Sheriff

[Unregistered]

Well... Ole Peach may may need somebody to vote "early and often" for him this time. Hurrican Karma is chasing him down and by the time it's over the only friends he has left may be the ones who have him on speed dial when they get in trouble with the law. Y'all know... The friends who get pulled over and immediately hand their cell phone to the deputy and tell him/her that "the sheriff wants to talk to you", or the ones who have the sheriff calling a deputy to tell him/her how to handle a call before they've even arrived at the scene and started any investigation. The special people, not the common citizen.

124

[Unregistered]

^^^^^^^^^This guy knows what is going on!

[Unregistered]

What does Sheriff Garcia plan to change

[Unregistered]

Ask him, Chief.

[Unregistered]

What does Sheriff Garcia plan to change

That’s a great question, to which I have limited space to answer. The short answer is Professionalism, but I’ll elaborate a bit on that. (1) Ricky Garcia comes from a strong business background and has self-funded his entire campaign. As a result he owes no favors and will be no man’s puppet. Experienced professionals will be brought in to lead the agency in a professional manner, and mentor the up and coming deputies who are the future of the agency. No favors, means no favor hires or promotions of unqualified people. The agency will be run as a “service providing” business. (2) Transparency is mandatory. Those who work within the agency know that the sheriff and chief thrive on the “smoke and mirrors” method of leadership. While I agree that certain issues need to be handled privately and with discretion, the current administration uses lies and deception to cover up incompetence. (3) Respect and fair treatment. Respect is a two way street, you give it and you get it. Under the current administration the middle management and line personnel (lieutenants and below) are governed with threats and intimidation, not respect. As in any profession, the people out doing the job need to know that they have the support of their employer. Confident deputies do great work and work hard, while deputies ruled by fear do as little as possible. Just to expand on that a bit, good quality training is also paramount to the confidence of any deputy, and is fairly non-existent at this point. That I can assure you will drastically change.
These are just a couple of the highlights, and I could literally write a novel on this topic. I haven’t even touched the budget issues or misappropriation of assets and personnel. To sum it all up, the overall culture of the agency needs to be changed, and that can easily be accomplished by simply “doing the right thing”. For the Citizens of the county, for the agency, and for the employees of the agency. Not for personal benefit or glory.

124

[Unregistered]

Well that's good. Maybe if that is changed they might be able to keep some Deputies. Then with the new fpl plant that might increase funding be able to give them a raise. That should help the agency agency stay competitive and no longer have a high turn over rate

[Unregistered]

Hold onto your britches ladies and gentlemen.

[Unregistered]

The following is a cut and paste from the Caloosa Belle: ( May 13th, 2016)

County Administrator Charles Chapman noted that the H.E. Hill Foundation will pick up the $100,000 tab for survey for police protection in Montura. Chief Deputy Kevin Nelson explained that the funds will stay in Montura and be used for a full time deputy and equipment. He said a 4×4 truck had already been purchased. The deputy will be working flexible hours. In last year Hendry County has lost 18 deputies, the chief deputy said, with 4-5 more leaving. He added three locals are being hired in July and will be attending the academy.

There was also some discussion on setting it up so public safety employees who leave before their contract is up would not receive benefits and not be in good standing.

This Ricky Garcia's response to this foolishness:

In reference to the loss of deputies, Kevin Neslon blames the starting pay ($36,000) as the cause. The same starting pay that he and the sheriff lowered by $2,000 since taking office. In checking the surrounding counties, only Collier and Charlotte counties start their deputies at a higher pay rate (approx. $40,000). Lee and Glades counties both start at or just over $35,000.

In speaking to the deputies who have or are trying to leave, poor treatment of the deputies by the administration and agency wide dysfunction are cited as the cause. To make matters worse, the reputation of the agency precludes recruitment of quality applicants. Even though the Southwest Florida Criminal Justice Academy graduates approximately 100 certified law enforcement professionals (without jobs) each year.

Finally, to require new deputies to sign contracts may be a good idea, but not to be used as a threat to withhold benefits or separate them “not in good standing”. The creation of a healthy and productive work environment would clearly solve the deputy retention issue, as opposed to holding unhappy deputies hostage and under duress. It’s time for the HCSO to stop deflecting the blame and simply fix the problem.

124

[Unregistered]

Well, you could not be more right. The biggest issue for the deputies is the favoritism and nepotism in the agency. I left not long ago and it was not soon enough. Besides deputies leaving look at all the rejects they hired that did not work out and just filled up spaces......Lee county people that were fired for starters and put in the schools, one as a Lt. The multiple old and unhealthy deputies that come and go as favors for healthcare. This place puts the blame on everything else like budget when they lowered it and have not asked for a higher one so that cant be the issue.

[Unregistered]

I am pretty sure one of the 18 quit in order to run for Sheriff.