The Arrogance of Being Jeff Christopher
“…I believe that I, as elected, am sovereign to and independent from county council…”
Thus spake Christopher.
In the never ending battle to see who has the bigger penis, Sussex County Sheriff and would be super cop Jeff Christopher has told County Council to bugger off. In a long rambling response to County Administrator David Baker’s October 31 memo, Christopher said that he would ignore the memo and continue to make traffic stops and execute criminal warrants.
Sussex County Sheriff Jeff Christopher said Friday that he and his deputies will continue executing arrest warrants and pulling over dangerous drivers, in defiance of orders from the county administrator, even as state lawmakers from his own party warn that he’s on the wrong track.
“I would characterize their actions as overstepping their authority with regard to telling me I can’t do this or I can’t do that,” Christopher said. “There is no law that exists in the state of Delaware that supersedes the authority of the sheriff as it was originally intended.”
What Barney Fife fails to understand is that unless a law has been ruled as unconstitutional, then it must be followed, no matter what he may think the state constitution says. But as we all know, teabaggers don’t believed in the law.
But the issues here seem to go beyond what Christopher believes he has the power to do. It seems that he has a giant chip on his shoulder because county GOP officials didn’t embrace his candidacy last year.
Christopher said he’s not surprised the county has acted to shut down his initiatives, saying some county leaders resisted his running for the office from the start and treated him like an “outsider” because he was the second-in-command under former Sheriff Robert Reed. Reed had sparked similar confrontations over the authority of the sheriff.
“Whenever I attempted to promote myself, I was met with great resistance then from those already in county office, as no one wanted to speak to me about running for office or advise as to where to go about attending important meetings. I had to go back to Maryland to seek advice about how to campaign. This was unbelievable to me. I saw the “good ol boys” sticking together here with the “speak to the hand” attitude. Though I was willing to talk to county council members with an open mind, I was treated as an outsider and told that I was taboo because I once worked for Sheriff Robert Reed.”
So now we know the real reason behind Jeff’s shenanigans. This isn’t about assisting police departments in the county, it’s all sour grapes over how he was treated when he announced his candidacy last year. Hey Jeff, let me call you a wahbulance.
The memo from the County Administrator is quite clear. Not only are Christopher’s actions illegal, but they put the county in a precarious position over liability for his actions. Christopher denies that his deputies are making traffic stops, however, on September 30, his chief deputy, Dennis Lineweaver, pulled over a DOC guard (someone who has arrest powers) and issued him a ticket. This guard is also a member of the Georgetown VFD, and he filed a complaint with the county.
Even though Pete Schwartzkopf has said that it will be up to GOP members of the county’s delegation to the Legislature to take action, I ask him to reconsider. Pete, this guy is out of control and someone is going to get seriously hurt. It might be a member of the public or one of Jeff’s deputies. You cannot turn a blind eye to this. You need to start the ball rolling to remove this loose cannon from office.
And Mr. Baker, you need to make good on your memo and fire any sheriff’s department employee who continues to follow illegal orders from Christopher.
Enough is enough!
Tags: RWNJs, sheriff, Sussex County, Sussex County Republicans, Teabaggers
please please please pull me over sheriff jeff, PLEASE!
New Phil – I told my partner that I was going over to Rte 113 and start speeding up and down outside of Georgetown just to get one of his deputies to pull me over.
The State Police needs to lock this clown up for impersonating a police officer
As much as I hate to say it, I think the sheriff may have a point. As an elected official he is accountable only to the courts and to the voters. Unless there is some point of law I am unaware of (and I admit I have not been paying that much attention), the sheriff is free to commit whatever illegal asininity he wants, and nobody can tell him to stop except a court or a majority of voters.
Does the Council have standing to ask for a court order? Who does?
The “impersonating an officer” thing might have some merit, but you would need some cops and a judge who are willing to do it.
Puck, his employees are county employees and must adhere to county rules. If the County Administrator tells a county employee to stop doing something, then that employee needs to obey that order.
Since the sheriff uses county vehicles, one simple thing would be for the county to take the vehicles away from him.
OK, but then why is all the focus on the Sheriff and not on the employees?
Haul the Sheriff’s employees into Council, explain the rules to them, and give them one warning. Hasn’t this been done by now?
Because the sheriff is disregarding the law and his duties. He’s been lying about what he wants to do since he first took office.
The jails cannot hold all the politicians who lied about what they want to do.
In any case, that doesn’t apply to the employees. The employees can be told what to do, or fired by the Council, right? For people who believe government should be run like a business, the Council seems pretty reluctant to use its power to manage its own employees. Bring ’em in, and read them the riot act on obeying illegal orders.
Delaware does not seem to have a recall process. So we would have to resort to the impeachment process to eliminate the problem?
Under Article VI Section 2, Grounds for Impeachment
The Governor and all other civil officers under this State shall be liable to impeachment for treason, bribery, or any high crime or misdemeanor in office. Judgment in such cases shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust or profit, under this State; but the party convicted shall, nevertheless, be subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.
Would the Sheriff be considered a “civil officer under this State” and thus subject to the impeachment process? Otherwise, in Delaware, how does one get rid of an elected error in judgment?
I actually have some sympathy for the deputies, who are following the wishes of their boss and are caught in the crossfire. They are looking out for their own jobs. Theoretically, that is. I don’t know any of them.
Even if any of them wanted to go against their boss by refusing to carry out illegal acts, they have no guarantee that they will be backed up by the Council. The Council needs to not only read them the riot act, but make it clear that it will have their backs if Christopher attempts to take it out on them.
Dave – he is subject to impeachment and I’ve publicly asked Pete Schwartzkopf to get the ball rolling on it.
Puck, read the memo from David Baker. The employees are in a no-win situation. If they don’t do what the Barney Fife tells them to do (illegal traffic stops, arresting people), then they are being insubordinate to him. If they continue to do what Barney Fife tells them to do, they are being insubordinate to Baker.
Best way to slay this dragon is to cut off its head.
Are these guys carrying firearms? I know they are dressed up in pretty extreme law enforcement drag; I see one of them some mornings at Surf Bagel (local business plug!). I think the dude has at least a taser on his belt; I don’t like to pay too much attention lest he decide I must be a criminal.
@puck – here it is in simple language
the Delaware Sheriff has SOME law enforcement authority but does NOT have police powers.
this is specificaly spelled out in Title 11 chapt 84
simply put – you can be a doctor or lawyer – but unless the STATE certifies you to practice in de – you may NOT do so
the STATE COPT (council on Police Training)determines who is and who is not a cop – who can investigate, and prevent crime
http://delcode.delaware.gov/title11/c084/index.shtml
5) “Police officer” means a sworn member of a police force or other law-enforcement agency of this State or of any county or municipality who is responsible for the prevention and the detection of crime and the enforcement of laws of this State or other governmental units within the State.
b. For purposes of this chapter this term shall not include the following:
1. A sheriff, regular deputy sheriff or constable;
its is VERY clear that the Sheriff can not
http://www.delawareonline.com/assets/pdf/BL182453122.PDF
the memo orders the deputies to cease this behavior – to continue to do so will be considered insubordination – that is a fire-able offense – they are in a tough spot,
what is scary is the rhetoric of “sovereign” – he is tied to Sheriff Mack who is tied to the Sovereign Citizen movement and white supremacy groups and hate groups
@Dave – yes – the sheriff IS a civil officer and can be inpeached – but must be convicted first.
you all tell me if this sounds familiar:
http://www.sheriffmack.com/
http://www.cspoa.org/
from that site:
CCIR – California Coalition for Immigration Reform – These good folks recently did an eblast of the CSPOA message to all of their subscribers. They also went the extra mile to sponsor a recent fund-raiser which was supported by the good patriots there. We urge you to join this dedicated patriot organization. You can find their web site here: http://www.ccir.net
now – about ccir.net
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Coalition_for_Immigration_Reform
In 2001 the CCIR is listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which quotes Coe as having referred to Mexican immigrants as “savages”.[12]
yup – nice friendly patriotic americans – they are just a listed hate group too
and one of their ilk is out lose with a gun in Sussex county – might be time to oil and clean mine too 🙂
More on Jeff’s arrogance – on Thursday morning, the sheriff was on Dan Gaffney’s show. He said that he could appoint as many special deputies as he wanted to because Delaware law authorizes him to do that in an emergency. “And what other emergency is there except for public safety.”
I seriously doubt that his interpretation of an emergency is legal or would stand up in court.
If they continue to do what Barney Fife tells them to do, they are being insubordinate to Baker.
That is why the Council needs to have their backs – let them know their jobs will be protected from retaliation. It is still an ugly situation for them though.
Aoine – it is not in doubt Christopher is assuming illegal powers. The question is – who has authority to make him stop? Typically for an elected official, that is either the courts or the voters – not “other” elected officials.
Will somebody please file for a court order already and shut this circus down?
Until he can be removed from office, the county administration should do the following:
1. take away his office space (he uses county-owned facilities and equipment;
2. take away the county vehicles;
3. have the courts appoint a special process server and that party will be responsible for serving the papers;
4. zero-out the sheriff’s budget except for his salary.
Cut off his legs and he cannot walk.
Oh – I get it. The problem is the special deputies are his volunteer pals and are not subject to County employment rules. I told you I hadn’t been paying attention.
In that case, the deputies as well should be named in a court order, and failing that, go the “impersonating an officer” route. Isn’t this a job for Beau?
@puck – you are spot on!
there does not seem to be a recall process
there is an impeachment process only after conviction tho
in order to convict there has to be a crime committed and an arrest then court proceedings – then impeachment
as soemthing needs to be done NOW!! the AG should rule or the county council/county Admin do what MJ suggested
OR
go to court and get an injunction against him
problem is – this is all political and any move against an elected official will be deemed politically based – its a no win situation
as evidenced by what happened to Pete last go round.
the republicans created this thug – they need to deal with him – what is more important to them? – their seats in the legislature or the rule of law and the safety of Sussex county. Oh wait – i know that answer – no brainer
but then – I think we all know the answer to that one
@MJ – apparently his legs are all that is left
seeing as the nads already took a hit…..ROTFLMAO
“Will somebody please file for a court order already and shut this circus down?”
Killjoy.
Interesting that Christopher’s wife is now attacking people on the News Journal website.
This has gone from interesting, to dangerous. Right now, we have an armed force of people who have no accountability, or authority, wearing police uniforms, driving police cars, and committing felonies. Namely, impersonating police officers.
I heard that the sheriff’s office removed the GPS it’s from their cars, so that they could move about without any oversight from the county.
For those of us here in Sussex who are proud, vocal progressive Democrats, we could be a target. Although I suspect the real targets will be Hispanic immigrants, teenagers and monitories.
I am calling on the Attorney Genral’s office to work with the state police to have this rogue band of armed vigilantes shut down. How this is done is beyond my expertise, but I liked many of the above suggestions.
Perhaps some of us could come together and send a joint letter to the AG’s office. I’m not sure.
What I am sure of, however, is that i told my wife and my son how to spot a car from the sherrif’s office.
Crunchy – how do we spot a car from the sheriff’s office?
Hey – im hoping some authority is bird-dogging him already…
GPS units not withstanding
@crunchy – good comment – wouldn’t just be Hispanic immigrants, it would be all brown people, Hispanics especially tho
Answer to how we “spot” a car from the sheriff’s office…
With spray paint.
– the cars are generally black Dodges – county seal ‘should’ be on the door
front tag has a number starting with a 9
slick tops – no roof mounted light bar – red and blues mounted inside the grill and the visor when flipped down the lights can be activated on the visor – also rear of vehicle
county tag on rear
but the nutball is always changing things
wisest move – if unsure – call 911 – the GPS in your phone will trace your location – pull to the side and stop – ask for a REAL cop to show up.
whoops sorry – chevys…Impalas specifically…sorry
this is outdated – but gives a good idea – striping was ordered removed – front tags are there – county seals on doors
http://policecarwebsite.net/fc/rwcar4j/sussex.html
Is that white trash adopt-a-highway in his “jurisdiction”?
“…this is outdated – but gives a good idea…”
Whoa!! Deputy Bob brings it back. I haven’t seen a Sheriff’s Dept. vehicle in years. So much for enforcement presence. Think those stripes could get any wider? Those vehicles look like a cartoon caricature.
@cass – oh yes it is…
For the record, that truck was Sheriff Swansons
Badges?..we don’t need no stinking badges.
I like MJs idea, cut his funding take his wheels. Which brings up the question of where council power ends and sherrifs power begins? Where does the separation of powers play in this? I think the council is trying to handle the problem but if it comes to an impasse, they will have to ask the state to step in. Isn’t that what happened with Reed?
I think Schwartzkopf is waiting for Republicans to get on board before doing anything.
If the sherrif has a bone to pick with the constitutionality of the law Aione quotes then perhaps it should go to the state supreme court to finally settle this?
When is Christopher going to arrest Vance for kicking a field goal on him?
You know, those front tags brought to mind another bit of circumstantial evidence that the Sheriff is correct in his interpretation of the duties of the office.
The tags are the IBM numbers of the Deputies that drive them…946-1 is the Sheriff, 946-2 the Chief Deputy etc. That number is assigned by the state. Each local police department in Sussex County that utilizes SUSCOM as a dispatch has a numerical call sign beginning with a “9” 908 is Georgetown…921 is Millsboro, 918 is Laurel and so on. Rehoboth, Seaford and Milford have thier own 911/Dispatch centers, so I dont think they have the same call sign. But there is a number assigned to the Sheriff in Sussex and it is 946….why would the State assign this number to the Sheriff in the same fashion as they do local PD’s if there wasn’t some validity to the position Christopher has taken?
Just because the sheriff is connected to the dispatch center doesn’t mean he’s a police officer.
I’ve read a lot of asinine comments to justify something, but justcurious’s takes the prize.
so on the rare ocassion they call on the radio, they have a designation – not like it would do them any good – the GPS units are out of the cars, so if they get in a pickle and cannot call out their location if they need help – I suppose its OH WELL!! – death benefit time – Oh Wait!! – the insurance wont pay out on that either – they are working outside their job duties too.
Fire, ambulance and Fire/police also have radio designations to SUSCOM as well – they aint yanking over cars and arresting folks are they???
that has GOT to be the thinnest argument I have heard so far ROTFLMAO
Just one example: If they need to call for backup – say they need DSP’s help because some guy they’re serving a PFA on has barricaded himself in his house and won’t come out and has been waving a gun around – they get on the radio and call for help. They don’t use their cell phones to dial 911.
and as far as SUSCOM goes – they could call then TWINKLETOES – its just a designation to identify the caller
numeric call signs, plain langauage and all that good stuff
the radio has a one-touch “emergency” button, if that is activated they deputy is transmitting a distress signal without actually having to key the mike etc,,, it can be done so no one knows – the radio in itself has an indetifier
but again – no location coz no GPS – the phone is a better choice – has a GPS in it and geo-tagging
But can the authorities just access a GPS location without the phone having called 911?
They might be able to, but the sheriff illegally took the GPS units out of the county-owned vehicles. He did this so the vehicles couldn’t be tracked making illegal traffic stops or going to GOP meetings to provide “security.”
In read the quotes. What a crybaby. Waahhh… Nobody helped me run for office. Waaaaaa
“Just because the sheriff is connected to the dispatch center doesn’t mean he’s a police officer.”
“Fire, ambulance and Fire/police also have radio designations to SUSCOM as well… ”
True. They may be in the same building, and work closely together, but police and emergency services are separate entities.
Does the Sheriff’s self dispatch, or are they dispatched by SUSCOM? If so, are they paying DSP Communications for this? I know of some other STATE law enforcement agencies who actually pay DSP a pants-load of money to be dispatched statewide by KENTCOM. I rather doubt DSP (SUSCOM)would dispatch the Sheriff’s Office for free.
Who knows, the numbers on the vehicles could be issued by the sheriff to emulate the real police agencies. Ask Bob Reed how that tactic worked out. Speaking of Bob Reed, he was on WGMD with Gaffney this morning, still talking the same bullshit, not outright lies, just omitted most of the truth.
The usual.
I find it interesting that Sheriff Woody has a website separate from the official county website – http://www.sussexcosheriff.org/
Who is paying for the unofficial web site? Is it a campaign expense for his next election?
It appears to have been created after he assumed office.
You all are missing the point about the call signs….JP court constables and Probation Officers uses SUSCOM as well, but thier identifiers are different…JP17-1 etc for Constables or PR345 for Probation Officers…the point was that the Sheriff was given an identifier in the same format as the local PD’s. It doesn’t have any legal bearing, but if the Sheriff ISN’T law enforcement, why does he even have a call sign for SUSCOM? Why does he have access to that channel?
As far as the numbers beign assigned by Reed…nope, they were there long before Reed and the i believe 946 designation is given by the State.
Not missing a point at all. How can a number on the front of a car be used to justify assuming police powers that are expressly forbidden by the Delaware Code? Raising a point like that in a lawsuit would get laughed out of court.
I’m not trying to use the numbers as justification for police powers…..which the code does not expressly forbid BTW (you don’t have to be a police officer to have police powers)….I’m saying that these numbers were assigned for a reason, by the State. Access to the radio was granted at some point, by the State. If the Sheriff has no law enforement authority, then why did the State assign his office a number that mimics a police agency and give him access to the same radio channel. Doesnt it seem unlikely that if the Sheriff was simply a paper pusher for the court that the State would give access to the command channel on SUSCOM? The office of Sheriff carries with it broad authority. This debate seems to be hung up on two sections of Delaware Code that deal with (1) the arrest power of POLICE OFFICERS and (2) the training of POLICE OFFICERS. So the Sheriff isn’t a police officer….it does not mean he cannot arrest people. You folks reference opinions by the Attorney Generals Office that deal with the definition of police officer, which suits your purpose. Yet you fail to even recognize other AG opinions that liken the job of Sheriff to that of a Constable and cite the duty of the Constable to protect life and property. You scoff at the Constitutional duty as Conservator of the Peace and hang your hat on the fact that its not defined or that its outdated, Yet, police officers defined in Delaware Code (DSP, Capitol PD and UD PD)are also defined as conservators of the peace. You go by what you WANT the Sheriff to be, not what he is LEGALLY supposed to be. You’ve got 2 sections of Delaware Code vs. the Constitution and the rest of the code. I feel very confident that should this ever go to court, the court would rule on the side of the Sheriff.
Where’s your proof that these numbers were assigned for a specific reason? Wait, you don’t have any. You’re just talking out of your ass.
Go read Delaware Code, 8401(5)(a) and (5)(b), and 8410.
“You don’t have to be a police officer to have police powers.” More crazy talk from the resident loon.
If you’re so confident about winning a lawsuit, why haven’t you filed one already?
“then why did the State assign his office a number that mimics a police agency”
So he’d be immune from traffic tickets.
“I feel very confident that should this ever go to court, the court would rule on the side of the Sheriff.”
It will be an interesting case, because the handoff of sheriff’s duties to the state police was done without benefit of changing the Constitution. So the lawsuit would pit the letter of the document vs. longstanding practice, i.e., the Delaware Way.
But even if Christopher prevails, he has gone about this entirely the wrong way — which is exactly what I’d expect from a pinhead conservative in Sussex County.
In the first place, MJ…Chapter 84 deals with training and attendance at a mandatory school…it has nothing to do with the authority to arrest anyone.
What Section 8405 does, is states that the Sheriff/Deputies are not police officers and as such do no thave to attend the training. It has nothing to do with police power, as section 8405.00b3 also exempts A PERSON HOLDING POLICE POWER BY VIRTUE OF OCCUPYING ANY OTHER POSITION OR OFFICE. So apparently one can hold police power by virtue of thier position. They aren’t police officers, but they still have polic power.
As far as section 8410 goes…since the Sheriff isn’t a police officer for the purposes of this chapter, and 8410 deals with police officers, then it doesn’t apply to the Sheriff.
And I’m just some pinhead conservative from Sussex, I don’t have standing to take thsi to court.
“So he’d be immune from traffic tickets.”
Now THATS funny!!
“It will be an interesting case, because the handoff of sheriff’s duties to the state police was done without benefit of changing the Constitution. So the lawsuit would pit the letter of the document vs. longstanding practice”
I would love to see it happen..
So according to your (il)logic, JC, you’re saying that anyone could strap on a gun and announce they have police powers and that’s fine? FAIL!!
The sheriff does not have police powers, ergo, he cannot enforce the law. But as Barney Frank once said, arguing with you (and the other teabaggers down here regarding this subject) is like arguing with the dining room table.
You won’t bring suit because you know you’d lose and be on the hook for lawyer’s fees. If you’re a taxpayer in Sussex, why wouldn’t you have standing?
“…I’m saying that these numbers were assigned for a reason, by the State. Access to the radio was granted at some point, by the State.”
The state Division of Communications (DIVCOM) granted access to virtually every governmental (and quasi-governmental) entity in the state when they changed over to the 800MHz system, including every volunteer fire company, DELDOT, Facilities Management, and dog catchers, etc. Every one of them have unique numerical identifiers.
“If the Sheriff has no law enforement authority …”
Pay attention, Sparky. This isn’t even the point. I’ll try to explain this in small syllable words. The sheriff has limited enforcement powers, not unlike a constable. He doesn’t have full police powers, which is reserved for real police officers. That’s what he’ll need if he wants to write speeding tickets, detect and investigate crimes, etc. He won’t get it. Get used to it.
“… then why did the State assign his office a number that mimics a police agency and give him access to the same radio channel.”
Like previously stated, every swinging dick with an 800MHz radio is part of the system, and assigned a number. That’s the idea behind the system, so in the event the shit hits the fan (nuclear, biological, chemical, etc.), EVERYONE has the opportunity to communicate with everyone else, on a local, state, and national level. It’s cellular technology. EVERY agency has their own talk group (not channel). DIVCOM determines who will interact with who, and can form exclusive talk groups on the fly, should it be necessary.
EXAMPLE: If there was a Zombie Redneck holocaust and the state determined they needed a specific group who could mediate this disaster, they could form a talk group of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, the dog catchers (Animal Control), and specific volunteer fire departments.
Sit back and think about this slowly so your head don’t hurt. I would tell you more, but I’m afraid your head could be full.
‘It will be an interesting case, because the handoff of sheriff’s duties to the state police was done without benefit of changing the Constitution. So the lawsuit would pit the letter of the document vs. longstanding practice, i.e., the Delaware Way.’
I totally concur with the hand off of duties without changing the constitution, and that it would be an interesting case should it ever go to court. Perhaps amending the constitution will be the only thing that clears this up.
“Pay attention, Sparky. This isn’t even the point. I’ll try to explain this in small syllable words. The sheriff has limited enforcement powers, not unlike a constable.”
That’s exactly been my point…. and here are the duties of a constable
§ 2705. Powers and duties.
The constable shall:
(1) Protect life and property, and preserve peace and good order, while in the performance of the lawful duties of the employment;
(2) Exercise the same powers as peace officers and law-enforcement officers, in order to protect life and property, while in the performance of the lawful duties of the employment;
(3) Execute all lawful orders, warrants and other process directed to the constable by any court or judge of this State; however, a constable shall only have such power and duty if the Board of Examiners, upon review, determine that the constable may exercise such duty or power;
(4) As part of duty, and in the exercise of the constable’s lawful authority, notify the full service police agency which has primary law enforcement jurisdiction in every instance in which the constable makes a custodial detention, an arrest, a search of a person or place, or when the occurrence of a criminal act is reported to the constable. It shall be the responsibility of the full service police agency to undertake any necessary investigation and to comply with the reporting demands of the State Bureau of Identification.
For purposes of this paragraph, “full service police agency” shall mean a police force or other law enforcement agency of the State, county or municipality which is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the laws of this State and its governmental units.
“He doesn’t have full police powers, which is reserved for real police officers. That’s what he’ll need if he wants to write speeding tickets, detect and investigate crimes, etc. He won’t get it. Get used to it. ”
I could care less about stopping cars or investigating crimes. I have never agreed that the Sheriff has the authority to stop cars or should be investigating crimes.
As far as the radio numbers go, I’m fairly certain the Sheriff was 946 before the 800mHz system went into use and I get the idea of the talk groups and i get the idea that lots of agencies have access to certain talk groups in case the crap hits the fan…my point was why group the Sheriff in with the police. Why not give the SCSO a number like SO-1 like JP17-1 or PR345. Maybe I’m wrong, because I only have the law enforcement side to look at, but does DELDot have a 9XX number they use for SUSCOM, does DOC have a 9XX number they dont utilize and choose thier own call numbers.
JC – you should try yoga. It’s much more enjoyable than the twisting like a pretzel you’ve been doing on here.
One more thing Miscreat, regarding the 800 mHz radio…do agencies like Facilities Management and DELDot have access to the SP CMD talk group or do thay just have access to the mutual aid talk groups?
“JC – you should try yoga. It’s much more enjoyable than the twisting like a pretzel you’ve been doing on here.”
Ha ha! Don’t you know MJ, I am a conservative and therefore I am not flexible. 😉
I’ve instructed my family that if they are stopped by the sheriff, they are to pull over, roll up the windows,lock the doors, call 911 and report an attempted car jacking, unless they are near Troop 7 in which case they pull in. Once a real police officer (DSP) shows up, they can sort it out. The next day we will retain an attorney, followed by eventually owning most of Sussex County due to mental anguish.
JC: One thing we don’t elect sheriffs to do is interpret the Constitution.
What JC — Jeff Christopher, I mean — is doing is known as a “power grab.” Do you approve?
“…do agencies like Facilities Management and DELDot have access to the SP CMD talk group or do thay just have access to the mutual aid talk groups?”
No, and I rather doubt they have unfettered access to any of the mutual aid talk groups either. During a blizzard I saw DIVCOM form a talk group that included DSP, DELDOT, Facilities Management, DNREC, National Guard, etc. None of the above had access to any DSP primary enforcement frequencies. I was involved in setting up the talk groups for the 800MHz project, but that was a while back and, I’ve been out of the game for quite a few years and this is taxing my memory.
Good fun, though.
Y’all should read the stuff his wife Barbi has posted on her Facebook page. Seems she’s a fan of the sovereign citizen movement. She has links to Sheriff Mack (Aoine mentioned this earlier) and on his page are links to the Oath Keepers and the “Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association.” RWNJ’s with guns and badges.
@ Just Curious – in order for the Constable to do all these things – guess what, he has to be TRAINED and CERTIFIED
SUPER DEPUTY DAWG here let there Constable certification EXPIRE!!
So, as he is no longer certified, he no longer even has that thinnest of reasons to arrest folks
does THAT stick in your craw?? he let it expire in April/May 2011
would you hire a disbarred attorney to represent you in a court of law
or a decertified Doctordo surgery on you??
Nope- but Im sure those are just more of those onerous regulations you baggers hate
OMG – this guy is a cartoon!! what an idiot – dont you know not to use words and terms you dont understand??
here is his quote – “I’d like to have declaratory judgment on what the role of the sheriff should be in so much as how the law describes it,” Christopher said.
well son, if that is what you want you’d better file a civil action in a civil court having jurisdiction – you know, like your pal COD did against Jon Mosely….
a declaratory judgement is issued by a judge – in a court of law
NOT the General Assembly or legislature…….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaratory_judgment
A declaratory judgment is a judgment of a court in a civil case which declares the rights, duties, or obligations of one or more parties in a dispute. A declaratory judgment is legally binding, but it does not order any action by a party.[1] In this way, the declaratory judgment is like an action to quiet title, a paternity petition, or any other form of preventive adjudication.[2] The declaratory judgment is generally distinguished from an advisory opinion because the latter does not resolve an actual case or controversy
PS – for our legal idiots out there that wax lyrical about “opinions” ummmm see above………
Aione…that’s just the issue Sheriff Christopher is trying to address…
Police Officers in the state are required by statute to be trained according to the COPT standards.
Constables are required by statute to be trained in accordance with the Board of Examiners..(which BTW, according to thier job postings, a COPT certificate meets that requirement)
Probation Officers are required by statute to be trained in accordancw with the Board of Examiners.
Corrections Officers are required by statute to be trained in accordance with DOC policy.
There is no statute governing the training of deputy Sheriffs…by statute they are Fish and Wildlife Agents, who need COPT certification, they are also likened to Constables, who need training approved by the Board of Examiners. Perhaps, Sheriff Christopher should be proposing legislation to create training requirements that allow him to fulfill his Constitutional and Statutory duties.
“Perhaps, Sheriff Christopher should be proposing legislation to create training requirements that allow him to fulfill his Constitutional and Statutory duties.”
The only one that believes the Sheriff has any constitutional duties that he does not have training for is the Sheriff. There no legislator, state official, county official or any other official, that has made any statements that the Sheriff in this county has any law enforcement responsibilities that involve the investigation or prevention of crime.
Are you proposing that we citizens accepts Christopher’s word what powers he has? Sorry, I will wait for an opinion from the AG.
JC – give it a rest already. You and Sheriff Woody have lost this argument. You’re both on the wrong side of the law. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you had a man-crush on him. Does his six-shooter excite you that much?
“Are you proposing that we citizens accepts Christopher’s word what powers he has? Sorry, I will wait for an opinion from the AG.”
How about a 1995 AG opinion about prisoner transports that stated, in part, that Sheriffs have all the powers that existed under common law, unless specifically modified by statute. I don’t think that there’s anywhere in Del Code that says that the Sheriff doesn’t have the authority to make an arrest.
“JC – give it a rest already. You and Sheriff Woody have lost this argument. You’re both on the wrong side of the law. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you had a man-crush on him. Does his six-shooter excite you that much?”
I’ve said it before, i have very little doubt that if this were to go to the Delware Supreme Court, I would bet that, while as always the truth is somewhere in the middle, the court would favor Sheriff Christopher’s position. As far as the man crush, I have my own guns MJ, and generally do not find people with a Napoleon Complex pleasant. I just happen to think he is correct on the role of Sheriff, but do terribly disagree with his methods.
“I’ve said it before, i have very little doubt that if this were to go to the Delware Supreme Court, I would bet that, while as always the truth is somewhere in the middle, the court would favor Sheriff Christopher’s position.”
So says the non-lawyer with no background in case law. As I said, you’ve got a man-crush on this guy and would love to get your hands on his long, hard, six-shooter (which I understand now shoots nothing but blanks).