Questions for Cokonougher

[bcokonougher]

I am fully aware of the risk law enforcement officers take every day of their career on the street, but I am also concerned about a threat that occurs every 4 years. Deputies are commonly concerned with being seen speaking to or openly supporting anyone who opposes the sitting Sheriff for fear of being targeted in the aftermath.

For this reason, I am offering a secure way that the law enforcement community can ask questions without fear of being identified. LEO Affairs has a long-standing reputation for ensuring members, and non-members alike have their identities protected if they so choose. LEO Affairs has defeated court action initiated by a sitting Sheriff, twice in Florida Courts after refusing to turn over IP addresses or any other material that could be used to identify those who use their forums. It is time for the Deputies voices to be heard.

I have active social media on Facebook, and Twitter. I have a website and email where you can contact me, but this is by far the most anonymous I can make it. I want to offer the opportunity to the officers in the field to question me directly because they have daily contact with the citizens of the county and have direct knowledge what they need to serve the community effectively.

I am beginning a thread on LEO Affairs for Deputies and others who fear reprisal to ask questions directly to me. I will address platform, policy, budget, and rumors.


If you can not or don’t feel comfortable contacting me on any of my other platforms, please contact me here.

[Unregistered]

OCSO seems to have a poor relationship with the municipalities in the county, as Sheriff, what will you do to improve those relationships?

[bcokonougher]

Relationships between agencies can be easy to maintain with good communication, but a tremendous challenge to fix once they are damaged. Fortunately, for the line officers the difference in uniform color or badge shape means very little when it comes to in the field cooperation, as officers depend on each other for safety and backup. Of course, there has always been some competition between agency personnel, as there is on any “team” setting. Everyone wants to believe his or her team is better than the other, however in the last few years it appears the cooperation level is not at the level it has been previously. I believe this is a ‘trickle down effect” caused by the failure of the current sheriff’s administration to maintain a good relationship with the city administrations.

In an effort to repair relationships between the Sheriff’s Office and the City Police Departments, I have already begun formulating a plan, to correct what I see is a communication and cooperation breakdown. Much of this separation started when it became apparent the sheriff’s administration was not only interested in but encouraging the consolidation of city agencies into the sheriff’s command. Regardless of one’s stance on this matter, it set the stage for what has become a tarnished relationship as each city agency’s administration became fearful of their sustainability as they saw the Sheriff trying to increase his power and undercut the current city budget requirements, even though many citizens prefer having their own municipal agency serving them. Of course, my plans will have to wait until after the election results, as I have no authority at present to rebuild these relationships.

My first step in repairing these relationships must be open communication. I have already reached out to some of the Police Chiefs, and will be reaching out to all of them as my campaign moves forward, to discuss their needs, concerns, and the establishment of a genuine partnership.

Second, I have a plan to bring back permanent interagency task forces responsible not only for narcotics, but gangs, violent crime, and other significant operations. Sharing of assets and information benefit all agencies and the communities they serve while wreaking havoc on the criminal element.

Third, I will seek to establish joint training opportunities coordinated throughout the region. Each agency has a specialist on one topic or another and sharing that information not only makes fiscal sense but makes better law enforcement officers.

Finally, I would propose a quarterly meeting hosted by the Sheriff’s Office inviting all local agency administrators, to include our neighboring counties to discuss, enhance, and correct any deficiencies that may arise when it comes to cooperation and intelligence sharing in an effort to better detect and apprehend the criminal element in our communities.

All Law Enforcement agencies have the same objectives "Safer Streets and Stronger Communities". We must function as a team.

[Unregistered]

I am interested in what you have to say and was concerned that there is a possibility that the Sheriff's Dept and cities didn't work together well. I got some information from various sources that I wonder if you can confirm.

Does the Sheriff's department still send people to most of the city council meetings?

Was there recently a very successful joint street crimes operation that included all the affected agencies, i think it was "wolf hunter?"

I remember seeing something on the facebook page that the Sheriff officers worked side by side with Police officers at the Billy Bowlegs events, is that still going on?

Thank you for talking to people like this and good luck with your campaign.

[bcokonougher]

Thank you for the questions. Just so I can make sure I address everything I will answer them one at a time.

Does the Sheriff's department still send people to most of the city council meetings?
The Sheriff’s Office does attend some city council meetings, specifically Destin because they hold a contract for policing services. Cities with their own police departments rarely see Sheriff’s Office representation on official business as their Police Chief is the law enforcement representative within their jurisdiction.

Was there recently a very successful joint street crimes operation that included all the affected agencies, i think it was "wolf hunter?"
“Wolf Hunter” was the cyber sex sting operation which was coordinated with the many agencies, but the closest local agency was the Walton County Sheriff’s office. No Okaloosa County city agencies were referenced in the news release dated 10/27/2015. (http://www.sheriff-okaloosa.org/news...ts-16-arrests/)
The Sheriff’s Office once worked together year round with local and state agencies under a Drug Task Force, which was hugely successful. It has now been replaced by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit, no longer having members from the municipalities.
I am hoping our local Police Chiefs will partner with me to reestablish joint task forces to answer county wide crime issues. I plan to then supplement task force work with a layered law enforcement response using community partners.

I remember seeing something on the facebook page that the Sheriff Officers worked side by side with Police officers at the Billy Bowlegs events, is that still going on?
The Sheriff’s officers you saw working Billy Bowlegs were likely volunteer members of the Sheriff’s Posse who man the county portion of Eglin Parkway during parades. The Sheriff’s Posse volunteers thousands of hours each year to help the community. These dedicated individuals are a valuable part of the Sheriff’s Office and provide services that the Sheriff’s Office is often too busy to handle.
The Posse also assists Fish and Wildlife Commission during the Bowlegs boat parade. The Sheriff’s Office usually provides 2 boats on the water and a booking officer at the BUI post. The SO has also assisted with Bowlegs fireworks with 1 or 2 boats to keep the fireworks platform secure and citizens clear when deployment occurs.

As I have stated before, all law enforcement agencies have the same objectives "Safer Streets and Stronger Communities". To combat our increasing violence and unacceptable property crime levels, we must come together as a community.

[Unregistered]

When I started the SO we had more than enough applicants and it was one of the best agencies in the panhandle. Today we can’t seem to fill our spots on the street or stop them from leaving for other area agencies. What do you plan on doing about low morale and high turnover?