Holding Sheriff Davis accountable for his record

Friday, Oct. 20, 2006

Sheriff Davis is the main culprit behind the hiring of over 140 police officers, the purchase of a new state-of-the-art emergency communications vehicle, the new 800 radio system that allows better communication between dispatchers and officers, the continued take-home police cruiser program that puts more police cruisers out on the streets and in our neighborhoods, and millions of dollars in grants for more officers, specialized units, and better equipment.

As a father, when I pick up my child for an early school dismissal, I blame Fred Davis for having a uniformed police officer there every day talking with the students or school staff. I also hold him directly responsible for the Teen Court program, where their peers, who make them perform community service and write letters of apology to those their infractions involved, hold juveniles accountable.

As now a citizen and back then an officer, I blame Sheriff Davis for installing video cameras in all the marked police cruisers. [The cameras] document what is done and what is said when the officers make traffic stops and run with the their lights and sirens, documenting the professionalism of our officers.

As a former detective and patrol officer, I take Sheriff Davis to task for establishing the police chaplain program, so that clergy members can assist officers with death notifications, counseling for the officers and employees and more. Sheriff Davis allowed this program to start shortly after taking office in 1995. Heck, cops aren’t human, and they never have problems of their own.

I hold him responsible for creating special units to serve warrants, fight domestic violence, prevent and investigate auto thefts and more. I blame him for programs like the junior police academy, the cadets program, the police Explorers and now the gap-pay program, which ensures employees their pay and benefits will not be reduced while they are activated by the military and are away fighting for our country.

For the officers, if you are upset that you are equipped with the best law enforcement equipment money can buy to include your side arm (before Sheriff Davis you had to buy your own gun) you should blame Sheriff Davis.

And finally, if you are really upset that crime is down 26 percent since Sheriff Fred Davis took office in 1994, blame Sheriff Davis. I am sure the criminals do.

The bottom line is that Sheriff Fred Davis needs to be held accountable Nov. 7 for having a professionally accredited agency that is one of the most highly respected law enforcement agencies in Maryland.

Please join me and my family and vote to re-elect Sheriff Fred Davis.

Proven, trusted, leadership.

Can you blame us?

Dave Williams, La Plata