***A recent anonymous comment was left on the 'Note from Don Brenneman' blog entry. The writer expresses many concerns that Don has for and about Calvert County. Therefore, we felt it would be nice to post the comment as it's own entry, giving readers the opportunity to comment on the comment. Don will post a follow-up on his original post addressing the issues raised by the anonymous comment, tomorrow 5/13/10. As always thank you for reading and expressing your concerns for the Calvert County Sheriff's Department. We are privileged to have the opportunity to work with you to bring light to these issues.***
We don’t need endless specialized units, more deputies behind desks, away at specialized training or conferences or otherwise not providing a substantial and visible presence among the community in Calvert County. When was the last time you saw a marked sheriff’s vehicle patrolling your neighborhood back streets, and when was the last time a deputy stopped to talk to you and find out what was going on in the community and what your concerns were? I can tell you that it has been a very long time indeed since I had that kind of positive experience with the department.
There seems to me to be a shocking lack of responsiveness and accountability within the current leadership of the Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff was, in my opinion, evasive with the public and media about the recent porn scandal, and appears the feel that elected officials are not as accountable as appointed officials. You can bet an official that could only keep his or her job in the short term based upon their performance would not have hidden behind rhetoric about personnel guidelines and privacy rights. OK, there is no need to name manes, a certain level of privacy is legitimate, but to arrogantly stonewall as he did is unacceptable, and come election time, his accountability clock may very well start to tick.
This is what I want. I want a Sheriff who is responsive and accountable to the voters and taxpayers who put him-or her- in office. I want a Sheriff’s Department that addresses my needs, even if it means giving up the high profile assignments for mundane things, like working with the public that they are sworn to protect.
I strongly support my Sheriff’s Department and its deputies, but maybe it is time for a change of course;. Maybe it is time to get back to basics. Sheriff Evans, please give me a logical and reasonable explanation as to why you spent my tax dollars expanding both the size of your agency and; oddly enough, the number of crimes committed in my county? Seriously, as citizens and taxpayers we should be taking to the streets about this. There is NO excuse.
Yes, I am political. Yes I DO have an agenda, and YES I do think it is time for a change, because what is going on now is simply not working.
I would like to comment on you people who think
ReplyDeletecrime is going to decrease because theres more
deputies, if the population increases like it always does every year, we will never have enough officers, county or state, and do you all really think a officer is suppose to cruise your neighborhood everyday?? So they have nothing else to do but come into your neighborhood and hi how you doing today and do you feel safe today!!!!!!!! give me a break
they are not here to make sure every person is safe, they have other jobs.. yes i agree when they are not busy chasing ur home alarm going off cause you didnt set it right, or people wrecking cause they dont pay attention on the highway, and that takes more than one officer to control, so put yourself in their shoes and see what they do all day!!!! stop being so selfish! and do your part!!!!!!!! Brad
Brad, clearly you have no understanding of the concept of "Community Policing." No one said that the deputies should sit on quiet neighborhood streets and never do anything else, but the point was this, the Sheriff's Department needs to get more in touch with the population it serves.
ReplyDeleteYou are clearly a law enforcement officer, and a current Calvert County Deputy would be my guess. Why do I say that? I say that because you display that same arrogant aloof, good-ole-boy attitude that pervades the agency now.
You ask me to do my part. Had you taken the time to read my post, you would have seen that I for one am eager to do my part. I want to get to know my deputies and let them know what my concerns are in an effort to better my community.
I understand that increasing populations lead to higher crime statistics, and I never said that hiring more deputies leads to lower crime; in fact Sherriff Evans has proven that is not the case. Numbers don't lie, and the current way of doing things isn't working. The application of increased tax dollars applied to law enforcement and the level are crime are supposed to be inversely proportional. You spend more on crime prevention and reduction, and crime should at least drop or slow down. In Calvert County, crime is rising as fast as spending, and it is not just due to population and demographic changes; it is due to mismanagement, period.
I respect your opinion, Brad. If you want to stay in your patrol car blowing up and down Route 4, more power to you, and thank you for your service to our community. I only ask that you strive to work more closely with the folks who pay your bills.
If I'm wrong, and you are one of us normal everyday citizens, then I would suggest that you reconsider how your tax dollars are being spent, because they are not being used as well as they could be.
By the way, I don't have an alarm, but I am prepared because currently I know if I need help in my quiet little back street, it won't be anywhere near my neighborhood.
I met Don Brenneman at a recent event, and he has my vote.
ReplyDeleteHe isn't just running a campaign based on the mistakes of the current administration, or "against Sheriff Evans," but rather on some solid ideas that will take the Sheriff's Department into the 21st century and make Calvert a safer place to live.
I'm really looking forward to his fresh perspective.
I have read what Mr. Brenneman wrote and find it is too Mayberryish for me. This is 2010, not the 1960s. Our law enforcement community is overwhelmed. Most of this is do to not only the increase in population into this county which needs to be addressed, but a look at who has and is coming in or moving into this county. When we only offer low paying fast food or Walmart type jobs, we should expect this is the type of people we will attract. Another problem is with the courts being so lax on the criminals and not providing any deterrent to make them think before hand, Another factor is how TV has glorified an attitude of malicious behavior and discourages the attitude of doing the right thing. Another is the deputies inability to pull over vehicles in neighbors fearing a lawsuit due to profiling. There are other issues that are just as important for the increases in crime in our county, but I will move on.
ReplyDeleteI am not a current CC Deputy, I am not for or against the current Sheriff, but I am a CC resident that is concerned about my personal safety and safety in general for all law abiding residents in this county. I want to know that when a person forces his way into my home when I am there, that I will have the support of the sheriff's office when that person meets his maker from my gun (which is something I pray will never happen). I do not want to fear or worry about a sheriff who does not appreciate or approve of a resident and his right to protect his own family and property regardless.
I don't believe this is the county Mr Brenneman should be running for sheriff in, I think he would be more content in a place like Montgomery County where his ideology would be better suited to the population. We need an action oriented sheriff willing to make hard decisions and stand behind them. As much as I enjoy the Andy Griffith Show, we here in Calvert County need to not only have a sheriff that wears a gun, but is the gun.
Any questions, you are more than welcome to contact me. My name is Robert Jodoin and my email address is "robert_jodoin@comcast.net"
It is time for a change. Don Brenneman has my vote. While St. Mary's County and Charles County crime rate are declining, Calvert crime rates continue upward since Sheriff Evans has taken office.
ReplyDeleteVote for Don Brenneman.......He has my vote
Is there some sort of military operation or operation taking place in Calvert of which we the residents are unaware?
ReplyDeleteEvery place I go recently I see olive-drab clad, military looking personnel who used to be Sheriff’s Deputies. While we are exporting thousands of trained law enforcement personnel to Iraq to train them to police our way, some misguided soles that apparently think the county is a war zone are creating “Fortress-Calvert.”
Come on, this is just getting silly. Sure we need folks trained and prepared for special emergency situations, but those are few and far between and account for an insignificant percentage of the calls run by deputies in our county.
I went into a restaurant the other day and I thought I was back in Saigon, olive drab uniforms as far as the eye could see, and what were my tax dollars doing be used to fund a platoon sized luncheon for the Sheriff’s Department anyway?
Come on folks, lets get back to reality here; this not an urban war zone, and when was the last time a SWAT team was needed for…..well anything?
I’d love to know how much money Sheriff Evans is squandering on this apparent uniform change; of course in the big scheme of things, that would be a drop in the bucket when it comes to fiscal irresponsibility in the current administration.
I’d demand an answer, but I’m sure the answer would be “It is a personnel matter,” or more to the point in their opinion, “None of your business!” Sure, my tax dollars but not my business. We will see about that nonsense come election day.
Robert, clearly you simply have no idea of what "Community Policing" is. The City of New York has accepted the principles of community policing whole heartedly, hardly a Mayberry.
ReplyDeleteNearly every major metropolitan police department has a community policing unit and/or uses the concepts of community policing in their policy making and operations. Clerly you are equally uninformed on the demographics of Montgomery County, Maryland, but I won't waste time nay-saying your opinions, because they are yours and I won't attempt to change your mind.
Despite what you clearly do have an agenda, much as you tries to hide under the cover of reason, even handedness and logic. I am sure Mike Evans commended you for your statement.
I support Don Brenneman. I think it speaks volumes that he posts opposing views on his blog, and not just those of his supporters. he isn't afraid to answer the tough questions and address the tough questions head-on.
"Our law enforcement is overwhelmed," and your disparaging comments about those who have recently selected Calvert as their home speaks volumes about your ideology.
Don sees the young parent working at McDonalds or Wal-Mart as what they are, hard working folks doing their best to provide for themselves and their families, not the rabble that you seem to think they are. Your attitude mirrors that of the current administration in the Sheriff's Department and the current Sheriff.
Everyone deserves a fair shake and equal treatment, but I don't think you and I will agree on that. I'm glad you have a gun to protect yourself, but it isn't the Sheriff you need to worry about, its the Stated Attorney for Calvert County, they are the ones who would indict, try and jail you if you wrongly shot one of the Wal-Mart workers you so disdain.
Everyone has a right to think and vote as they feel, but I think you and I will not find common ground.
i would like to see the deputies out reducing our crime rate. not pulling people over for going 1-9 mph over the speed limit, when they drive like they are above every law out there.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDelete1st I would like to say I enjoyed meeting you at the Josh Turner concert. The fact that you took the time out to actually hold conversation rather than shake hands, pass out a flyer, and keep moving was very impressive. I finally took the time to check out your web site and was further impressed. I am taking you up on your offer of posting any concerns or questions.
The question I have concerns the increasing gang activity in Calvert county. Does the sheriff's department currently have any plans to combat this growing problem? As elected official, would this be a priority or just something you would get around to when you could? Although my kids have grown, I have friends and family members that have been concerned for their sons.
Please, say it ain’t so!
ReplyDeleteI was recently told that the Sheriff’s Department has instituted a quota system under the guise of a “point system.” What do I mean? I mean a system by which deputies are given points for activities like issuing traffic tickets, and in which deputies who don’t attain a pre set number of points -quota- can be disciplined or suffer other adverse action.
Please, please, please tell me that this is not the truth and that the Sheriff does not think that by simply calling the new quota system “point system” the residents of Calvert and the Courts in Calvert will not catch on. Only a true simpleton would fall for this one.
If there is indeed a point system I urge everyone who has or is going to receive a parking citation, moving violation, civil citation or other charge to ask these simple questions of the arresting deputy while that deputy is on the stand and under oath.
1. Is there any sort of point or quota system currently in force on the Sheriff’s Department?
2. Can you be disciplined or can your evaluation suffer because you don’t earn enough points?
3. If the system exists, can you honestly say that it played no part in your decision making process with regard to officer’s discretion in taking enforcement action?
4. No matter how they answer question number 3, suggest to the court that reasonable doubt as to the officer’s motivation to issue the ticket or make the arrest has been established, and the deputy may have in fact taken action not because you were in the wrong, but because he or she was subject to adverse action due to the Sheriff’s quota system.
Quota systems are illegal, and if in fact one exists, the State’s Attorney needs to look into it. I truly hope that it is not the case, but with this “we can do whatever we want” administration, I wouldn’t be surprised; I’d just be disappointed…again.