OK, this is creepy. Just the other day I posted about the Morris police being disbanded, and now this video comes out.
One particularly good point he made: who is our sheriff? I didn’t know! So I looked him up. It’s Jason Dingman. I don’t know if he’s a good guy, I don’t know whether I voted for him or not, but for sure I’ll scrutinize the candidate(s) in the next election.
Now Cody: get the camera or keylogger out of my office.
Our esteemed host shouldn’t get too excited about the potential for major changes in local law enforcement:
I noticed this as well. It really is a strange coincidence.
Perhaps Warmbo has a side job?
Cody has an uncanny resemblance to Charlie Kelly on Always Sunny. He’s definitely more on the ball though.
One wonders how deep the rabbit hole goes between PZ’s keyboard and Cody:
https://c.tenor.com/9ppNC0UBHbUAAAAd/charlie-day-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia.gif
USA is weird.
Looking at Wikipedia about Minnesota, I read:
“In order to be elected to the office of County Sheriff, the candidate must be actively employed in a law enforcement vocation.”
Presumably that means that all sheriffs are cops, though not all cops are sheriffs.
(And they’re elected by the populace, rather than appointed on merit? Huh)
John Morales:
They’re (nearly all) “law enforcement officers” prior to their election, or “cops” since that’s also a fairly broad term. But, except in some very unusual cases perhaps, sheriffs don’t come from other law enforcement agencies like municipal or state police, the FBI, DEA, etc.
They are very likely to be deputies in that sheriff department’s county where the election takes place. At least in the counties where I’ve lived, I don’t think there have ever been any exceptions to that.
It’s the same deal with many state and local (district or circuit) judges, district attorneys or county prosecutors, court clerks, local school boards, county assessors, county recorders of deeds, county clerks, county commissioners, and so forth.
If they had to be based on merit, a lot of places would be incapable of filling such positions, but I suppose we could still try out appointments anyway.
If you want somebody who knows what they’re doing and got the job for that reason, it may be mostly likely in the case of a city manager, say, assuming that type of position even exists. Outside of that, the elected officials will more often than not just hire a private contractor of some kind (who’s also a cousin, drinking buddy, donor, or whatever … maybe all of the above). If those people don’t know what they’re doing and/or don’t want to do it, it’s still “okay” as long as nobody knows who to blame once the shit hits the fan. The additional layers of finger pointing make it easier to pull that off and escape accountability.
Thanks, CR.
Well, they might switch over from municipal police somewhat regularly. I don’t know. In any case, they’d like it to at least mean a raise and/or less work. Otherwise, what would be the point?
Cynical as I may be, still I’d like to think that, for at least some, civic duty would be a factor. The exception that proves the rule. :|
John Morales:
It can also happen that the old sheriff, having been reelected since the dawn of time, finally kicked the bucket or retired one day, so “leadership” was thrust upon the new chosen one. In any case, they do (ostensibly) have a civic duty as deputies too, so could that really explain it? They might be more effective in that kind of position after all. It’s like Kirk becoming a Rear Admiral … not a good fit, you know?
Whatever other motivations some might have, it’s not like they’re turning down more money and less work. (Also more power, of course.) Maybe I am little too cynical today — I was just watching some of the Jan. 6 hearing, so I have a good excuse — but take that as just a matter of fact.
Mebbe you need to hire these cops?
“Tokyo Gore Police”
https://youtu.be/zNj37djaGiM
A gimp with swords as limbs?
They seem corrupt and violent as hell, so they will fit right in.
Welp, I watched the video and it turns out I’ve got a new level of disgust for sheriffs. I know I shouldn’t be surprised anymore, but I manage to be surprised.
consciousness razor @ # 6: They’re (nearly all) “law enforcement officers” prior to their election… But, except in some very unusual cases perhaps, sheriffs don’t come from other law enforcement agencies …
That depends a lot on location. Where I now live, the current sheriff was previously a state representative (and before that, a chief of police and city manager – yes, at the same time); the sheriff before him served (very visibly) in the police department of the largest city in the county; her predecessor had run an insurance agency and went on to the state senate – iow, our sheriffs are a mix of law enforcement and run-of-the-mill politicians. That same largest city for several years had a police chief who also made a great Elvis imitator, though (alas, after that he disappeared into the state bureaucracy), so maybe we’re just weird that way.