Sheriff's forum held in Chipley

Substance abuse chief topic at forum at Ag Center

CHIPLEY – The seven Washington County Sheriff’s candidates participated in a forum Thursday night at the Ag Center. Panhandle Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Coalition, Inc. sponsored the forum.

Incumbent Sheriff Bobby Haddock (Democrat) and challengers Virginia Ruschmeier (Democrat), Michael Walker (Republican), Rick Warden (No Party Affiliation), Chris Welch (Democrat), Greg Hutching (Republican) and Gene Halley (Democrat) answered six questions on a variety of substance abuse-related topics.

The first question dealt with law enforcement as a model for today’s youth.
•Hutching said that the department is a role model and must be held to a higher standard. He said there would be specific policies and procedures in place to deal with wrongdoing by the staff and disciplinary procedures.
•Halley said he expected officers to follow all policies at work, in front of the public and in their vehicles. He said he would have random drug testing among other policies and said that officers needed to be model citizens on and off duty.
•Welch said the staff was a direct reflection of the sheriff and the department. He noted that a cop in a small county “really doesn’t have a private life,” and that “everyone knows you.” He also said that, “there are not that many that youth can turn to for role models.”
•Haddock said the department had a responsibility to youth and the community. He said that polices are in place in the employees’ manual and the department would investigate wrongdoing and violations of policies “on a case-by-case basis.” Haddock said he has dismissed officers for violating policy.
•Ruschmeier said that officers must be held to a high level of professional standards, “and set an example to everybody in the community.”
•Warden said that professional conduct, integrity and honesty were “the minimal standards of those who choose this life.” He said that training in policies is essential, as is discipline. Violations should be handled quickly.
•Walker said professional conduct “starts with me as sheriff as an example.” He said that officers must both enforce and live the laws, “and we have got to live the same way we treat the community.

The second question dealt with handling underage drinking.
•Welch said that people must be held accountable for their actions, and this was at the forefront of dealing with underage drinking. He recommended Teen Court for misdemeanor violations where their peers judge offenders.
•Halley said he was concerned about stigmatizing youthful offenders and that arrests are not always necessary. He urged getting parents involved when there is a problem, said to give a young person and a chance to understand and correct their behavior, and that safety was always first priority in a violation.
•Warden said young people go through an experimental phase and that young offenders should be treated differently. There should be programs so young people can “listen to people who know the dangers and who fought back.”
•Ruschmeier said that a young offender should be taken home the first offense and be made aware of the effects alcohol can cause. “We should respond to those who seek help.”
•Hutching said the problem should be handled on a case-by-case basis and educate young people on the dangers of alcohol. “Make sure we treat these children as children making a mistake and use common sense.”
•Haddock said officers should use discretion but also exercise accountability, including to the parents. He said first-time offenders should go to Teen Court, and make sure the child understands the ramifications of his actions.
•Walker also urged accountability and noted that there are programs in place to help kids and parents understand the consequences of alcohol use. “Get involved before it happens.”

A Department of Health survey shows that Washington County youth have the highest percentage of respondents in the state that think smoking is “cool.”
•Halley said Students Working Against Tobacco is an excellent program that provides support to schools, as are guest speakers. “Until they decide it’s not kill they will not stop.”
•Walker urged bringing speakers into school to talk about the dangers of tobacco use and that the schools need to work closely with the sheriff’s department. Kids would be more likely to listen to someone affected by tobacco use.
•Welch urged getting with other agencies to help kids hooked on tobacco, and not to glamorize smoking. For example, officers should not smoke in public on duty.
•Warden said smoking has been “cool” since the days of James Dean. The department should take responsibility and go where young people are, including classrooms, assemblies and forums and present programs.
•Hutching noted that the main responsibility of the sheriff’s department was to enforce the law, but also to serve as a role model to the community. He said he was not sure the department should take the lead here but to get with other programs already in the county.
•Haddock noted that “millions and millions have spent nationwide and it has not changed perception…the change has come within a youngster.” Haddock urged partnering with other organizations and that DARE has an anti-tobacco component.
•Ruschmeier urged support of tobacco prevention programs and to share information through an expanded DARE program.

Should there be an increase in substance-free programs to occupy the time of young people?
•Hutching said that school resource officers should be utilized in the summer to contact at-risk students. He also suggested a summer camp program with SROs and a mentoring program.
•Walker urged getting more involved and described a voluntary Sunday evening basketball program he did as an SRO.” Get involved – get out there and do it.”
•Welch said to get SROs more involved with kids’ lives, including starting new clubs that would help the community. “Give kids something to do to keep them out of trouble.”
•Haddock said that as a small department WCSO could not assume a primary role. He said the department has partnered with several other organizations for youth activities, as well as restarting the Explorers post.
•Ruschmeier urged more mentoring, as well as camping and fishing programs and expanding the Explorer program. She also urged participation in the YMCA, “So they can fill their time doing something constructive with they lives.”
•Halley urged participation in sports-oriented activities, and praised the T.J. Roulhac Center for sponsoring a wide variety of after school activities. He also urged participating in Boys and Girls Club and YMCA, and for the Key Club to mentor at other schools.
•Warden also urged expansion of the Explorer program and to use the Explorers to connect with youth with law enforcement activities. He urged support for a scholarship program so seniors would have a vested interest in education.

Would the sheriff use more resources against drug dealers versus users, and would more resources be devoted to those in possession of larger amounts of drugs versus smaller amounts?
•Haddock noted that Florida statute sets charges and sentences. “Our mission is to go after the biggest drug dealers in Washington County. If you do that the middle and the bottom dry out.”
•Welch said he would not treat dealers and users differently.
•Walker said, “The law is the law and we would go after all of them. We have a drug problem in Washington County.”
•Halley said the law establishes policy and said that everyone would be treated fairly. However, he said the goal is to eradicate the drug business in Washington County and arrest significant dealers.
•Warden said that drug dealers could not be tolerated, but users could be a different situation. “They are caught up in a situation they can’t control. If they reach out for help we need to help them find help.”
•Ruschmeier said there would be no difference. “A person who has broken the law and will be dealt with according to the law.”
•Hutching said the department should do everything in its power to disrupt the lives of drug dealers every day, but urged a different approach for sellers versus those addicted. “If you have one person selling drugs and one person using drugs you have a drug problem.”

The last question was whether there was a situation in the past that could have been handled differently. Those answers are on video at www.chipleypaper.com.