I’m confused, which is not unusual.
It’s pretty clear Sussex County Sheriff Jeff Christopher is not interested in expanding the current office into a county police force such as exists in New Castle County. At least that’s what he said publicly during the March 15 county council meeting.
What’s not so clear is Christopher’s long-term objective for the office.
He asked for upgraded equipment, more training and additional staff. His upcoming budget presentation, which is not normally held in public, will reflect the changes he wants to make. That should be an interesting meeting.
Council chambers were filled March 15 with supporters backing the plan Christopher outlined to council; many spoke during the public participation section of the agenda.
When Councilman Vance Phillips said he would give the speakers more credit if they would stop tap dancing and come out and say they wanted a county police force, many people in chambers clapped and yelled. I assume that means they support that idea, one the man they were there in support of said he does not back.
There appears to be a disconnect between Christopher’s ideas and what his supporters are in favor of.
Most of Christopher’s ideas are common sense and needed to make the Sheriff’s Office run more smoothly. His deputies need more training, should be in uniform and their cars should be marked.
It wasn’t brought out that the office collected nearly $3 million for the county last fiscal year. Some of that revenue should be diverted to provide the office with what it needs.
The issue gets a little sticky when the subject of arrest powers surfaces.
Council is gun-shy when it comes to the Sheriff’s Office. The contrasts between the previous two men who held the office, Eric Swanson and Bob Reed, are even deeper than black and white. Swanson adhered to the office’s main duties of serving court papers and conducting sheriff’s sales; Reed wanted a police force and everything that went with it.
For now, Christopher appears to be somewhere in the middle. Time will tell if that’s a comfortable place for council to be as well.
It will probably down to a question of money. Although Christopher holds an elected position, county council holds his office purse strings.
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Ron MacArthur has lived and worked in Sussex County all his life. As a journalist for nearly 50 years, he has covered everything from county and town meetings to presidential visits. He also has a unique perspective having served as an elected official and lived on both sides of the county.
Contact Ron at ronm@capegazette.com
