Don't Blame Sheriff Hunter

[Paradise]

For all the times Curious George and I have said that Sheriff Hunter is not to blame for what he does, here is another example. This is the way ALL Sheriff’s offices operate in the state of Florida. So sit back and read how a popular Sheriff did what every Sheriff continues to do in the state of Florida:

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readartic ... 647&z=3&p=

Sheriff defends deputy promotions, pay raises

LEE COUNTY: At a time when lower ranks remain shorthanded, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott promoted 14 corrections deputies- including some of the highest paid in the agency. The pay raises come at a time when the county manager is asking for budget cuts – and the sheriff’s office is spending over $1 million on mandatory overtime at the jail.
Mandatory overtime is the rule in the Lee County Sheriff's Corrections Bureau. Between six and eighteen deputies every day work overtime to make up for the shortage.

NBC2 pulled records and found $1.52 million has been spent on mandatory overtime in the last year.

"We're right there for the budget on our patrol side, but on corrections side, we're way out of whack," said Sheriff Mike Scott.

Scott says he's dealing with an exploding inmate population. There are 2,350 inmates at the jail right now.

While overtime continues, the sheriff handed out nearly $95,000 in raises to promote 14 deputies, including some of the highest paid at the sheriff's office. (scroll to the bottom of the page for specifics on the promotions and pay raises)

All but one of them works at the jail. Three of them are no longer in the mandatory overtime pool.

Boxleitner: But if you haven't filled the lower ranks, why promote some of the upper people even higher and spend $100,000 to do it when you've got mandatory overtime?

Scott: We are filling the ranks, that's what I'm saying. We can't fill them fast enough.

Sheriff Scott declined our request to videotape the promotion ceremony. He spoke with us shortly afterwards. (scroll to the bottom of the page for the full interview with Sheriff Scott)

"This was not done to please people, this was done to better manager a huge, huge expansion that's unparalleled in our wildest imagination," said Scott.

In a recent letter to Sheriff Scott and county department heads, County Manager Don Stilwell asked for budget cuts. He even said, "6.5 percent salary increases may not be appropriate" given the state's property tax scale back.

Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann agrees.

"We're going to have to hold the line on raises here, much more stringently than in the past and I would hope that would have a ripple effect. The sheriff knows that the dollars are simply not there to give both big raises and the increase number of staff he needs. It's just not in the cards to do both this year," said Mann.

During his campaign, Scott said the previous administration was too top-heavy.

We asked if his office is getting too top heavy.
"I don't liken this to anything top-heavy. I liken it more to a reorganization," said Scott.

Promotions bring back the rank of colonel to the sheriff’s office. A position not held by a deputy in seven years.

"You want to know where the money is coming from to make up the difference on the promotions, it's from retired deputies," said Scott.
Scott says two retiring captains who will not be replaced, freeing up funds to provide money for the raises given to the 14 deputies.

Boxleitner: Why not hire like three corrections deputies for instance, instead of promoting people who are already in the agency?
Scott: You could go out and hire 100 more soldiers and send them to Iraq and if you don't send sergeants and lieutenants, they're not going to be effective.

"We've got to have the bodies in there but in order to do that, we may not be able to give these attractive raises," said Mann.

A new jail is under construction with another to follow after that.
Scott says 57 new correction deputies just completed training, but many more are still needed at the jail.

Name Last promoted Rank Current salary Promotion New salary
Michael Waite 04/29/04 Major $127,741 Col. $132,741
David Orlando 04/07/99 Capt. $100,965 Major $106,013
Tom Ellegood 11/03/00 Capt. $92,271 Major $105,000
Ed Lewis 01/02/05 Lt. $74,970 Capt. $80,000
Ed Leavens 12/20/98 Lt. $77,644 Capt. $81,526
Tom Eberhardt 06/08/03 Lt. $74,970 Capt. $80,000
Scott Hall 06/08/03 Lt. $74,970 Capt. $80,000
Mia Rodgers 05/05/02 Sgt. $58,479 Lt. $65,000
William Guffey 05/15/05 Sgt. $57,669 Lt. $65,000
Craig Bennetti 05/15/05 Sgt. $57,669 Lt. $65,000
Roger Bramblet 05/03/07 Master Cpl. $42,394 Sgt. $52,150
Scott Lineberger 05/03/07 Master Cpl. $42,394 Sgt. $52,150
Rusty Holland 05/03/07 Master Cpl. $42,394 Sgt. $52,150
Mark Busbee 10/01/01 Cpl. $49,442 Sgt. $52,150

uhhhh.... what?

Who is to blame for what Sheriff Hunter does? Where does the buck stop?

Pointing to questionable management technique(s) of another does not justify the same or similar techniques here at the CCSO.

George and Paradise and a few others should see a dentist; all that Kool-Aid must be rotting their teeth.

Its the "Hey, they are all doing it" defense.

Questionable management techniques?

The opportunity to be promoted exists in every job. Why is it that if you receive a promotion you feel you have “Earned it” but if someone else gets promoted the system is flawed and “Questionable management techniques” are in place?

This career will always be short on personnel. Until wages are higher we will always be looking to fill open positions.

There are two ways to make more money as a public servant; get promoted or work more overtime.

Some deputies get all the overtime jobs and some deputies have to take what is available.

Some deputies will get promoted and some deputies will never be promoted.

Just because life is not fair does not imply that the Sheriff is to blame or practices “Questionable management techniques”.

Accept responsibility for what you have or have not.

Only YOU can make a difference in your own life.

P.S.

Brush your teeth twice a day and it will not matter how much Kool-Aid you drink.

Name Last promoted Rank Current salary Promotion New salary
Michael Waite 04/29/04 Major $127,741 Col. $132,741
David Orlando 04/07/99 Capt. $100,965 Major $106,013
Tom Ellegood 11/03/00 Capt. $92,271 Major $105,000
Ed Lewis 01/02/05 Lt. $74,970 Capt. $80,000
Ed Leavens 12/20/98 Lt. $77,644 Capt. $81,526
Tom Eberhardt 06/08/03 Lt. $74,970 Capt. $80,000
Scott Hall 06/08/03 Lt. $74,970 Capt. $80,000
Mia Rodgers 05/05/02 Sgt. $58,479 Lt. $65,000
William Guffey 05/15/05 Sgt. $57,669 Lt. $65,000
Craig Bennetti 05/15/05 Sgt. $57,669 Lt. $65,000
Roger Bramblet 05/03/07 Master Cpl. $42,394 Sgt. $52,150
Scott Lineberger 05/03/07 Master Cpl. $42,394 Sgt. $52,150
Rusty Holland 05/03/07 Master Cpl. $42,394 Sgt. $52,150
Mark Busbee 10/01/01 Cpl. $49,442 Sgt. $52,150

Wow none of the below happened in the above list.
Citizen to Capt.
Sgt. to Capt.
Cpl. to Commander.
Cpl. to Lt.
Admin assist. to Lt.

[veteranrookie]

Name Last promoted Rank Current salary Promotion New salary
Michael Waite 04/29/04 Major $127,741 Col. $132,741
David Orlando 04/07/99 Capt. $100,965 Major $106,013
Tom Ellegood 11/03/00 Capt. $92,271 Major $105,000
Ed Lewis 01/02/05 Lt. $74,970 Capt. $80,000
Ed Leavens 12/20/98 Lt. $77,644 Capt. $81,526
Tom Eberhardt 06/08/03 Lt. $74,970 Capt. $80,000
Scott Hall 06/08/03 Lt. $74,970 Capt. $80,000
Mia Rodgers 05/05/02 Sgt. $58,479 Lt. $65,000
William Guffey 05/15/05 Sgt. $57,669 Lt. $65,000
Craig Bennetti 05/15/05 Sgt. $57,669 Lt. $65,000
Roger Bramblet 05/03/07 Master Cpl. $42,394 Sgt. $52,150
Scott Lineberger 05/03/07 Master Cpl. $42,394 Sgt. $52,150
Rusty Holland 05/03/07 Master Cpl. $42,394 Sgt. $52,150
Mark Busbee 10/01/01 Cpl. $49,442 Sgt. $52,150

Wow none of the below happened in the above list.
Citizen to Capt.
Sgt. to Capt.
Cpl. to Commander.
Cpl. to Lt.
Admin assist. to Lt.

Ladies and Gents, Guest has a point there.

Because other agencies create unnecessary positions of rank, then it must be the right thing to do. That's just stupid. We are creating positions of rank in excess. Let's give the deputies a fair wage first. We continue to ask deputies to do more with less, but we create additional positions of rank to take the load off of the command staff. Maybe it's time that the command staff tries doing more with less.

There's an explanation for what Sheriff Scott has done. He's attempting to sure up that next term in office. In his mind it is a very wise political move (give the troops more of what they need and want). I'm thinking we'll be seeing more of Sheriff Scott for some time.

Scott is not my Sheriff so it doesn't matter. Hunter is my Sheriff and has sent inconsistent messages with his promotions. That fairy dust is incredible at times...then those who are "doinked" hold everyone else to a promotional system that they circumvented. Sometimes I like the things Hunter does, as he is a skilled politician. I do believe that in the end he conducts his political maneuvers to benefit himself - in hopes of a Tallahassee job one day. I benefit from his political megalomania so I guess I shouldn't complain. I am concerned with the lack of checks and balances in this agency - I guess I just have to hope the man is always benevolent. Good day.

interisting how no one wannts to anser the question made abowt just who is responsible or to blamme for what Hunter does. that alone says a lot does it not?

i can telll you that the current regime annd its suporrters will respond that ist all part of the traditional power and aquthority of the sheriff in florida. time for that to authority to be changed. term limits for all politicoians including sheriffs would be a good staart.

its time for a knew sheriff here at the ccso andd a new adminustration.