Is there some sort of military operation or operation taking place in Calvert of which we the residents are unaware?
Every 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.
Don's Response...
One of the things that help a community identify who their police or deputies are is the uniform. I share your concern about the many different uniforms that I see as I travel through the county. I have always taken great pride in wearing a uniform and feel that the uniform, and how one wears it is the first sign of a professional organization worthy of the respect and pride from citizens. I also feel that the uniform helps instill a sense of tradition in an organization that helps foster pride, honor and professionalism. When the Sheriff’s Department is seen wearing a series of different uniforms, it promotes that there may not be any standards or rules and that there is a sense of instability. What we need from the Sheriff’s office is stability and confidence, and I will ensure that the standard uniform issue is resolved quickly, so that the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office can focus their attention on reducing the 18% crime increase in the county. Every single surrounding agency has posted significant reductions in all major crime categories with the exception of Calvert County. It makes me wonder what we are currently focused on, what to wear, or how we protect our citizens and their property.
I hear you!
I read the comment on uniforms and Don’s reply with much interest, but I think the anonymous writer that talked about the army-like uniforms was a bit off point in that there is a bigger problem.
ReplyDeleteIt is my understanding that those officers dressed like the Grinch are assigned to the SWAT Team. Just how many SWAT officers do we have or need? I see those uniforms everywhere these days, so it must be more than a few. My guess is that the county residents are subsidizing Calvert Cliffs security with these guys, because I see them in that area most of all.
I am also wondering how many officers work in a SWAT assignment full-time, and don’t answer routine calls for service. I smell a colossal waste of money here. How many members of our modest 100+ deputy agency are being detailed away from the tax payers and towards special interests and country club like special assignments?
If I’m mistaken and the county runs a decentralized SWAT model, with deputies only taking part in those activities when an actual incident is taking place or necessary training is taking place, then my concerns are somewhat, but not completely reduced. In that model at least these persons are out answering calls and serving the community.
If it is a centralized SWAT model, then I am not only concerned but also angry. Necessary training is fine, but there is no need to pay a large group of deputies to do nothing but train, lift weights full-time, waiting for calls that never come, or at least only come once in a blue moon.
I learned in school that elected officials were supposed to stay in contact with and in tune with the community that elected them. Elected officials, especially in a community as compact as ours should be among the most responsive, but are they? Maybe I’m not the mainstream, I don’t know, but I just don’t like the way things seem to be going.
I get the impression that the current administration feels that since they were elected for four years, that they can do just whatever they please, and we, the simple taxpayers will forget any transgressions come election time, which is a naïve mindset at best.
I wish somebody would come on over to Chesapeake Ranch Estates and explain things to us, because we, and I speak for many-many of my fellow residents, are not pleased with what has passed for law enforcement, government responsiveness, and open government over the last few years.
All this talk about uniforms and swat is important and interesting, but what concerns me is this, can my kids safely walk down to the neighborhood pool, and if something bad does happen will the sheriff officer get there fast? I cant remember the last time I saw a patrol car drive down my street, and I live right off a main highway in Calvert.
ReplyDeleteI have lived here for a lot of years and am active in my neighborhood association and in my kids school, and I have never seen anybody from the sheriffs department at any neighborhood meetings and don’t know a single one of them. After reading this blog I am really concerned about that.
I don’t expect to be able to have an officers home number or cell phone number, but it would be nice to be able to say to myself that I recognized an officer that drives through my streets often. I cant say that now. I never see them unless I’m on 4.
Anyway, I read the papers, and I know crime is way up, so something needs to be done. Seems over the last three of four years it is only sad or negative stories in the paper when it comes to the sheriffs office. I hope that changes and I hope my kids and I can feel safe in and around our own home. I met Don at a restaurant recently and form talking to him, I think he has a plan, at least he is going to try to change things for the better.
PLEASE REMEMBER: when election time comes, Mike Evans put the deputy who killed the girl in Dunkirk, BACK OUT ON PATROL!! it was a big cover up and anyone voting should think about this. it could have easily been someone you know. or even YOU!
ReplyDeleteThe whole county has the right to know about the Deputy who killed the teenager in Dunkirk, the local newspaper will not focus too much on the story because it makes Mike Evans look like the arrogant, selfish individual he is, and they would never make a good ole boy like him look bad. He is only worried about profiling in his uniform and playing poker, and softball. Mike Evans has always been that way, he is riding his father and mothers coat tails to get the votes of the life long county " good ole boys", who don't care what you can do to make the county safer, but only care that, " I knew his daddy, so i'll vote for him", or " i played softball with him, i'll vote for him". Just take a look at Mike Evans qualifications, he got in office because his family is well known in Calvert County.
ReplyDeleteMike, while your wanna be SWAT team walks around in their military uniforms, our crime rate is increasing.
I don’t know the true details of the deputy involved in the fatality, but this just serves to highlight another characteristic of the “Good-Ole-Boy” closed door system to which Sheriff Evans is so desperately clinging.
ReplyDeleteI’m only speculating here, not stating fact; however, there may well be extenuating circumstances that would indicate that the deputy was not at fault, but the fact that the current administration has a “closed door-none of your business policy” only ends up hiding facts and information that quite often might help his agency. When you choose to hide mistakes and lies, you very often have to hide the truth as well.
Sheriff Mike Evans has absolutely no media skills, and withholding information only produces an impression of guilt. It is really no different than pleading the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination, other that one is a constitutional right and the other a deliberate choice.
Sheriff Evans chooses to hide facts and obscure information and in doing so makes it look like he is in the wrong, no matter what the facts are, and that reflects poorly on everyone who has to work for this guy. While I’m thinking about things that reflect poorly, it is obvious that his expansion of spending and personnel increase has not worked; crime is up in double digits. Despite this, Evans has not changed course one iota. Good-Ole Mike just keeps heading towards that iceberg full tilt, and the ship is going to sink.
Lets be honest, nobody is perfect and even the best of intentions sometimes lead to failure, but to cling to failed policies, and worse, to not even admit that they failed is not a characteristic of a skilled leader.
I too was wondering about the uniforms. When my family moved here in the early 90's, the CCSO was a reputable organization and it's Deputies were well known in the community. The Deputies wore very "approachable" uniforms that were not aggressive or stand-offish in style. Deputies were very helpful and were quick to scold a traffic offender and write him a warning versus reciting a stonefaced speech and writing a citation for minor traffic violations. I am not saying committing traffic violations is acceptable, but no one is perfect and some leniency needs to be given, especially when the offender has a clean record. I do not feel comfortable with the "Storm Trooper" appearance of our deputies. I also am not a huge supporter of the "stealth" appearance of the CCSO Cruisers. This is Calvert County, I want to see MY Deputies in the community not only as enforcers of the law but as mentors to the children, friends of the citizens and protectors of the rural character of this BEAUTIFUL County! Deputy Marshal Brenneman, please give us our Respected Law Enforcement agency back! Bring back the Green and Whites! And also, I do not feel comfortable, as a taxpayer, paying for a vehicle to sit, unavailable for service at a local Chesapeake Beach eatery simply to Police the outside criminal element that comes and plays video slot machines. If that business owner feels he needs that much security, maybe he should reconsider what he does to draw the long lines of DC Tags that are coming down here to patronize his business. I am a Republican, but I can say, I will be Making at least one vote for a Democrat this year, and that is for Don Brenneman!
ReplyDelete