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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, April 05, 2012

McClure Wants An Elected Sheriff

At last night's County Council meeting, Lamont McClure made a pitch for an elected Sheriff, suggesting the Home Rule Charter needs to be changed.  His argument was that the Sheriff reports both to the Executive and the Courts, an inherent conflict of interest. "No man should have two masters," McClure posited.

I see.

Well, if two masters are bad, wouldn't 297,735 masters be even worse? That's the population of Northampton County, according to the latest census.

What McClure is really arguing for is an elected Sheriff who owes his office to the public sector union that helps elect him.

Kinda' like McClure himself.

Executive John Stoffa told McClure he would be unable to support a referendum on this topic, noting that it would lead to unqualified people seeking the office.

Kinda' like Barron von Footinmouth, a Controller whose degree is in political science.

There was no rush to join McClure from any other Council members.

47 comments:

Anonymous said...

Northampton County is the only county in PA with an appointed Sheriff. We don't need politcal appointees. Power to the people. Something people like John Stoffa never understands.

Bernie O'Hare said...

luzerne County just adopted a HRC that provides for an appointed Sheriff. I'd prefer a professional like Randy Miller to someone propped up by the unions.

Anonymous said...

You are stupid and uninformed. There are two counties with appointed sheriffs.

Anonymous said...

Two counties, well its official then. A great practice indeed. Hooray for more politcal appointees.

Anonymous said...

O'Hare love political appointee hacks when they are Stoffa hacks. Hypocrisy.

Down with elections, just let the professional politicians pick the people who protect you.

Anonymous said...

I understand McClure is planning to run for Exec. Is he trying to nail down all the County employee vote here?

Anonymous said...

McClueless is a jerk. But even a broken clock is correct twice per day. He's right on this one.

Anonymous said...

Again all other 66 Counties in Pennsylvania have an elected Sheriff....An elected Sheriff spans Centuries...there should be no other.
What should be explored is how the election process was usurped to eliminate the elected postion of Sheriff. The residents were denied the right to elect a Sheriff this was taken from them.

Anonymous said...

Political appointees, this sounds like Hussein Obama appointing CZARS
to head a department.

Bernie O'Hare said...

If you want an elected sheriff, try to get it on the ballot and see f the voters agree with you. They decided, in 1978, that they want an appointed sheriff, but you public sector unions guys can circulate an initiative petition or get 5 Council members to agree with you to put it on the ballot.

Right now, the trend is against electing row officers. But the people make the ultimate decision.

Anonymous said...

Right away you BOH finger point (12:07) at the unions, why?

Bernie O'Hare said...

I'm finger pointing at public sector unions, and am doing that bc it is the truth. It is the public sector union hotheads like Bachik who are pushing this idea. They don't give a shit abut democracy, but want someone they can control.

Anonymous said...

Not all unions, just public sector eh?

Anonymous said...

Stoffa said "Joe the Plumber" could become Sheriff if it went to an elected position. Sheriff Randy Miller was once a plumber. Didn't Stoffa check this out before he appointed Miller. Seems like he made the wrong choice in his appointment.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Not all unions, just public sector eh? "

Pretty much.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Don't know if Randy was a plumber. Do know he was Bethlehem's police commissioner and had 27 yrs law enforcement experience.

Anonymous said...

Ok, the Guy was a police commissioner and had 27 years in Law Enforcement....But did he ever do ANYTHING!!!!

Think about it...Lets hear about his biggest case!!!

Captain Obvious Picard said...

Unions always back Democrats in elections these days. Yet it is more rare to find a Democratic Party member as an elected Sheriff than a Klingon who listens to Justin Bieber. So, what unions are propping up Sheriffs? And how is appointing a long time member of FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) an anti-union move?

Sheriff Buford T. Justice said...

Who the hell gave you the right to use my picture? Do you know who I am you little shit?

I am Sheriff BUFORD T. JUSTICE OF TEXAS!!! I'm the law, and you are just another piece of crap bandit!!!

Take my picture down you som bitch!!! I saw that smirk you som bitch!!! Take down my picture you som bitch!!! I'm gonna barbecue your ass in molasses!!!

Nobody, NOBODY MAKE SHERIFF BUFORD T. JUSTICE LOOK LIKE A POSSUM'S PECKER!!!

Bernie O'Hare said...

Sorry, Sheriff. I'll get right on it.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Ok, the Guy was a police commissioner and had 27 years in Law Enforcement....But did he ever do ANYTHING!!!!"

yes, he got your department certified, for one thing. That strikes me as a pretty big accomplishment. Come to think of it, he got Bethlehem's force accredited, too. In Bethlehem, he brought the force into modern times via increased use of computers and cameras, one of which captured the hit--and-run with a cyclist earlier this week. The driver who struck that cyclist might have eluded the bus, but would still have been caught, thanks to Miller's cameras.

As a Sheriff, he has stood up for his force, even going against Stoffa on one occasion I can remember over the need for someone.

He is a good man, and we are very lucky to have him.

The Sheriff's department has been much better with him in it.

Sheriff Buford T. Justice said...

From the following:
http://www.sheriffs.org/content/office-sheriff

"The first of two important characteristics that distinguish the Office of Sheriff from other law enforcement units is its historical roots."

"As mentioned in the beginning of this article there are two characteristics that distinguish the Office of Sheriff. The second characteristic that sets the sheriff’s office apart from other law enforcement agencies is its direct accountability to citizens through the election of the Sheriff. The Office of Sheriff is not a department of county government, it is the independent office through which the Sheriff exercises the powers of the public trust. No individual or small group hires or fires the Sheriff, or has the authority to interfere with the operations of the office. Elected sheriffs are accountable directly to the constitution of their state, the United States Constitution, statutes, and the citizens of their county. The sheriff should naturally do his best to work with all entities because it is important in a democratic society. The sheriff must work with all segments of government to serve and protect the citizens of the county.

The preservation of the Office of Sheriff is vital in our republic. Outside a few elected town marshals, the Sheriff is the only head of a law enforcement agency in this nation that is accountable directly to the people of his /her jurisdiction. In 2010, the National Sheriffs’ Association passed resolution 2010-1 that succinctly presents the reasons why the Sheriff needs to be maintained as an elected office as it has since the early history of our country."

There you have it you som bitch!

Also read this:
http://www.sheriffs.org/sites/default/files/tb/Preserving_the_Office_of_Sheriff_Through_Election.pdf

The people of Texas vote for me to be Sheriff, I reflect their views on criminal justice!

Anonymous said...

And he can be gone in another year if the new Executive wants a different guy. So your point is once agin pointless. A great guy who is elected can stay a great guy and stay independent not having to kiss the executive and judges ass.

Sheriff Freddy Heflin said...

Hey, you know I was appointed by Ray Donlan.

I watch people. Just don't ask Moe Tilden if I blew it.

The Stranger said...

Let me tell you something boy..............this is what you get when you appoint a Sheriff........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcV-ZLbd-pk&hd=1

How ready is Northampton County for a little annoying midget as Sheriff?

Next will you support appointing the Mayors also? Many of them also answer to special interest groups. Where does it end boy?

Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane said...

Bernie,

You seem to not trust the intelligence and integrity of Northampton County voters now. Yet when Boss Hog Angle was in office, you had no question on the right of citizens to make the choice who holds a public office.

Now that my fat little buddy is not in office, you want to punish those silly folks for going against the boss.

It's those damned Duke Boys!
Gah, gah, gah!!!

Bernie O'Hare said...

Nothing I have written suggests in any way that I distrust the voters. But I do distrust public sector unions, and have reason to distrust them.

Anonymous said...

"Nothing I have written suggests in any way that I distrust the voters. But I do distrust public sector unions, and have reason to distrust them."

Aside from allowing citizens the right to elected their Sheriff.

Anonymous said...

Don't dodge the Question, What was his most serious criminal case as a Law Enforcement Officer with 27 years!

What type of Major Criminal investigations was he involved with.

Anonymous said...

The voting Public cannot be trusted to select their Officials,

When the election process is eliminated then the public suffers.

Anonymous said...

The position of an elected Sheriff is entrusted to the Citizens and should not be denied.
Or you could take Corbetts position, He was unable to find 2 qualified Penna. residents to serve in his Cabinet, therefore he had to bring 2 people in from other states.

Anonymous said...

All Hail appointed positions. Boo elections. Are not the judges elected??

Anonymous said...

All Hail appointed positions. Boo elections. Are not the judges elected??

Anonymous said...

All Hail appointed positions. Boo elections. Are not the judges elected??

Anonymous said...

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania the Sheriff is not not not not a police officer nor does his department perform police duties. They mainly provide security and serve papers for the courts. The duties of a Sheriff are mainly ADMINISTRATIVE. So we should elect a Sheriff to perform administrative duties for the Courts??????Baloney! The people who voted for and adopted the Home Rule Charter got it right. No elected Sheriff. Deputy Sheriffs are nothing more than a glorified security force that serves papers and does transports of prisoners. They are a legend in their own mind. Most of them are nice guys, It's the few rotten apples that are spoiling the barrel. They are overpaid for what they do and they should have their salaries cut.

Anonymous said...

Boo elections, all hail unelected politcal hacks.

Anonymous said...

To Anonymous 5:29

Please provide any LEGAL proof that Sheriff's cannot perform police duties...oh, that's right, you CAN NOT!! The fact is that Sheriffs are the original law enforcement agency in our county and still hold any and all legal powers that are vested to municipal police officers. Please provide any caselaw that's contrary...oh, that's right, you cannot! So stop talking out of your a**!! Get your facts straight!!

Anonymous said...

That's Right, The Office of Sheriff in Pa. is a Court related Office. The County and Sheriff must approve any type of Enforcement if they meet the following. Training for Deputy Sheriffs and Act 120 for Municipal Police.

Anonymous said...

Also check Penna. Supreme Court ruling, the Opinion was written by Judge Flaherty several years ago.

Anonymous said...

Additionally, The District Attorney is the CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE COUNTY!

As per State Law.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Union members do vote and as Stoffa, Bernie and others of his ilk have shown over the years, they don't like voters making decisions. They just like to waste taxpayers' money on frivolous lawsuits then blame everything on unions who do their best to represent working folks against demagogues who do nothing to solve problems but waste time creating them. McClure is correct, elections are a good way to choose officials and make them respond to the public, just ask Ron.

J. SPIKE ROGAN said...

ANON 11:14 hate to burst your bubble, but CONSTABLES were the original Law Enforcement in Pennsylvania. Since 1664 PA has had Constables.

Anonymous said...

Constables should be eliminated as an elected office..

All Duties should be handled by Deputies.

J. SPIKE ROGAN said...

Anon 4:18 newsflash for you; Westmoreland County tried that. It was a complete and utter failure. The County Sheriff's Office could not afford to hire additional Sheriff's Deputies, (just calling them Deputies is not specific enough since Constables have deputies as well.

The Magisterial Courts struggled to get any scofflaws to pay up, civil cases in the Magisterial Courts were excessively backlogged and took forever because the County Sheriff's office was not able to handle the lower courts work in a timely manner.

The only reason the First Class City abolishment of 1970 worked was Philadelphia spent a fortune to create a new department to handle lower court matters. And the people of the city pay far more in taxes to make it run.

Constables on the other hand in most counties only make money from; serving warrants on scofflaws who owe fines to the Magisterial Courts, or the plaintiffs in civil cases pay for them to serve the defendants papers. Neither involves actual tax dollars. The private parties are charged the fees.

Here in Monroe County about the tax dollars paid to Constables is the whopping $120 for election day service of being there from 6:30 AM till whenever to keep the peace, and make sure campaigns don't break election campaigning laws in the polling place. We get paid the same as Judge of Elections, and the little old ladies who have you sign in.

Oh as for Westmoreland County, the new elected Sheriff abolished the replaced Sheriff's no Constable policy, and let the lower courts issue work to Constables again. Magistrates are dancing in the streets to have their cases treated with priority again.

If you want to see what professional State Constables and Deputy State Constables do; Google "Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Constables". I am a card carrying member myself. (As I am to the National Sheriff's Association too).

Anonymous said...

Mr Rogan is at it again. Why do you allow people like kthis to give their warped opinions on your Blog Bernie. It's only a matter of time until we get rid of all constables and get real professionals working for us in the public sector. These morans gotta go.

J. SPIKE ROGAN said...

Never knew "Facts" were warped. Silly me.

Also I can spell 'moron' properly.

Is this you anon 2:37?
http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/n/U/moran.jpg

lmao

Anonymous said...

Mr Anonymous,

I resent you calling Cobstables morons. Why don't you see if you can spend thousands of dollars for equipment and then go find some work from a Judge.

Constables bring in millions if dollars each year to communities and the State.

Not at taxpayer expense. Get a life.