Sussex sheriff wants training for deputies
At its Monday, Oct. 10 meeting, the Sussex County Republican Party executive committee will be asked to endorse a resolution backing the county sheriff’s initiative to provide additional training for the county’s seven deputies.
“Minimum state standard training certification of the office of the Sheriff’s deputies is consistent and in keeping with our state constitution,” the resolution reads.
Written by 37th District Republican Chairman Eric Bodenweiser, the resolution was approved Oct. 4 by the district’s committee by a 10-2 vote. Bodenweiser said the resolution is needed to draw attention to Sheriff Jeff Christopher’s goals and the lack of cooperation he receives in reaching those goals from Sussex County Council. “This is the only way to get attention of our Republican county council and wake them up,” Bodenweiser said.
Christopher is serving his first year as county sheriff, a post that dates back to the late 1600s. He is a former county deputy with more than 26 years of law enforcement experience.
According to the county’s website, the Sheriff’s Office serves papers for the courts and court orders, holds sheriff's sales for nonpayment of taxes and mortgage foreclosures. An increase in foreclosures, resulting in additional sheriff’s sale, has seen revenue in the office grow from $590,000 in fiscal 2007 to an expected $2.4 million in fiscal 2011. Christopher said revenue could easily double due to even more foreclosures than anticipated. Expenses in the office total nearly $650,000.
“County council has basically ignored the will of the people when it comes to our elected sheriff,” Bodenweiser said. “One of his campaign promises was to provide a professional staff that is highly trained and equipped as well as any other law enforcement officer they may encounter.”
Training and certification are high on Christopher’s list. He said undertrained deputies leave the county vulnerable to liability lawsuits. It’s not unusual for deputies to deal with volatile situations, the sheriff said.
“We want to be proactive; that’s what the people want to see,” Christopher said. “We don’t want to be a county police force because Delaware State Police does a great job. But what’s wrong with a little bit of enhancement?” Christopher asked.
The sheriff wants to have better-trained deputies who can deal with problems during the normal course of their duties. He said his deputies come to the office with various backgrounds in law enforcement, some from different states. “I want their training to be unified and meet the minimum standard for law enforcement officers,” he said.
Christopher said this year’s budget allows $300 for each officer’s equipment and training. That doesn’t even cover mandated weapons-certification required three times each year, Christopher said. He is asking for an additional $2,000 to $2,500 per deputy. Chief Deputy Dennis Lineweaver, a retired Delaware State Police trooper who has a background in training, can do some training in-house Christopher said.
“I’m most concerned about liability. How does that amount compare to a multimillion dollar lawsuit?” he asked.
Bodenweiser says he expects the Republicans’ executive committee to endorse the resolution. If that occurs, the resolution will be reviewed by the Republican Principles, Planks and Education Committee and voted on again by the Republican executive committee and eventually presented to Sussex County Council. The executive committee meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at the Georgetown CHEER Center. The committee is made up of nearly 100 Sussex County Republicans.
Bodenweiser said county council members still have bad feelings from run-ins with former Sheriff Bob Reed, who served from 1999 to 2006. “This is all together different. Sheriff Christopher is asking for an inch, not a mile,” he said.
Councilman Vance Phillips, R-Laurel, has debated with Christopher on at least two occasions over the role of the county sheriff’s department. “I hear that you don’t want a county police force, but at the same time it seems like we could be putting all the elements into place,” he said during a March meeting attended by Christopher. “I’d have more respect for your arguments if you’d come out and say you want a county police force.”
At the invitation of Bodenweiser, Councilwoman Joan Deaver, D-Rehoboth Beach, attended the 37th District meeting. “It gave me a chance to listen to the sheriff at length and I got a good idea what he is talking about,” she said.
She questioned the need for uniformed, armed officers to deliver court papers. “Is that really necessary?” she asked. “If so, I guess they probably do need some more training. The sheriff needs to prove to me the deputies are in some kind of danger because that’s not what I’m hearing.”
