Eichorn will run again
Paperwork filed with county clerk
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Originally published 12:33 p.m., May 8, 2008
Updated 09:41 a.m., May 9, 2008
Gary Eichorn announced Thursday that he will run for another term as Lyon County Sheriff.
He filed the necessary documents with the Lyon County Clerk’s office Wednesday afternoon and has named Bill Halvorsen as treasurer for his campaign. Eichorn, a Republican, has been sheriff here since January 2001.
Eichorn earlier had been a deputy and an investigator for the Lyon County Sheriff’s office before moving to Wabaunsee County to become undersheriff for then-Wabaunsee County Sheriff Richard Old. Old now is undersheriff in Lyon County.
Eichorn said in an interview Thursday that, while numerous changes and improvements have been instituted during his tenure, he believes even more changes are coming and wants to be part of that process.
The sheriff’s job involves more than leading the department law enforcement and public safety efforts, he said. The sheriff is responsible for the jail and courthouse security. He oversees the commissioned officer who acts as probation officer for the court services department and, by state statute, takes over as the emergency management director if the director is not available.
Emergency management moved beyond snowstorms, floods and tornados after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001. Training intensified, and much was learned about working together in emergency management when local officials became involved at Greensburg after the town was demolished by a tornado, he said.
“We look at things here and we work together with a lot of different agencies,” Eichorn said.
Law enforcement, health officials, and numerous other entities have staged activities, like a flu-shot clinic, that serve the public’s immediate needs and simultaneously provide a rehearsal-type situation to assess ways that improvements can be made before an actual emergency occurs.
Under Eichorn’s leadership, numerous changes have been made at the Lyon County Jail, with cameras and other technology making the jail and its workers safer, while protecting taxpayers at the same time.
“We’ve made a lot of progress,” Eichorn said. “In the jail, we added a registered nurse because there’s tremendous liability in the jail.”
She has saved the county money in both ambulance and emergency room costs to have the inmates checked by medical professionals.
“It’s being responsible to the safety of the inmates and the taxpayers, too, because that’s what we’re saving,” he said.
Eichorn illustrated the statement with an anecdote about a former inmate who had written to his family to complain that he had pink eye and nothing was being done. The family contacted the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which in turn called the Flint Hills Community Health Center, which then contacted Eichorn’s office.
The jail’s nurse, with 26 years of emergency room experience, said she had been treating the inmate but pinkeye was not the problem.
“I trust her; that’s why I hired her,” Eichorn said. “She said it’s not like pinkeye, and maybe the guy might be irritating it himself just a little bit” and perhaps he just was looking for a way to get out of jail.
Without the nurse, the Johnson County prisoners — who provide about $700,000 in annual income for Lyon County – likely would have been moved to another jail as a preventive measure to get them away from the highly contagious pinkeye.
“She paid for herself in that 10-minute period,” Eichorn said. “We could have lost $2,500 a day or so, and how long would it have taken to get that culture, get them to bring people back here?”
He plans to add a licensed practical nurse to work late afternoons and evenings to extend available medical care for inmates.
The Senior Patrol program, now about one year old, is another accomplishment mentioned by Eichorn. The patrol’s volunteers check houses of people who are on vacation, and stop to visit with and check on shut-ins.
The patrol also has helped the department with some training for officers, Ident-I-Kid outings, and other activities, all at no extra cost to the department.
Eichorn also mentioned technological improvements that have been made, both in the jail and in patrol vehicles, during his terms as sheriff. Cameras and other digital technologies have enhanced workers’ ability to perform their duties, including a new sophisticated system that helps identify fingerprints quickly. Other departments in the area also have access to the system, through interdepartmental cooperation, and that benefits all concerned, Eichorn said.
A large part of the technological improvements have come from drug investigations and seizures, and many of those have been the result of the work done in recent years by drug-sniffing dogs and their handlers.
The well-equipped investigations van is another example of savings brought on by drug seizures.
“I don’t think there’s $40 that was taxpayer money in that,” Eichorn said. “That was all paid out of drug seizure money and that’s got some sophisticated equipment on it.”
Sometimes the seizures can be over $300,000. Sometimes, he said, “it just trickles in -- $20,000 or $30,000.”
Eichorn said his department recorded 189 drug-related offenses, including driving under the influence of intoxicant arrests.
The ability to protect the public has been improved by adding deputies so there are five officers on each shift. In years past, sometimes only one deputy was available for patrol. The patrol vehicles now are white, instead of the dark colors that had been used. That, he said, helps deter crime simply because they are more visible, as well as more numerous.
“Everything we’re doing is for safety and security of the community,” Eichorn said. “We strive to keep our people out there in the community, and we strive to protect the inmates that are here. … I think we’ve done a pretty fair job of that.
“I want to put in another four years,” he said. “I intend to continue doing what we have and try to improve, too.”
Comments
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Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on May 8, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets hope for Lyon County sake he doesn't WIN! Im sure he has no explanation for the extrememly low morale in his department, or why at least five deputies have resigned within the last year! There is little hope for that Sheriffs Office if he happens to win! He won't be getting my VOTE!
Posted by toninj (anonymous) on May 8, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well he has my vote.... and good riddance to those that have left. I am sure he will do a great job of bringing in more competent deputies in the future. Some "house cleaning" was overdue in that department.
Posted by rox_alan (anonymous) on May 8, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well I hope he does some housecleaning in other departments and not just the sheriff dept...unless the taxpayers like to have to pay for someone sleeping on the job.
We need a sheriff that is willing to make the dept. the best it can be and not be afraid to fire someone when they aren't performing their jobs. Instead he lets them stay on just so he doesn't have to deal with the problem... I really hope he doesn't get the position again cause we need someone who is willing to look into the problem areas and correct it instead of brushing it under the rug and letting it slide. Same with the undersheriff he is afraid to deal with the problem to, it has been brought to their attention many times.
Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on May 8, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To toninj...You hit the nail right on the head when you suggest some "house cleaning" and without a doubt it should begin with the Top Two Positions... for the following reasons the current sheriff will have little support in his re-election campaign...i.e little if any pay increases (once in 5 years), incomptent undersheriff, lack of equipment, increase in health insurance prem., institutional discrimination, and for continuing to keep the department in low morale mode. It goes without saying the taxpayers of Lyon County should make their vote count by voting Mr. Eichorn out of office!!
Posted by nw710 (anonymous) on May 8, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hawks has it right. Eichorn had 8 years to do some house cleaning. Morale is horrible at that agency and it dont't look any better. A number of good officers both on patrol and the jail have left due to the lack of support from the administration. The Jail Officers look for a promotion by going to patrol, and the Patrol look for better support and equipment. Some say the grass may not be greener on the other side. As for this case I believe there might actually be grass on the other side
Posted by emporian (anonymous) on May 8, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Eichorn earlier had been a deputy and an investigator for the Lyon County Sheriff's office before moving to Wabaunsee County to become undersheriff for then-sheriff Richard Old
If that dont sound kinda like a good ole boys club, I dont know what does.
Posted by justaflushaway (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
PLEASE, PLEASE, Will anyone one who knows anyone who is qualified to run, PLEASE contact them to run for Lyon county sheriff. This joke needs replaced along with his lazy under-sheriff. for all the people who work that that department, why in the hell can there not be more than 1 or 2 deputies working at the same time? Just listen to a police scanner sometime and you will hear what I am talking about, just hope one of them is awake or in the area, its not raining, when you really need one, good luck
and not, there is enough money in their budget for this, maybe someone should question to where a lot of their budget is being wasted, OH sorry it will now since he is running again!!!!!! I cant wait,,,to see him squirm his way through the re-election
Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nearly every law enforcement department faces money issues, however it is the job of the Sheriff and his undersheriff to be creative and find monies, i.e. federal grants, state grants, increase in drug seizure money...etc..the current sheriff has failed to be creative, all the while, driving good deputies & employees out of the department and not fighting for them...voting this current sheriff back into office for another four years of status quo would be a disgrace. IT"S TIME FOR A CHANGE!!!
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to suggest that those who have such low opinions of Eichorn and Old go out and recruit a candidate they can support in a race against Eichorn at the polls instead of bashing and slandering the current administration on a public anonomous forum. That's nothing short of cowardly.
I remember the last unqualified candidate who ran against Eichorn and lost miserably in the election. I was glad the public could recognize that he was not what we needed.
I worked at the SO when Eichorn worked for Sheriff Hacker. The jail was just about finished when I left to take another LEO job. The deputies make alot more money now then what they made back then, there were only 7-8 of them back in those days, now they have many more. The Jailers are paid nearly double and there are three times as many of them. They still have some of the best benefits offered by any job available in Lyon Co to residents. The jail is making budget money, too bad they haven't pushed to add a couple more stories to it like it is designed for, to make more money. Since Eichorn took over, they do alot more drug cases and forfeitures, have the canine unit, have the Investigator's van, do drug invention on the interstate that was not allowed in the past. I have to say the claims of doing nothing to improve things for staff during his two terms are not accurate. I know there are many employees there that have 20 yrs plus of service. I'd also suggest you take a look around at other career opportunities in the county before you cry that that SO employees are suffering payroll neglect.
I'll be voting for the most experienced and qualified candidate for Sheriff.
Posted by cepperly (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think its time for a younger, more motivated, pro active law enforcement officer to be the top cop... But, is Lyon County ready to accept that. There are serveral other LEO's qualified to run the SO, the fact of the matter is Lyon County needs to be ready for a drastic change to law enforcement in the now. The deputies and jailers at the SO need to be LED, not MANAGED. Subordinates are led; supplies, bullets and money are managed. Leading by example will work wonders in building moral.
Posted by create (anonymous) on May 10, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good grief, what a bunch of whiners! Put your money where your mouths are and suggest a raise in your taxes so you can pay for the kind of county law enforcement you are screaming about. Listen to yourselves!
The last time there was a drug bust out on I-35, I saw very few messages of congratulations to the sheriff's department and instead, many posts complained about sheriff's deputies and the dog having "nothing better to do." Those seizures lead to the purchase of equipment, folks, equipment you yourselves don't have to buy. If I were the sheriff, I'd quit serving people who do nothing but whine. If you have a problem, and the evidence to support it, write a letter to the county, or better yet, get on the agenda, present your evidence and bitch about it properly!
Posted by 1whoknows (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 11:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
toninj. Unless you work there, you truly have no clue what goes on behind locked doors!!!!! There have been 5 deputies leave within the last 4 months, and the reason for that is poor management and micro-managing. They were not allowed to do their jobs without someone looking over their shoulder 24/7. The raises that were received awhile back was dependent upon how much "sucking up" you did, not on actual performance! Eichorn is clueless about what is going on, and Old blows so much smoke that you can barely see. They rely on the worthless "supervisors" to give them a clue, and the one supervisor is only vying for a position of undersheriff in hopes that Eichorn will retire during his next term. I would LOVE to see another qualified person run, however, Lyon County survives off a Good-ole-boy system, and unfortunately until we get the citizens of Lyon County to wake up we are looking at another term of these two!
Yes, morale is the lowest I have EVER seen it, and the reason is because of those two and their halfa** way of running the department.
Lyon County has become a laughing stock, and rightly so.
Posted by create (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
1whoknows: With all your inside information, I'll be looking for you to run for sheriff this election. I'd be willing to contribute a few bucks to your campaign just to hear you spell out with evidence what you are spouting off here in this forum. There may have been good reason why some of those deputies had to be micro-managed.
Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One more term for Gary and Old should just about do it for the reputation of the Sheriffs Department in Lyon County. The two of them have ryn off good deputies and investigators. They have cultivated a crop of do nothing yes men that just want to ride out their jobs until retirement.
To Kstrebuchet: The good ones do move on and it has not a thing to do with gossip and back stabbing of the employer. I know, I was there, like many others and have experienced the "management" style of these two.
Posted by 1whoknows (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is not in any shape or form backstabbing, everyone with half a clue knows exactly what goes on there! The only backstabbing I see going on there is by the number 1 & 2 positions held.
I speak facts not fiction. The ones who are doing the micro-managing are the ones who need to be managed themselves. It is a proven fact that when you go to them with concerns they play the game of pacifying you to get you to shut up, and then are labeled a "trouble maker" They do not want anyone who bucks the system!
Unless you can walk a mile in our shoes then you only spout off opinions and the ideas that 1 & 2 have instilled in their "fans"
Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said 1whoknows...lets not forget the sheriffs method of pursuing criminal tips and investigations...I believe his method can be called selective in nature. Also, some on this fourm would suggest that the sheriff has brought equipment, such as a canine unit, investigations van...etc. but it has nothing to do with the sheriff fighting for these things, the dept grows in spite of itself. Heck, the Sheriff can't even spring for a deputy to sew a patch on jacket for himself...the good ole boy system is in place and institutionalize discrimination runs rampant in that department. Let's hope for the poor soles left in that department that a new Sheriff & Undersheriff come to town.
Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You may consider it backstabbing but until there is a public forum where the Sheriff takes questions and provides answers, this will have to do.
Let me give you the Sheriffs definition of troublemaker: One who stands up for what is moral, ethical and legal; one who challenges inappropriate orders and decisions.
Since those that leave are such bad employees why is it that other departments hire them, retain them and promote them?
Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To Kstrebuchet: This definition you give of backstabing is excellent and it when you define it so perfect one can see this fits YOUR sheriff & undersheriff just fine. The only thing you left out is retribution...when someone does stand up for what is right...it is held against him/her in such a way that the Sheriff and his boy...don't get their hands dirty! Lets face it Lyon County needs a fresh new face that can take the dept. to the next level...not some individual who is buying his time to retire. Some one once told me substandard leadership breads substandard employess, it's no wonder many have left, they were thirsty but were lead to a pond with no water!
Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To get an idea of the Sheriff and Undersheriffs idea of law enforcement take a look at this link:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn...
Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Which pocket do you carry your bullet in?" ROFLOL!! That's a good one, is that original material? Thousands of out of work comedians and you are on here doing it for free. I can barely stop laughing long enough to type.
What are the other avenues that you suggest? Civil remedies? Already plenty of them in the pipe but no changes. Talk to the County Commission? No good there, the Sheriff doesn't answer to them. Appeal to the common sense and logic of the administration? Can't be done as neither appear to exist.
I too hope that a candidate can be found that will run against and defeat Gary. Someone that will be able to bring the real issues to the forefront and bring real solutions to the table.
The answer for many of us was to simply move on. We sold our property in Lyon County, moved onto larger more professional departments and hoped the best for those left behind.
...which front pocket... Still laughing, man that was a good one.
Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What bullet???...the sheriff and his management team have no budget for bullets, r u crazy...1/2 the reason most deputies split because there is no money for anything and no support from the two top doggs, to boot. As far as standing for your convictions thats all fine and dandy but sometimes you have to swallow your convictions to keep food on the table. I'm sure if an expression of opinions are made to the sheriff and his boy...they would sure find a way to blackball you and push you out. Without a doubt if Barney Fife runs for sheriff in Lyon Co. I will be supporting him...he would probably do a better job!!!
Posted by justthefacts (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I suspect being a sheriff is the job everyone loves to hate. Keep the voters happy and make your staff mad, or make your staff happy and make the voters mad. Hard to find a balance
Posted by create (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"...the Sheriff can't even spring for a deputy to sew a patch on jacket for himself..."
How much could that possibly cost? We have men with guns who don't know what to do with a needle? Send that boy to my house. I'll sew the damn thing on for him. Good grief!
Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You missed the POINT, flew right over your head Create...has nothing to do with using a needle and more with the Sheriff not giving a rats a** about his men. DUH!!
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"I think its time for a younger, more motivated, pro active law enforcement officer to be the top cop..." says cepperly in a previous post.
How much younger? Myself, I would support a younger candidate, IF they had adequate experience in law enforcement patrol duties, investigations, involvement in major criminal case prosecutions, business management skills, supervision of a large number of employees, corrections experience and jail management experience, and have experience in managing a multi-million dollar budget. Most young cops have few or none of those qualities.
I would support a more motivated pro-active Sheriff as well. But we must keep in mind that the budget comes up short with what they provide now. Pro-active Officers burn more fuel, work more hours, are tied up more in court etc. I left LYSO because I felt Hacker was more of a politician than he was a cop. I supported Eichorn's run for office, and unless a more qualified candidate comes along, I will do so again. Gary is not the type of Sheriff to burn the weed patch to scare the snakes out, but there is no doubt in my mind he is a cop that will get the job done.
hawks422, grow up and be respectful. I'm glad you no longer wear a LYSO patch.
Posted by create (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tre, well done. LOL
Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Neighbor grow up and realize your sheriff is incapable of moving the department to the next level. It's time to vote him and his side kick right out of that office and get someone who doesn't sit on his heels and collect a check!!!
Posted by cepperly (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with your concerns neighbor, but unfortunately that is how to effectively fight crime. After all, we (the community) want PRO ACTIVE law enforcement, not always RE ACTIVE law enforcement. It all starts with good leadership. The only people that can grade a leader are those who he leads. So, everbody outside the box has to read between the lines. Several years of experience has left the agency and one has to ask, why? Who knows, maybe these officers all of a sudden became poor officers and had to leave. It is interesting how some have been hired by other Law Enforcement Agencies so quickly... I'm not really sure how to interperet that.
Posted by cepperly (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 8:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately, I still enjoy what I am doing and I hardly think I have a political personality, but thanks for the vote of confidence. Personally, I am a big fan of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, in Maricopa County, Arizona. Somebody should give him a call and see if he will run, that is what this community needs. 1-800-352-4553.
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They most likely left because they could find better opportunities and better pay in other departments or in other careers. That happens everywhere. That is also exactly why I left LYSO, and eventually left the career field completely. I don't have to guess how the county residents would react to having their taxes doubled or tripled or more to support a gung-ho Sheriff's Department that jailed every non-violent criminal in the county, wrote hundreds of traffic citations a day, and overloaded the court system with petty offenses.
Posted by cepperly (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK, maybe not Joe Arpaio. That would shock and awe everybody to quickly. Neighbor, your right... I guess decriminalization is the way to go. What was I thinking... my bad. I guess that is why I am not in politics.
Posted by zeus (anonymous) on May 14, 2008 at 1:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No need to back stab just state facts. The officers that left with possibly the exception of one were already employed when Eichorn took office. They worked under Eichorn until recent months when it became apparent that he was running for office again. No one was fired all left on their own terms and were not pushed out by Eichorn. The obvious to me is that they worked for Eichorn for almost eight years but once they saw that he would be returning they began looking for other opportunities. In addition to the county's losses it is fact that the morale of the Sheriff's Dept. employees is at an all time low even quite possibly worse than when Hacker was in office. Perhaps the morale of the employees is of no concern to the public but one thing to think about is if the morale of the Sheriff's Dept. employees is bad, what kind of service could the public expect to receive due to poor administration. When Joe Public calls to report that he was the victim of a crime such as a vandalism, will the officer with poor morale do everything within his abilites to try to solve the crime. Even though the officer is a good person or good officer if morale is low then it would be hard to motivate the officer. There could be many examples of low quality service from the Sheriff's Dept. but that is just one. There have been many comments, ideas, and suggestions made regarding the Sheriff's Dept. in recent months and I strongly oppose the thought of the current administration being elected to another four years. Even if you were to erase the red flag of the recent departures of good employees than possibly consider these red flags. Why is it that there is a narcotics detective at the Sheriff's Dept. but no narcotics arrests or meth lab busts. Did all the meth labs in Lyon county pack up and leave? Kudos to the drug interdiction officer in Lyon County as that is a possitive form of pro active law enforcement but that was going on long before Eichorn arrived. Why in the world is there a county deputy that spends most of his shift patroling Emporia and taking minors to jail for possession of alcohol? Did the Emporia Police assign him a city beat? Why is it that not one soul that I have spoken with has one good thing to say about the undersheriff? I read the link about the drug scandal with his previous empoyer, YIKES!!! Many things could be said about this issue and there will be more to come but many other people have anounced that they are running for office but for some reason when it comes to the Sheriff announcing he is running again so many come forward to voice their opinion which is usually against Eichorn.
Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 14, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Neighbor: Which offenses are the petty ones? The ones that happen to someone else? They are rarely petty when they happen to you or someone close to you.
Where would you draw the line for someone breaking the law? Isn't that what the legislature did when they enacted the laws?
Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on May 14, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Zeus you bring up a very interesting point...all though morale is low the majority of officers in any dept. take an oath to uphold the law 24/7, although it is a shame that this managment team at the sheriff's dept did little of anything to support the officers it is their duty to maintain that oath. While morale is very low at LYSO many of the good officers left and sought ought other opportunities where the support and advancement possibilities are higher, unlike what they find with LYSO. The turn over within the last 6 months speaks volumes and the public should question the management styles of eichorn & old when it comes to the campaign trail. A mass exodus of employees throws up all kinds of red flags...With many new deputies (green) that are now on patrol due to this mass exodus one would have to be fearful that the quality of Law Enforcement in the county is at an all time low. Lets keep our fingers crossed that the next new sheriff in town can turn things around!
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Blackshirt, they're the ones that make up the outstanding warrant list at both the SO and EPD. The court dockets are full and behind, there's not enough budget money to actively persue all of them, nor is there enough room at the Cross Bar Inn to house all of them. When I was a LEO, EPD's outstanding warrant list varied from 12 to 20 pages. I'm not saying they shouldn't take reports, put forth a professional effort to solve cases, nor am I saying they should ignore criminal activity because of budget restraints. I'm saying they have to prioritize their time, and execution of their duties. I guarantee you every single citizen of Lyon Co. has violated at least one of the laws enacted in the history of the state legislature. The majority are repeat offenders and don't even realize it. Should we lock everyone up?
Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I certainly don't believe that we should lock everyone up, that is simply ludacris. I agree with you on the point that every citizen has violated some law. Speeding most likely being the most popular, fine them, get them points on the license and make them payer more insurance is plenty penalty. The majority of the offenses on the citys warrant list carry max. penalties that are fines+cost and don't consider incarceration.
I am still confused by your arguement. Budgets too tight, jail too full and courts too backed up. Then you say that the officers should prioritize their time and execution of their duties? Are you saying that they should only pursue those crimes that the administration deems serious enough to spend resources on?
It has been my experience that the current administration is willing to make a show of expending resources but that when it comes down to the bottom line, they aren't effective in utilizing them or fail to utilize them at all. The administration does not know how to effectively lead the department and utilize the assets that it already had at its disposal. Another 4 years aren't going to accomplish this either.
Posted by cepperly (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is something to think about... If we overloaded the courts with those "petty" offenses, the diversion fund would drastically increase and our current CA has a very good track record to put that money back into the community, mainly funding law enforcement equiptment that would normally go unfunded. Kudos to the CA for taking an active role in law enforcement, not just prosecution.
If the courts become overloaded, that is a judicial branch issue that they need to resolve, not law enforcement. We cannot hold the Sheriff responsible for that problem. Having supervisors on the road with very little experience, is a problem. Having supervisors that manage their people and not lead them, is a problem. The SO had and still has some very good deputies that want to work hard for the community, but are driven down by poor supervision. The jail staff again has some poor supervision and the jailers have nothing to work for since the Sheriff is not putting his own people on the road as deputies. Sounds like more deputies are "looking" elsewhere, so there maybe even more positions to fill. Dispatchers are even leaving. Again, I think management has to hold some type of responsibility for this max exodus of personel. Fortunately, this is all happening in an election year and putting a huge spotlight on the situation.
Make sure you get out and vote. Heck, write people in if you don't like who is on the ballet. XLY10, I'm writing you in buddy... You were a truly respected supervisor who knew how to treat your people.
"It is a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you are trying to lead -- and find no one there."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Will there be any one running that will be a challenge?
Do you have to be in Law inforcment to run ?
Posted by zeus (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is the problem that no one wants to run for Sheriff because they think they can't beat Eichorn? Or is it quite possible that the current Administration has tainted the outlook of the LYSD therefore ruining the possibility of a good candidate running for Sheriff this go around.
Heck, there were probably two or three guys that recently left that I would have voted for.
Posted by glarson (Gwen Larson) on May 16, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's the new home for this discussion:
http://www.emporiagazette.com/forums/ope...
Gwen Larson
Managing Editor