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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, January 13, 2014

Why Was Sheriff Miller Really Fired?

When NorCo Executive John Brown fired Sheriff Randy Miller last week, even Brown had to concede that Miller had done a "phenomenal job."  But he said he wanted to move in a "different direction." So what's the real reason for the ax? Here's the different theories.

1) Brown wants a Sheriff who will do a lousy job. That's the logical inference from his own statements to Miller, but I doubt that's quite what he meant.

2) Miller had to go because he was an avid Callahan supporter who even contributed to him. This seems to be the prevailing theory. Patronage politics.

3) Brown does intend to move the Sheriff's office in a different direction. He wants to reduce staffing, and will reduce court security as an unnecessary expense. Many people hold this view, too.

4) Miller had to go, but it has nothing to do with his support for Callahan or even the size of his office. It has everything to do with his opposition to the regional crime center.

You see, the regional crime center is promoted by the Lehigh Valley Partnership, and why the Hell not? Richard McAteer's old outfit, Computer Aid, is making $2.8 million just for a development contract. Imagine how much more that could be if Northampton County were forced to fund it, too. All in the name of regionalism. Never mind that the state is working on this problem. Never mind that state police refuse to be  part of the regional crime center. Never mind that DA John Morganelli has said No. Never mind that a minimum of $500,000 in Northampton County tax dollars would be spent to fight Allentown crime. Never mind that Sheriff Miller, a tech savvy cop, was never sold on this idea.

If you want to know who Richard McAteer is and why that matters, see my post above. McAteer is the retired Steel Exec and Lehigh Valley Partnership member who ruined Easton for Phil Mitman. He now seems intent on ruining Northampton County for John Brown.

We really don't need former Bethlehem Steel management telling us how to run our government. They've done quite enough.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yet you supported an unneeded and overpriced Stoffa Human Services building. It alone will practically bankrupt the department.

You hate Brown because your insider Stoffa gravy train is over. Word is he may even look into public money funneled to private citizens for a lawsuit against other private citizens.

Good Luck John Brown. Maybe now we will have real good government and not you and Angle's kind of good government.

Anonymous said...

Amen!!!

Anonymous said...

Anybody, and I mean anybody, who had anything to do with the miserably failed Bethlehem Steel should never be in a position to run anything especially government ever. Ex Bethlehem Steel people simply lack credibility. Amazing how people in the Valley are still enamored by these losers.

Anonymous said...

NJ should annex Norco - would be a good fit

Anonymous said...

"Why Was Sheriff Miller Really Fired?"

Politics...

Anonymous said...

The human services consolidation will do nothing but streamline services and cut costs by 200,000 a year. Show us the down side please. Put some hard numbers behind your constant jabs at John Stoffa and a consolidated human services building. And while your at it what happened to the archives being a "huge waste of money" did you forget this one because you realized you were wrong?

Anonymous said...

Bernie,
I love the picture of the sinking ship, the Brown Hole salesmeanship of the powerpoint presentation concocked by allentowns kings own circus of mouthpieces paraded passed the public/cancer? I use the phrase cancer as one of huptydumties men had used it publicly addressing allentowns populous witch has two real on counsiland one supposidly representing this mass that now make up allentown pa and theBrown Hole of ReNew the valley?

Bernie is this the same Brownthat made Obamas wifes dress?

redd
patent pending

Anonymous said...

Miller was fired because he could not run the department efficiently. He called for and got 6 new positions, yet overtime for this department is still astronomical. When the union prez doubles his salary to six figures, seems to me something is not fiscally right. When the civil sergeant earns 10 additional weeks of vacation (from comp time payout) last year and revenue from deputy services has decreased by 30% since he was promoted, something is not fiscally right. When you outfit seven deputies at the cost of $600/man for an honor guard that performed once during Miller's tenure, something is not fiscally right. When you invest $500,000 on a CODY reporting system that failed in Bethlehem, something is not right. Obviously, Miller was not right for the County. This department seriously needs to be downsized, starting with ranking officers.

Bernie O'Hare said...

We shall soon see.

Anonymous said...

7:12, Bi8ngo. Stoffa and his hacks knew nothing but spend more money. He left an empty cupboard and now the bill is due.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I see. So Brown is going to shrink the department. We shall see.

Anonymous said...

When Miller took armed deputies off the entrances to the Courthouse, he showed to all the employees that his office was overstaffed. Brown may not downsize the department, but it is rank heavy for the number of employees. Also, overtime needs to be addressed. The Sheriff's DEPARTMENT IS NOT A 24/7 operation like the prison or 911, so how one individual can make 6 figures on a 55,000 salary is remarkable (not to mention this guy is the union prez). He has car blanch to work whenever he wants since he was bought by Miller, and if the acting sheriff continues to allow this to happen, Brown should look at replacing him as well.

Bernie O'Hare said...

We get it. You don't like the current union president and this person and that. You are a disgruntled ex-employee.

Anonymous said...

Wrong again Bernie. I am affiliated with the County and know an ass kissing rat when I see one

Bernie O'Hare said...

Then identify yourself when you attack employees in that office. Your failure to do that tells me something about rats.

Anonymous said...

"The human services consolidation will do nothing but streamline services and cut costs by 200,000 a year."

HaHa!!! Please feel free to prove that as time goes on. Now that was funny!

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:28 PM

It's blatantly obvious that you're jealous of those with authority over you. I for once agree with Bernie and you should identify yourself. I wonder are you a Deputy or a Lieutenant, which the last one wouldn't surprise me. Oh, and by the way-the Chief Deputy position is career services so he's not going anywhere. Shows how much you think you know.

Anonymous said...

Bernie god bless you I find it exhausting to have to deal with a angry ex employee. Whoever you give it up and get a life.

Peter J.Cochran said...

I don't care who said what, The people checking the entrance should be shadowed by the guys with firearms, period. Security is multi-layer .Years ago , If you had been a bad guy ,you could have taken a firearm off of the first line checker and had at it at the court house.

Anonymous said...

the allentown project wont work very well if no one feels safe walking through allentown, a new sheriff will help to clean up the streets and make people more comfortabe with being in the city