administration. Although, like you, I am an outsider to the department, I have observed that the administration is attempting to instill in the younger officers professionalism and accountability in reporting, court appearances and citizen relationships, and some (certainly not all) are resisting. Some of the younger officers conduct themselves like this is New York City, which does not work well here. The administration is attempting to develop true professionalism where officers conduct themselves like ladies and gentlemen while at the same time being firm and fair minded. It is ironic to me that it is (some of) the younger officers who fail to understand and adapt to our community standards. Thankfully, the Sheriff and the Undersheriff are providing the leadership necessary to bring them along. Believe it or not, Clint, younger officers can learn something from the older ones. Thankfully, we have Gary Eichorn and Richard Old to provide that example to them. Someday those officers will look back on this experience and thank these two good men for the help giving to them while they were youngsters. The public will be better served and they will be better officers because of it.

Posted by MyOpinion (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Is stains on your shirt and tie looking very proffessional? Sounds like you are a good friend to Gary and Richard, because the employees of the SO probably aren't getting what your saying. How is the administration "bring[ing] them along" if the morale is so low? I see the leadership by example in the SO... everytime I see a parade.

I guess all the deputies who left should be working in NYC?

Posted by lawman (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Most (if not all) of the deputies left to improve their pay. We can't blame them for that; likewise, it is not a poor reflection on the Sheriff's Department - in fact, it points to the good reputation that the Lyon County Sheriff and his department enjoy with other law enforcement agencies. By any measure (pay, equipment, training, professionalism, etc.), the department has vastly improved under Sheriff Eichorn. Unfortunately, some younger people (not just law enforcement officers) don't have the same work ethic or respect as older people. I would never say the things that I have read in these blogs about the person who writes my paycheck. It is sad. Especially since the Sheriff and the Undersheriff are working so diligently to provide law enforcement services to the community and to develop these young officers. As cepperly said above, it is easy (and cowardly) to stand behind anonymity and character assassinate a good and worthy public servant like Gary Eichorn. Shame on them.

Posted by lawman (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I want to make one thing very clear, however, and I don't think that it has been said on this forum. By far, most of the current and past officers of the Lyon County Sheriff's Department are professionals doing a very good job, and they, too, should be commended. We are very well served, on the whole, and are blessed with good law enforcement from all law enforcement agencies that serve Lyon County. My earlier comments have been directed at only a very few. The vast majority have earned our thanks for jobs well done.

Posted by zeus (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lawman it seems that people in this forum possibly know what they are talking about because they work for him, have worked for him or work with him. If you like the man as a person fine, leave it at that but please don't make any assumptions about him or his shirt stained undersheriff and their role with young officers or them having a good influence on them. Gary might be a very nice man but with all that has been said in this forum should tell anyone that he is not a good administrator.

This is all for opinion and that is all it is. Facts have been stated but mostly opinion. In my opinion unless you have worked for the current administration or are closely related to one who has you probably shouldn't be making assumptions about how good Gary and Richard are, because based on the way they have promoted individuals to higher positions within the department is enough for me. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Far from professional they are.

Posted by justthefacts (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Unfortunately, a manager or leader can't make everyone happy. Unfortunately, public sector work doesn't afford the opportunity to hand pick your employees. You get what you pay for and right now, pay and compensation isn't so good. It's not going to get any better. Pay is part of it, but more is the support of the work that must be completed. Work that most people would not even think of doing. It's not like the TV shows. Most of it is mundane, dirty, and dark. It's hard physically and emotionally on the officers and their families. Trying to balance the demands of being an administrator and keeping the number folks happy, the public happy and still keep officers motivated and engages is getting damned near impossible. Be careful what you ask for. Leadership is defining a vision and then working toward that vision. It's not uncommon to see a big turnover in law enforcement agencies...but folks...don't just blame the administrators...you all have part of it to own.

I know as many employees who work there who feel the current sheriff has done a good job of cleaning house as well as those who don't. Everybody is an expert until you walk in their shoes. Don't be so quick to judge. If you don't like what is happening, do the man at least a courtesy and talk to him before you snap to make judgements that are obviously single minded.

Just a thought

Posted by lawman (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Someone once said that youth is a terrible thing to waste on the young. I know well the message therein, because I was a young officer once. Oh, for the chance to have had a Sheriff Eichorn or an Undersheriff Old to mentor me in those days, to teach me about professionalism and how to be a cop in our community, because I had none of that. I had to learn on my own, and learn I did, sometimes the hard way. I suppose that the reason that I have spent so much ink on this forum is that I do know Gary and Richard and I know that they want only the best for their department. It is so very sad that a few officers, who apparently lack the background, wisdom and experience fail to see what is theirs for the asking. They obviously think that the grass is greener on the other side. Maturity will show them that that greener grass may not be as tasty by half as the grass that you have. Maturity will also teach that life is rarely perfect and that it is even more rarely what we thought that it would be. Life is tough, a fact known to no others like us old timers. But take it from us, life will be so much more harmonious if we quit fighting good men who want us to be successful and will go to the ends of the world to help with that if we will just give them the chance.

Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 27, 2008 at 5:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am sure that this forum has garnered some attention in the offices of the Sheriff and Undersheriff. I am also sure that is what prompted them to have lawman sign up and begin posting here. I can understand supporting those that you believe in but be serious. To read lawmans posts you would think that he was nominating those two for cononization or at the least the establishment of a public shrine.

As for who I am or what my reasons are, anonymity is mine and I choose to keep it at this time.

Posted by cruiser11 (anonymous) on May 28, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Very interesting discussion going on here! I think i will post. Everyone should understand that being an administrator is a difficult job. I am sure that Richard and Gary are doing the very best job that they can. You may have noticed that I placed Richard's name before Gary's! That was delibarate for the following reasons. Richard is the true administrator. Gary does not develop the budget, he does not handle internal personell issues, and is simply the figure head of this department. If Gary should claim that the above isn't true then he is truly out of touch with HIS department. I know as we grow older and are approaching retirement it is not unusual to seek a position where you can coast to retirement. Afterall who would hire an aging 60 something year old for any position. So I will have to side with Gary on this point. Afterall he over the past few years built a brand new house, and has to find a way to pay for it. I'm sure that under the inadequate retirement system he would struggle to make his mortgage payments. To say that the Deputies that left moved on for better pay and benefits is simply a fairytale. Many of the Deputies have served Lyon County for more than half of their adult lives. One such individual I believe served 20 years or more. So yes it should be noted that morale is an issue. It is fiscally irresponsible for a Sheriff to allow morale to drop so low, and lose valuable employees. All this does is cost the taxpayers money for recruitment, training, and equipment. As far as the service to the community there comes another shortfall. The new or "ROOKIE" deputies due to their inexperience are invariably going to provide less than adequate service to the community based in part on their inexperience. To see the amount of training and experience leave the Sheriff's office is truly troubling, if not shameful. In the military if a commander has low re-enlistment numbers the higher command removes him from cammand. Gary should know this with his military experience! Well I was very pleased to be part of a conversation this past weekend. It seems we do have a candidate who will challenge Gary this election season. He holds a dual Bachelors degrees in Criminal Justice and Public Administration. He has over 18 years of Law Enforcement experience working in patrol, investigations, and traffic! He has held command staff positions and has experience in developing budgets. Sounds like Gary better start knocking on doors. He will be running as a Democrat, which is the only negative aspect of his candacy in my opinion. Those of us in attendance were asked to withold his name. He plans to file soon for the office of Sheriff of Lyon County! Looks like this one will go to the November election folks! Have a wonderful day!

Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 28, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Cruiser11: Very well put!

Posted by anotherwhoknows (anonymous) on May 28, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't have much to say about Gary and Richard. I worked for the man for four years during his first term and didn't have a whole lot of interaction with him. I worked in the jail and saw him back there on two occasions. I passed him in the hall many times and he never once engaged me in a conversation or looked like he wanted too. I always had to initiate the conversation. I know the man is busy but that just goes to show you how he interacts with his employees. However The previous undersheriff made it a point to speak to the troops and build a good relationship with them even though The Sheriff didn't. Both Richard and Gary don't even make an effort. Once I graduated I left the Sheriff's department on good terms so I am in no way bitter. I guess I didn't work for the man long enough. Thats all I have to say about that. On a lighter note cruiser11's canadite is a very good one. I know from personal experience. Yeah it is bad that he is running on the Democratic ticket but he seems to have the support from some of Gary's (former) campaign contributors and key members of the republican party. It looks like the employees are not the only ones unhappy!!!!!!!!!!! ;)