In his book, L. A. Justice-Lessons After The Firestorm, Robert Vernon, in summary talked of the growing political manipulation of law and law enforcement. He warned of its affects on the quality of life of our nation and its peoples. Nationwide, police officers are marginalized, discouraged and incredibly handled quite neatly by a system that seeminlgy isn't interested in the victim or in discouraging those who create victims-the criminal.
I think this Sheriffs race not about a personality, but a persona; is about character, principle, integrity, ethics and most importantly, vitally-leadership. It has little to do with politics-or politicians, or theorists who think they know everything, and most importantly, a cop's job or what that job does to his or her heart over the years. Reality is too unpleasant and they would much rather poison the well with their uninformed theory. Leadership is not about votes.
Our Sheriffs Department is unique, and simultaneously like every other agency that regulates human behavior-protecting others against those who feel no hesitancy to prey upon you or me. This process of electing a leader of this agency should be non-partisan: we have seen what the last year has wrought.
The real issues have not been broached, have never been broached since I have lived here, and are vital to the safety and security of this community. Were I to run and be elected Sheriff, it would be about leadership, enforcement and service. If I were to run for Sheriff, here are just some of my ideas, if we are to be the guarantor of this beautiful county and its quality of life. I implore the next Sheriff to consider:
1. Merit, Merit, Merit, Merit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. Complete state audit of all assets
3. CALEA certification immediately
http://www.calea.org
4. Mandatory A.A. Degree for entry level, B.S Degree for Sergeant, Masters for Division commander.
5. Annual Physical Readiness Test identical to that of the U. S. Army, for everyone to include the Sheriff.
6. Traffic Enforcement and Investigations Branch
7. DUI Enforcement Branch
8. Intelligence Unit that collects, analyzes, produces and disseminates information that drives enforcement and service effort.
9. Joint Tri-county Aviation Unit that supports ground efforts from the air, 24-7-365.
10. A Reserve Officer Program that has 35 Reserve Deputies patterned after Tucson, Los Angeles City and Washington DC Police.
11. Community Services Officers(Civilians) non-enforcement tasks and services response.
12. Crisis Unit (Civilians) that responds to after action Domestic and Critical Incident situations as referred by on-scene deputies.
13. A SWAT Team that has up to the minute equipment and funds so they never have to be without. We have a Nuclear facilityand an impending LP Gas operation, there is no excuse for less than excellence in all things tactical. Proficiency means life. Underfunding and politics means death.
14. A robust Police Athletic League tha opens an unbroken commo link between children and deputies.
BARTLETT!!!!!!
I don't pay attention to campaign signs. They really don't tell much about a candidate except that they have money for big signs. I do get a kick out of the way some of the signs are posted --someone will put up their sign and someone else will come along running for the same office with a bigger sign. 