Clay County Sheriff's Office

Have you heard any of these rickdiculous statements? 

"I believe loyalty is more important than competence"  (I'll bet the woman that died during the swat callout in Oakleaf would have disagreed) 

"We don't have any gangs in Clay County" (What do you call MS-13, Crips, Bloods, Latin Kings, Dem Savage Boys, Floyd Circle Gangsters, E-Town and more)

"I won't bring a new command staff from the Jacksonville State Attorney's Office, there are plenty of experienced people already at the Sheriff's Office" (The where did the Magnificent Seven come from) 

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".

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. 

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.