Again I don't think the Sheriff should be an elected offical. It's silly to me that they allow the office to be political. But do deputies know this is a possibilty when they take the job? The answer is yes. So if you take the risk on this career you have to know this is a possibility and have back up plans.

 

In a perfect world this wouldn't be a political office, but it is.

 

Police officers know the risk of being shot in the line of duty also, but that doesn't make it right to do so.

 

As far as your political thoughts, I think that there should at least be qualifications for running for Sheriff. You can't run for PVA without first taking and passing a test set by the state showing that you are qualified for the position. A Sheriff should be qualified to run also.

Police officers know the risk of being shot in the line of duty also' date=' but that doesn't make it right to do so. As far as your political thoughts, I think that there should at least be qualifications for running for Sheriff. You can't run for PVA without first taking and passing a test set by the state showing that you are qualified for the position. A Sheriff should be qualified to run also.[/quote']

 

If there were qualifications to be sheriff, Jeff Kidwell would have never been elected last time. He's a computer repair guy!

If there were qualifications to be sheriff, Jeff Kidwell would have never been elected last time. He's a computer repair guy!

 

That's my point, a lot of these men and women shouldn't be elected sheriff.

If there were qualifications to be sheriff, Jeff Kidwell would have never been elected last time. He's a computer repair guy!

 

That's my point, a lot of these men and women shouldn't be elected sheriff.

 

Let's not limit it to sheriff. Many non-qualified people get elected to county and city offices. In Boone County, if you can get on the ballot with an R after your name, that is all the qualifications you need to get elected. The opposite is probably true in certain urban districts in Jefferson County.

Again I don't think the Sheriff should be an elected offical. It's silly to me that they allow the office to be political. But do deputies know this is a possibilty when they take the job? The answer is yes. So if you take the risk on this career you have to know this is a possibility and have back up plans.

 

In a perfect world this wouldn't be a political office, but it is.

 

Even if the Sheriff wasn't an elected office and was instead done by appointment, who do you think would be doing the appointing? If your answer was the correct one — County Judge-Executive — then you probably realize there's no real way to remove politics from the position.

Let's not limit it to sheriff. Many non-qualified people get elected to county and city offices. In Boone County, if you can get on the ballot with an R after your name, that is all the qualifications you need to get elected. The opposite is probably true in certain urban districts in Jefferson County.

 

Most counties are like that, if you can beat your opponent from your own party in the primary to sail through in the general election. I don't have as much of an issue with that as long as there are more than just one person running in the primary.

Even if the Sheriff wasn't an elected office and was instead done by appointment, who do you think would be doing the appointing? If your answer was the correct one — County Judge-Executive — then you probably realize there's no real way to remove politics from the position.

 

I would guess as a whole, the 120 Sheriffs in the state are more qualified for their job than the 120 County Judge-Execs are for theirs.

Remember everyone, when you work for a Sheriff's Department and it is election time you are expected to support the current Sheriff to the nth degree. Believe me I have heard horror stories about not only support, but time, donations to the campaign, etc. It is a completely unfair situation to put a law enforcement officer in.

^ And I want to add that the same loyalty that will get you promoted under the current Sheriff is the exact thing that will get you fired by the new Sheriff.

Remember everyone' date=' when you work for a Sheriff's Department and it is election time you are expected to support the current Sheriff to the nth degree. Believe me I have heard horror stories about not only support, but time, donations to the campaign, etc. It is a completely unfair situation to put a law enforcement officer in.[/quote']

 

I can say without a doubt that this is true. I have a friend who supported Kidwell in the election because he wanted to keep his job in the event Kidwell won re-election. It's a hard situation to he in.

Only thing you can do is support your boss and then tell your new boss that you will support him just like you did your last boss. You were Loyal to the last one and you'll be Loyal to him too.

Even if the Sheriff wasn't an elected office and was instead done by appointment, who do you think would be doing the appointing? If your answer was the correct one — County Judge-Executive — then you probably realize there's no real way to remove politics from the position.

 

Obviously politics is always involved in some way when it comes to government positions. But city officials appoint police chiefs , why couldn't a Judge executive appoint a Sherrif. I would prefer my Sheriff or Cheif not have to worry about a campaign .

 

It would be no different than the mayor of NYC appointing a police commissioner.

 

Elected officials rarely fire a leader of a police force if they are doing the job well and popular with the community. It is political suicide. Which allows the stability for the officers some are seeking.

^ And I want to add that the same loyalty that will get you promoted under the current Sheriff is the exact thing that will get you fired by the new Sheriff.

 

Which is why it shouldn't be an elected office. Officers shouldn't be worried about a campaign.

Sheriff Jansen will be a great sheriff for Campbell County. He is a respectable guy and gives out respect. He is in a tough job and it calls for tough decisions. He will make the right calls and he will be sheriff in Campbell for a long time.

I agree on the elected official idea. You should be qualified to be a Sheriff or even a Corner. Yet most of these people are when they run but it just boggles me how a computer repair man was elected last time in Campbell County. The sheriff should be hired by the judge executives of the county or a panel of police chiefs and or mayors. It can't be that hard to figure out how some of these positions could be filled with out a election process.