Sheriff Lee hires former sheriff Swanson as chief deputy

Several weeks back, Sussex County Council honored Vance Phillips for his many years of service as a councilman. On hand for the occasion were several past members of council and several former county administrators. The county sheriff’s office was represented too.

Sheriff Bob Lee, newly elected last November after previously beating former Sheriff Jeff Christopher in the Republican primary, made his rounds during the Phillips reception. Former Sussex County Sheriff Eric Swanson of Lewes made his rounds with Lee.

Swanson campaigned hard for Lee during the Republican primary and the general election. Like Lee, Swanson advocated a traditional, non-law- enforcement role for the sheriff, as opposed to the approach of Christopher ,who sued - but lost - to have the sheriff recognized as the county’s top law enforcement officer.

In his campaign travels with Lee, Swanson, with a big smile, repeatedly said: “A vote for Lee is a vote for me.”

Following the election, Lee appointed Swanson as chief deputy in the Sheriff’s Office. “I’m the No. 2 man now,” Swanson said. “I oversee process serving and the office staff - set up training dates for the other deputies.” Lee and Swanson serve court papers as do three other road deputies.

After the November election, Swanson said Lee reinstituted state constable status for the sheriff and deputies. “We had those powers when I was sheriff,” said Swanson, “but Christopher didn’t want them. He wanted more.” State constable status provides limited arrest powers to the sheriff and his deputies. “We can make what are known as custodial arrests, which means we can detain someone who is breaking the law and hold them until an officer from the jurisdiction we’re in at the time shows up to take over the arrest.”

Swanson said the sheriff and deputies carry handguns and have to keep up with their certifications to retain state constable status. That includes, he said, two day-shoots and one night-shoot three times each year. “It’s important to have those powers in the line of work we do.”

People aren’t always in the best of moods when they’re receiving invitations to appear before the court.

A little Sussex sheriff history: Hermanus Wiltbank of Lewes was the county’s first sheriff, serving from 1669-79. Remember that prior to 1750, Lewes was county seat for Sussex. Ryves Holt, whose historic inn also doubled for a time as the courthouse, held the sheriff’s seat from 1724-36.

The Ryves Holt House at the corner of Second and Mulberry in Lewes is Delaware’s oldest structure on its original location.