Sussex sheriff: I don’t want a county police force

Sussex County Sheriff Jeff Christopher says he does not want a county police force, but he does want to lay a strong foundation should the need for such a force arise.

Speaking before county council March 15, Christopher said his ambition is to upgrade equipment, add staff and provide more training to deputies. He also wants to take a proactive role in crime prevention, provide markings for deputies’ vehicles and give deputies the option of taking action when they observe a crime taking place.

“I do not want to create a county police; that’s not my goal,” he said.

Training and certification were high on Christopher’s list. He said undertrained deputies  leave the county vulnerable to liability lawsuits. “With the increase in crime in Sussex County, the time for professionalism is now,” he said.

Christopher said training and certifications would allow deputies to expand what they are now able to do. “Deputies are often witnesses to crime and routinely observe crimes,” he said. “Do we turn our heads to this or allow them to act? Simply calling the police to back up is not even feasible, with response times into the hours.”

Christopher appeared before council to outline his plan prior to presenting his budget. He said it is the same plan he offered when he was campaigning for office.

The role of the county sheriff’s office, as now posted on the county website, is to serve papers for the courts and hold sales for nonpayment of taxes and mortgage foreclosures.

The sheriff’s $650,000 budget is mostly personnel costs – $579,000 – for its nine workers. Christopher’s plan includes the addition of three positions; the office currently includes five road deputies and four office workers who handle documents and sheriff’s sales. He said the office needs one more road deputy and one more office worker to reduce an eight-month backlog of paperwork. He also called for another deputy focused on crime prevention.

Because of rising foreclosures and sheriff’s sales, revenue produced by the office has grown substantially over the past five years, from $590,000 in fiscal 2007, to $2.9 million in fiscal 2010 and an estimated $2.4 million in fiscal 2011. By the end of fiscal 2011, the office will have generated more than $7 million for the county’s general fund over the past three years.

Council reacts to sheriff’s plan

As expected, Christopher’s report spilled over into the public participation section of the meeting, and those who spoke in favor of the sheriff’s plan ignited response from two councilmen.

“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,” said Councilman Vance Phillips, R-Laurel. “I’d have more respect for your arguments if you’d come out and say you want a county police force.”

That statement drew some cheers from the crowd.

“You are dancing around the subject, but that’s a subject for another day,” Phillips said.

Councilman George Cole, R-Ocean View, said the cost of providing a county police force would “scare the daylights out of you.” He said it would at least equal what the county spends on the paramedic program, which is $12 million a year.

He said county officials have a contract with Delaware State Police to provide 40 additional troopers dedicated to Sussex County. The county has spent more than $6 million over the past four years on the state police program.

Council chambers filled

Council chambers were filled with supporters of Christopher’s plan, and several spoke during the public participation portion at the end of the meeting. Many of those in the audience were members of the 9-12 Delaware Patriots, a group that backed Christopher in his election bid.

Josh Miller of Lewes said the sheriff’s requests are in line with duties spelled out in the Delaware Constitution. “How I read it is that his role is the chief law enforcement officer of Sussex County,” he said.

Carol Lambert of Seaford said she looked at the Sheriff’s Office on the same level as state troopers with a little more county in them. “The county is underutilizing the sheriff’s department,” she said. “I’m appalled they are not in uniform or in marked cars. We all want to see that.”

Eric Bodenweiser of Georgetown said the Sheriff’s Office should have the power to make arrests. “You believe in local government; you can’t get any more local than a sheriff’s department,” he said.

“They provide more eyes and ears in the county,” said Doug Lambert of Seaford, adding that state troopers are stretched thin and focus on patrolling the county’s main roads.

“We need changes; it’s time for turf wars and politics to end,” said Larry Mayo of Lewes. He said county residents are starting to pay more attention to issues. “The people used to be asleep, but we are awake now,” he said.

In opposition to Christopher’s plans was Margaret Reyes of Lewes, a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic Affairs and a retired firefighter and EMT.

“They are not law enforcement officers,” she said. “If we have a sheriff that works outside of what is constitutionally and state ordained, as far as their certification, we are buying a very large civil liability problem.”

She said Delaware State Police should provide crime prevention services.

County Council President Mike Vincent, R-Seaford, said council would take the sheriff’s proposals under advisement.