insider's blog

In an internal memorandum dated January 24, 2008, Sheriff Rick Beseler promoted Major Terry LaCasse to the rank of Colonel with the title of Undersheriff (I am not sure I understand that one either).  Beseler stated LaCasse "will assume a major role in the daily operations of the Sheriff's Office as demands on my time during than election year increase".

The Clay County Fraternal Order of Police will announce their endorsement for Sheriff in the upcoming Sheriff's election tomorrow! 

Following a heated battle with his own men and women over working conditions resulting in a contract negotiation impasse, Sheriff Rick Beseler refused yesterday to even accept the recommendations by the Special Magistrate appointed to help work out the differences between the Sheriff and the deputies that serve our County.  Distractions, distractions, distractions.

Last night the Clay County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 104 sponsored a Sheriff's Candidate Forum open to the public.  Three of the four candidates for Sheriff were in attendance. 

The candidates attending were Leroy Ennis, Gary Newman and Mike Taylor.  Sheriff Rick Beseler declined to attend stating a scheduling conflict.  The Fraternal Order of Police should make their decision on the candidate they will endorse sometime later this month.

There were about 200 spectators at the event, which was held at the Thrasher-Horne Center.  The crowd was made up of several concerned citizens, current Sheriff's Office members, local police Chiefs, local politicians and candidates seeking office. 

Okay, Sheriff Rick Beseler thinks it politically incorrect to agree to binding arbitration.  Obviously it is not legally incorrect because there are several agencies that already do have binding arbitration.  One need look no further than Duval County to find the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office enjoys this valuable protection.

Police officers and Deputy Sheriffs are not looking to protect dirty or lazy cops.  Police Officers and Deputy Sheriffs are seeking guarantees that they won't be fired arbitrarily due to a bad Sheriff or Police Chief who wasn't there when the Officer/Deputy started their career and who may not be there when the Officer/Deputy retires from their career. 

Remarkably, after telling his Deputy Sheriff's that he could not pay them the 4% raise approved by the Board of County Commissioners until they had an agreed upon contract, Sheriff Beseler has decided to go ahead and pay them their raises and back money just as he did last year after the union was voted in to represent the sworn members of the Sheriff's Office.

Imagine that!  The high Sheriff holding out on Deputy's money until after the union vote and now trying to make nice-nice and pay them to make amends.  Looks like an extreme lack of professionalism, poor leadership and "bad faith". 

The attached media release was sent out to area news media outlets in an effort to educate the public with the facts regarding the "less than professional conditions" our Deputy Sheriff's have had to face over the past 3 years.  Remarkably, our Deputies have remained professional in spite of these challenges.  There is a real need to restore professionalism.  The depth and magnitude of these problems is simply unprecedented.