Does this happen often when a new sheriff is elected?

 

New Campbell sheriff asks staff to apply for their jobs

 

In an unusual move, the incoming Campbell County sheriff has asked department employees to apply for their jobs if they want to work for him.

 

Sheriff-elect Mike Jansen sent a letter Dec. 17 to Campbell County Sheriff's Office personnel with an employment application form attached and asked them to complete it if they want to continue working with the department.

 

"No employee, including deputies, court security officers, or support personnel, yourself included, will retain employment past the end of the previous Sheriff's term on January 4th, 2015," the letter from Jansen states. "However, I will be considering any current employee, such as you, for employment in my Sheriff's department with employment to begin on January 5th, 2015."

 

It's a reasonable requirement from someone in a top leadership position, and particularly for a sheriff, Jansen said Monday.

 

It's also out of the ordinary, according to a professor with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, an international leader in criminal justice education based in New York.

 

"This is not common," said Maria (Maki) Haberfeld, professor and chair of the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration. "It usually happens on the level of the upper ranks but very rarely both rank and file."

 

Haberfeld added that it's "not necessarily wrong."

 

Stephen D. Wolnitzek, an attorney for the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police and a former Kenton County sheriff's deputy, said he doesn't know whether other area sheriffs have required employees to reapply for their jobs.

 

"It doesn't totally surprise me that a sheriff would do this," Wolnitzek said. "A sheriff has to make sure he has full faith and confidence in his employees. A deputy sheriff, when you perform your duties, you perform them in the name of the sheriff. The sheriff is personally responsible for anything that a deputy does."

 

That differs from a police chief in a city, Wolnitzek said. "If a patrol officer does something wrong, the chief isn't personally responsible," he said.

 

Jansen likened his decision to that of a corporate executive.

 

"Anybody in charge of a corporation or a business, they always pre-interview the people who will be working for them to see what the organization needs at that point," Jansen said.

 

Beyond that, he said, sheriff's employees work for their sheriff – and the current staff works under Sheriff Jeff Kidwell. That will change Jan. 5 when Jansen is sworn in.

 

The application and interview process is "part of retention in an office," Jansen said. "I'm trying to be fair with everyone."

 

In his letter to employees, Jansen thanks them for his service and adds, "I hope you consider applying for continued employment with my department."

 

Campbell County Fraternal Order of Police representatives could not be reached for comment Monday.

 

Jansen had widespread support in the law enforcement community. Less than two weeks before the Nov. 4 election, Campbell County's two police unions both took votes of no confidence in Kidwell for supposedly misrepresenting his law enforcement experience.

 

In May, Jansen defeated incumbent Kidwell in a hard-fought Republican primary.

 

Jansen defeated Scott Hildebrand, the Democrat who ran for sheriff, in the Nov. 4 general election.

 

The incoming sheriff has a strong law enforcement background. He served 26 years on the Newport, Campbell County and Fort Thomas police departments, and most recently worked as a detective for the Campbell County Commonwealth's Attorney.

Bold move, if all the staff and deputies decline, he will be in a world of hurt.

Bold move, if all the staff and deputies decline, he will be in a world of hurt.

 

Which would be an equally bold move, as they'd all be without a job.

 

I have no issue with it. Seems like a smart, practical thing to do IMO.

It's an unusual move, but I like it, assuming the current employees are "re hired" once they complete the application.

It's an unusual move, but I like it, assuming the current employees are "re hired" once they complete the application.

 

There was nothing in the article that led me to believe otherwise. I'd say the vast majority of those that do the application will be re-hired.

There was nothing in the article that led me to believe otherwise. I'd say the vast majority of those that do the application will be re-hired.

 

:thumb: I agree. I'd imagine most of the current employees are blowing this out of proportion, too (although, admittedly, I have no idea).

There was nothing in the article that led me to believe otherwise. I'd say the vast majority of those that do the application will be re-hired.

 

If this is a case, then this is nothing more than a waste of resources and taxpayers's money to go through this process for the same results.

If this is a case, then this is nothing more than a waste of resources and taxpayers's money to go through this process for the same results.

 

 

How so?

If this is a case, then this is nothing more than a waste of resources and taxpayers's money to go through this process for the same results.

 

No, not really.

May be a case of weeding out some employees he thinks aren't necessary. This way it won't look like targeting. Maybe...

May be a case of weeding out some employees he thinks aren't necessary. This way it won't look like targeting. Maybe...

 

My understanding is that a newly elected official can't single out individuals one by one that he/she doesn't want on staff. By using this process (i.e. everyone has to re-apply), the new sheriff is able to clean out any unwanted individuals and retain those that he wants to keep.

My understanding is that a newly elected official can't single out individuals one by one that he/she doesn't want on staff. By using this process (i.e. everyone has to re-apply), the new sheriff is able to clean out any unwanted individuals and retain those that he wants to keep.

 

That's what I meant, only you said it better.

Is this unusual? Well, don't know how often, but I know it happens. Woman I work with ex-husband was a long time Deputy Sherriff in a near by county, and when a new sheriff was unexpectedly elected there 3 or 4 years ago, the same was done there. I learned a little about that process through her when he was going through it.

 

As stated above, most of the current employees will probably be hired back...but I be one or two won't be.

Kenton County Sherriff is doing the same thing.

Mixed feelings.

 

Law enforcement agencies have a tendency to single some of their own out unjustly.