| Untie the Hancock Sheriff’s hands I complement former Prosecuting Attorney James Davis on a, recent well written and very informative, Letter to the Editor. I had the honor and privilege of working for the Hancock County Commission for seven years and Jim’s detailed description of the budgeting process was on point. I believe, one of the most important aspects of a preparing a budget is the priority in which it’s carried out. Each department was given the revenue available for the upcoming fiscal year. Then each department would provide their expenditures for the fiscal year. If needed, any adjustments, especially reductions, were always negotiated to balance the budget. In my seven years, no department was asked or was demanded to make substantial cuts, at a fixed percentage. I worked alongside the sheriff and especially the deputies, as part of my responsibilities. Scott Gittings, a deputy at the time, was professional in every respect, and a reason he was voted in as sheriff. He worked and trained under two sheriffs. He is highly skilled, educated and knowledgeable in all areas of law enforcement. He also knows and understands the criminal element active today, and especially in Hancock County. His deputies are trained and equipped in like manner to ensure that the citizens of Hancock County are safe. A budget, needs to be large enough to support; firearm training and education, personal safety equipment, specially equipped vehicles, while ensuring the correct number of deputies are available to handle the entire county, around the clock. You can’t achieve a high level of professionalism, when you are demanded to cut spending by 15% percent, this only ties the sheriff’s hands. Just because he was able to do it once, demanding another 15% percent is beyond the limits. Department morale and safety will start to erode, something you don’t want to happen. This means, Commissioner Check is out of touch with what the sheriff’s department does and doesn’t do to keep Hancock County safe. I’m also a little surprised at Commissioner Cowey not realizing the importance and significance of an adequately staffed and trained sheriff’s department. His father was in law enforcement his entire life, surely something trickled over. I’m not sure why his voice has been silent? If Commissioner Check is truly copying from the California play-book, it’s time it stop. Just look at the chaos California is in. Look how much criminal activity is running ramped. Here’s how it starts; reduce law enforcement to the lowest number possible, announce the reductions in newspapers and on social media, criminals from all over now have an open door to come into the state and have free reign, to do what they want. We do not want to become like California. Crime, locally, is already starting to tick upwards. My recommendation; untie his hands, give Sheriff Gittings his 15% percent back to rebuild his department and keep Hancock County safe. Let the voters decide whether Commissioner Check, stays or heads back to California. Thomas Zielinsky Weirton, WVSent from Hometown News |
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Tom Zielinsky
