HELLO

Glad to see you fess up to who you are. One of the other bloggers outed you the other day but I don't think it was intentional and I'm not really sure he knew that he did it.

Glad to see you here. You are facing some serious money in the banks of your other two opponents.

That's OK, I at least like your list of contributors a whole lot more than I do theirs

Gary, nobody would launch a personal attack here would they?   

Mike Heemer http://24.23.126.8/ Petition for choice (5 or 7) in Nov.

BROADLY

What is your exp. and what is your platform.

 My vision is to bring the Sheriff's Office to a responsive proactive agency rather than a reactive one.  This will be done by building a unified team that are dedicated to serving the public through community oriented policing. Community policing must be embraced as a philosophy, not approached as a program.  Programs under Community oriented programs include active crime prevention programs designed to educate the public on how to protect themselves and their property.  I would place Deputies in permanent patrol areas and on permanent shifts.  That way you know who the officer is that will be assigned to your  neighborhood a month from now, six months from now and a year from now.  The officer will learn to take ownership in the community they serve in and will come to know the residents, their needs, the community's strengths and weaknesses. They'll learn the value of communication and the residents will learn to trust  those assigned to their area. School Resource Officers will be assigned permanently to grade school classrooms.  It's important to grasp the minds of the young while they're in their early school years and not wait until they're  in High School.  Many times, in the High School setting it,s too late to change their outlook due to peer pressure.  This is only a start.  I know it's ambitious, but it's doable.

“School Resource Officers will be assigned permanently to grade school classrooms.” How would you accomplish this with out a funding increase in your budget with 25 elementary schools that will open their doors for the August 2008/2009 school year?  

 The first step is to review the budget and look at alternatives, cost saving initiatives. I know it's not just assigning or re-assigning personnel to those duties. The Sheriff's Office is looking at a 9 million dollar loss in operational funding.  The SO has to start looking and thinking "out of the box". School Resource Officers can be assigned to more than one school. There is grant money available to send SRO's to specialized schools to instruct a program called G.R.E.A .T..  This stands for Gang Resistance Education And Training.  This program teaches third graders and fourth graders life skills such as anger control, how to resist peer pressure, that police are their friends and so on.  There are thirteen sessions at this level and when they reach fifth and sith grades they receive additional life skill information.  All of this is designed to steer the youngsters in the right direction while they are having lots of interaction with the police.  These are minds that you won't be able to capture when they're older and in High School   

A steering committee composed of SRO's will provide input as to how the goal will be accomplished.  There's a lot of talent and knowledge within the ranks and it also needs to be captured.  That's how they will develop ownership in their professional line of work.    

If the sheriff’s office is expecting a 9 million dollar short fall wouldn’t it be prudent to investigate the cost of illegal immigrants placed in their care, and the effect on their budget?

 What is your opinion on illegal immigration in our county?

What are you prepared to do about it.

And how would you fix the problems it creates in our county, and its budget?

For the stats please read the blog I have posted, To all Candidates

            It takes an unsatisfied person to make things satisfactory: Winn1

 Sorry I havn't gotten back to you sooner but the last couple of days have been busy. I guess other opponents are afraid or unwilling to put their views out in the open on the subject of "illegal immigrants". Here's my response :

  1.  INVESTIGATING COST OF ILLEGALS IN OUR JAIL :

       The problem here is that we don't have the jail space to house illegals awaiting trial, deportation or court.  Our jail sits at it's maximum capacity almost every day.  The Sheriff's Office no longer accepts federal prisoners, including illegals for temporary lodging because there's no room.  Sheriff Joey Dobson from Baker County has just completed a new $30 million jail that will a large number of Federal prisoners/illegals.  His rent from the bedspace will significantly help his operating budget because the federal government pays more than what it actually costs to house a prisoner on a daily basis.  

  Our Sheriff's Office is in a crisis right now because there isn't any more bedspace for new prisoners, civilian or federal.  Lancaster failed to look to the future and start planning for new jail space.  Sheriff Beseler started talking about new jail bedspace  over a year ago and offered up a proposal to purchase property for a "P" farm to house sentenced prisoners.  This plan is quickly spiraling downwards as our loss of tax revenue kicks in.  Without new jail space, other options will be looked at. We will have to pay other counties to house our prisoners, we'll have to run the risk of a lawsuit because of the overcrowding, or we'll need immediate action to build a new jail addition. None of this helps with the housing of illegals that are picked up by our local agencies for crimes they commit.  They are arrested, they are sentenced, they serve their time and they are released right back into society all at the expense of the tax payer..

  I will discuss my plan to rectify this problem a little bit later in this response.

  MY OPINION ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN CLAY COUNTY.

  I have stated several times during my campaign that I have a great concern about the people who illegally migrate into the United States and more especially into Clay County or North Florida.  Remember--all illegal immigrants aren't all Mexicans.  Their come from many different countries, and have many different reasons for wanting to- cross our borders.  We have four major military bases within fifty miles of us that provide direct support to our war effor in the mid-east. There's NAS JAX on U.S. 17 that provides helicopter and some sir support. They also repair and prepare the aircraft that will go into combat.  We have Naval Station Mayport that provides surface warships and then we have Kings Bay that provides submarine support.  here in Clay County we have Camp Blanding that trains our fighting units in all types of ground warfare.  All of these bases are a major target for foreign or domestic terrorism.  How about the many military dependents and civil service workers that live here in Clay County ?  All of these bases and people are potential targets targets for any terrorist who migrated across our borders. Then there's the financial drain to our economy by other illegals who dovetail into our society. It's not just the fact of them entering the country illegally, it's the domino effect that takes place as they link into our social benefit programs.  Yes, I am concerned about illegals in our county.  I want to know who they are and why they are here.  I want them to enjoy our country, but only after they return to their homeland and enter legally.  

I have spoken with many of the Hispanics who live in this county.  I was one of the original members of the Clay County Hispanic Republican Party because I felt they needed a voice in our county affairs. Clay County has a 6.2 % Hispanic population rate. They all agreed on one thing---people wanting to come into the country must do so legally and they must learn to speak english. This club was visited by so many people from all of the different races that we were a true melting pot.  We had Mexicans, Vietnamese, South Americans, Haitians, Cubans, ect..We eventually changed the name to the Clay County Multi-Cultural Republican Club. The club is at a low point now but new leadership will make it grow.

WHAT AM I PREPARED TO DO ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN CLAY COUNTY.

  As you know, the enforcement of immigration and custom laws all come under  federal jurisdiction.  Local law enforcement has no jurisdiction to enforce immigration laws, therefore, they cannot arrest someone on purely immigration status.  Thet can "detain" illegals and call Immigration and Customs authorities.  Past experience has shown that the ICE (Immigration & Customs) will not come and pick up a solitary person for illegal immigration offenses.  Local law enforcement are often told to release the person being held back onto the streets. This ties the hands of our police.

A short few years ago President Bush signed into law a new program that comes under ICE.  It's called Program 287.(g) . This new program is designed to help Homeland Security enforce immigration laws pertaining to illegal immigrants via local law  enforcement agencies. This program provides funding for local law enforcement to attend a six week course in immigration laws at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco GA.  Once selected jailers, Investigators and/or patrol officers complete the course they are empowered by ICE to enforce local authority over illegal immigrants in their communities.  ICE also provides computers and access to their data base. This will allow illegals who are picked up on local charges to be held as a federal prisoner once their local case is finished. At the time of release from our local jail, the jailer arrests them on the illegal immigration status and then the federal government starts paying for their bed space until they are picked up or released by ICE.  Investigators can enforce the immigration laws as they need to while conducting local investigations. It's a good tool to have in your tool box.

 My plan is to work with ICE and institute program 287 in Clay County

Braveheart Thank for you’re your response, you are the only candidate that has responded to my Questions on illegal immigrants that reside in our county. I must say; I admire your courage for doing so, not many political candidates will put their selves in a situation to answer question in an open forum such as our little Clay County community blog site.

1.  INVESTIGATING COST OF ILLEGALS IN OUR JAIL:  I understand the jail is at Max capacity. So; are there any illegals in county lock up now that are taking up the beds, and if so can they be deported before they serve their county time, or do they have to serve it before being turned over to ICE, and how much does it cost per day to house a person?

If there are undocumented criminals waiting trial for non violent crimes, can they be turned over to ICE for deportation instead of the County incurring the cost of a trail?    

After your officers receive there certification from HLS would sheriff Dobson house the illegal that clay county arrested?

  “Our Sheriff's Office is in a crisis right now because there isn't any more bed space for new prisoners, civilian or federal” In an earlier statement you had mentioned thinking out of the box. Based on the budget short falls would you consider a plan to free up jail space, by utilizing other alternatives then jail.

First alterative, non violent drug  offenders.

Release non violent  drug offenders on the condition, of A. Receiving drug therapy through Clay Behavioral Health, B.  With community service hours of the court choosing, based on community need. C. Probation with strict supervision, and the understanding if they fail a drug test they serve out the rest of their sentence based on 1 year and a day, that would send them to in sate prison?       

Second alternative, Petty criminalsNo jail time if they agree to, A. To a work detail supervised by corrections officer, must report to the program director every am, no exception. B.  Community service hours after completion of work program, based on need. C. Random drug testing for a two year period. D.  With the understanding by failing to complete any part of the program their original jail time would be reinstated.       

Don’t know if it is feasible, just an idea, House non violent criminals on ships that have been moth balled by the navy, and leased to the county, just a thought, way out of the box.

“None of this helps with the housing of illegals that are picked up by our local agencies for crimes they commit.  They are arrested, they are sentenced, they serve their time and they are released right back into society all at the expense of the tax payer..

Would implementing the program 287(g) correct the illegal revolving door?   

It is a sate law, not a federal law that it is a crime in the state of Florida for employers to hire Illegal immigrants. Are you willing to put a plan in place to enforce that statute, and how would you go about doing it?

The major offenders in this area are, Construction, Hotels, Restaurants, Lawn Maintenance, House cleaning, and keeping, Private Homes, Nannies, and servants.

Thank you for your response it was thorough, and very informative. I have learned much since I have been researching this on a state level. I have found out that the vast amount of statistic on record are at best educated guesses based on very little data, and old stats. The reason is that when tracking data is introduced through our state representative, they are fought tooth and nail by the special interest groups for the pro amnesty. The last thing they want released is correct data on just how much it really cost us tax payers. After learning this it is no wonder that I don’t get comments from anyone, the truth is they don’t have a clue.

Just because they don’t have a clue it does not negate the fact that they still have a responsibility to the tax payers of our county to do there best to gather the data necessary to implement a plan of action to help rectify the problem of illegal immigrant absorbing vast amount of our tax dollars, that we shouldn’t have to spend if the laws were enforced.                     

       It takes an unsatisfied person to make things satifactory:winn1955  

Gary, that was good information and the 287,g may help those agencies who have space. However, if the 287.g is used you will have to house them elsewhere due to over crowding. OR, you could get all those people who are taking up space because of DRIVING violations and D/L violations so criminals and illegals could be jailed.The S.O. would write someone 4-6 tickets and no matter how hard the violator tried his/her drivers license will be suspended. Then the next time they are stopped for anything off to jail they go.Well, it stands to reason if they could not afford to keep some points off or pay court fees they can not afford bond. In the jail they stay.If you would pull the jail roll call for 4 consecutive saturdays or sundays you will see just how many beds are taken up by misdemeanants,  You will have to go back a month or so because the S.O. reacts to this kind of info. by doing what should have been done in the first place.One last thing Gary.  If you want ANY correctional professional to support you, the term jailer went out with that "77 Dodge Diplomat you used to patrol in.

Mr. Newman,

Was it you who said in a forum that you would turn the jail back over to the County Commision? How are you gone to house ins or anyone if you did that, the jail has some fine people working in there. My neighbor tells me all about the people who come and go and come and go. He said on weekends they get even more people cause they sentence all those dui's and no d/l's to a weekend sentence and thats when it really maxs the place out. I'm told they even have illegals that come and go on DUI and D/L but they don't get paid for housing them anymore. Wasn't it under Lancasters watch that the new old jail was built?  

I have several other questions reference this topic.

How many resource officers would it take to cover the 25 elementary schools and teach this program?

Would the current staffing level of that unit be sufficient or would the grant from GREAT pay for the additional deputies?

If the grant was obtained to pay for additional deputies, what would you do if the grant funding was eliminated by the feds? Stop teaching the program, remove depuites from the schools, lay off deputies?

You make some very good points about minor infractions taking bed space, although I must say terminology is really not important, it’s the substance of the thought that matters, I’m sure Gary meant no disrespect. Expressing opinions and thoughts are what are going to solve the problems with the county justice system. As I mentioned Braveheart, as a candidate has a lot of courage by exposing himself to an open forum such as this, you haven’t seen any other candidate for the position come forward, least wise with their real name.

The situation stands that our state is being over run, and over taxed due to our federal government lack of action securing our boarder, and enforcing the laws. The people want the insanity to stop. 80% of Americans feel as I do. We all know that amnesty is a neon sign posted on the boarder telling them to come to America; it didn’t work in 1986, and won’t work in 2008.

The question is, as a local community what are we prepared to do about it? We have to start somewhere, and an open dialog in the community is a start. I know you guy’s have families of your own, and know perfectly well how over extended the school budget is. When 1.7 Billion comes out of the state budget and 1.5 billion is ripped from the education of our children it is time to put some kind of plan into action. More and more state and local governments are taking over where our federal government has failed us. So; let’s get back to the issue before us, and try not to get into a political pissing match.

Gary has stated the jail is over crowded. You state many beds could be freed up by not putting minor infractions in jail. I presented some alternative to Jail, are they feasible, you tell me, I have nothing to do with law enforcement. I ask Braveheart some questions, and am waiting for a reply. If you guy’s read them and can come up with some constructive Idea’s that a good thing. I know many with Clay County Sheriff’s office are dissatisfied with your head master. I believe strongly he will be voted out of office this year. So let’s put our heads together and come up with some ideas to make it a better place for the county, as a whole. I’m sure many things need to be fixed. My main concern is enforcing the law as far as illegal immigration goes. The only thing I ask is let’s keep it a constructive Dialog. Thank al of you for your Idea’s this far. I would most certainly like to here more   

          It takes an unsatisfied person to make things satisfactory:winn1955

Is electronic monitoring no longer an option for like misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies? Is it cheaper than housing an inmate?

ICE has conducted raids in Clay County. Here is a link to a news story that was the second time this type raid was conducted in Clay County. Most of them were sent south to a federal facility in Miami.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=67020

ADIOS-SHERIFF 

You're absolutely right !  That term did go away several years ago and you must excuse me for using it.  You have to remember, I come from "old school" law enforcement and we sometimes tend to refer to things in terms from our past   Yes--the corrections field has made significant leaps and bounds over the past decade. I was fortunate enough to have some part in establishing standards for all CO's in Florida.  I sat on the St. Augustine Technical School Law enforcement and Corrections Advisory Board for ten years.  Prior to it's abolishment Sheriffs and Police Chiefs from the First Coast met often to discuss and recommend to FDLE new and additional standards for the professions. When we first started Corrections had very little training or standards to go by. You now receive the best of training and equipment.  That doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement in those areas as well as in the leadership and management areas.  CO's need and deserve more opportunity to gain ownership in their chosen field.  This can be accomplished by setting up an advisory board consisting of volunteers who are willing to give a top-to-bottom un-biased look at how to make change for the betterment of all--including the inmates.  

  Now-- as for your question about limited jail space.  When the CO, who has been trained by ICE and deputized to enforce immigration laws performs an arrest and detention of an illegal who is being released from jail, he/she places the illegal under federal (ICE) custody.  If there isn't room to house the illegal, then ICE is notified and they will find another place to house the prisoner AT THEIR EXPENSE.

If you are a CO, thanks for doing the job you do.  You receive less praise or recognition than that of a patrol officer (who rarely receives either). Most of the public and some deputies have no idea what transpires in your world. Again, thanks.     

  209 North

    Yes,  I probly did say that.  But you have to realize that in a forum they ask a question and you either have one minute or two minutes to respond.  It's very difficult to get your poiint across.  I would ask you to step up to a micro phone in front of a crowd of two hundred strangers and respond in that limited time to questions that can come from anywhere on any subject.  

Now -- What I was referring to was that sentenced prisoners come under the jurisdiction of the BCC.  If the County Commissioners and County  Manager cuts the budget  to the point that our CO's are endangered or criminals are being released back into the community to retaliate against complainants, witnesses or victims then they need to assume the responsibility for that.  It had nothing to do with doing away with jobs.  I also mentioned that I would consider contracting out the jail.  This was also in regards to improper funding and pay for our CO's. This is what it means when I say "thinking out of the box".  Sheriff Lancaster, soon after being elected ran into a proper funding problem with the BCC for CO's, maintenance money and training funds.  The fact that he reminded the BCC members of their responsibility brought a quick response and action for his request of additional funds.  

Your other comments are interesting and deserve more comment but not from me.  This is a court sentencing problem and I have no way of knowing if the Sheriff has discussed it with the judges.  As your Sheriff I would be happy to act on this information once I verified it was actually happening as you say.  It's not that I doubt your word, it's that I currently don't have a way to verify it.

  Thank you for your response to my previous e-mail.  I don't have all of the answers for all of the problems.  That's why it's so important that your Sheriff has not only a good ear to hear problems, but that he takes the time to listen to them and act on them when he can.    

 ANGELA

  Thanks for the info.  A few years back while I was Chief of Police at NAS JAX we caught 54 illegal immigrants coming onboard the base to dig ditches for a well known cable company.  Immigration was called and after a few hours they responded with a bus.  As they were putting the illegals on the bus I noticed the immigration officer pull one of them aside and sit him down by his truck.  After the bus was loaded I asked the agent why he pulled that person away from the others.  He told me the illegal was weak, not only physically but somewhat mentally and would be unable to help or defend himself from the others.  The agent told me he was releasing him back onto the street. hoping the guy could find other work, which I presumed was on an unknown farm somewhere.  The Mexican Ambassador responded to Immigration very unfavorably for deporting the illegals back to Mexico.  He felt we should have left them alone.  By the way-- this was a year or two before 911.  

MAGNUMFORCE:

  Thanks for your great  (no pun intended) questions.  The GREAT grant money does not pay for additional officers.  It only pays for the specialized training that allows the deputy to teach the program.  Therefore, if the grant money dries up there's no loss of employees nor is their a loss of the program because the Deputies are still certified to teach it.

A gain, I feel at this point that there may be a need for a few more SRO's to fill the elementary school needs.  The lesson plans are 30 - 45 minutes each.  There are thirteen lesson plans.  By working with the principals and spacing the teaching needs properly it can be worked out.  I would prefer an advisory board of SRO's to come up with the numbers and needs to implement the program.  To do anything else is micro-management.  That doesn't mean the Sheriff won't approve and track it's  implemented and  progression.

  I don't have all of the answers for all of the problems.  The officers working the SRO field will have the ideas and will bring out stumbling blocks and tell us how to hurdle them. 

WINN1955:  

  Thanks for your positive input about keeping this ongoing blog an open dialogue whereby all of us can learn from each other.  In my very first blog I asked that writers refrain from personal attacks.  Together we can discuss and together we can learn.  I don't want anyone to look at me as a person who  has all of the answers.  Even if I was now sitting in the seat of the Sheriff I would have better answers, but not all of them.

   My response :  Incarcerated  illegals who are waiting for trial, out on bond or are sentenced by a local court system are the responsibility of the county until  they are  released or the charges are  dismissed. They can't be detained or deported unless it's done under the jurisdiction of the Feds (ICE).  While in local government custody local government pays for the bed space, the food they eat, Court appointed Defense Atty's, and any medical needs.  I really can't put a dollar figure on all of that, but I'm sure it's significant.  

  Under the 287 g program a Correctional Officer who has received the training by ICE and has been deputized to enforce immigration laws can effect an arrest and detention  of an illegal immigrant who is being processed out of jail.  At the time this happens the illegal then becomes the burden of the federal govt. until he/she is properly disposed of by them. The cost of housing that person is reimbursed to the local authority holding the illegal.  It's up to ICE to determine where the illegal will be housed.  If there isn't enough jail space in Clay County, then they will find an alternative place.

  As I said before, if I am elected Sheriff I will look at any and all ideas to confront and control the problem.  Any decisions that are made will certain;ly include the SAO, sitting Judges, Probation Officers, Victim Advocates and ICE. 

  Winn--I know that illegal immigration is one of your main concerns and that you are very passionate about it..  I am glad that there are people like you out there.  I only ask you one thing.  Please-- don't fall into the stereo type trap and peg every Hispanic working in a farm field, roofing a house or doing other work as an illegal..  There's a lot of foreign workers in the area that have proper paperwork but could be mistaken for an illegal by their  looks.  Your views and comments are valued by me and I trust my comments will not offend you.  As one last comment I will say that if we, the American people and businessmen had asked the right questions or had the right concerns 911 might not have happened.  These were foreigners who came to this country both legally and illegally and who received training here in Florida on how to fly commercial passenger sized aircraft but not how to land them. 

MAGNUM FORCE

   Electronic monitoring is without a doubt cheaper on a Sheriff's budget because the monitoring is done by someone else.  It is a good alternative IF properly monitored. There have been several cases where criminals being monitored have cut off the device or even kept it on to do more criminal acts.  The use of these devices is at the discretion of our judges and Probationary officers.  Not something a Sheriff would have control over.  

  Great suggestion though.   Things probaly could be worked out in order to use more of them for less violent sentenced prisoners.  There are a lot of alternatives out there and they need to be brought to the surface and discussed.  Again, thanks.