Ohio Sheriff Fights for Control of Emergency System
DANA WILSON
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
The Delaware County sheriff's dispute with commissioners over the countywide emergency-radio system has escalated to court.
In a lawsuit filed this week, Sheriff Al Myers is asking the Ohio 5th District Court of Appeals in Canton to let his office run the system.
"I firmly believe the state law says the sheriff's office of the county must be in charge of any countywide communications," Myers said yesterday. He added that his attorney advised him to bypass Common Pleas Court and file with the appellate court.
His complaint contends that he never told commissioners in writing that he does not want to operate the system, which recently was upgraded to a digital signal. Taxpayers paid $15.6 million for the project, which allows law-enforcement officers and other emergency workers to communicate on the same radio frequency.
Myers said it's an issue he has long debated with commissioners.
"I've tried to make offers on how to remedy this," Myers said. "I think the public's better served by public safety taking care of public safety."
Emergency Services Director Larry Fisher, whose office currently runs the system, said "It's exactly where it should be."
"This is not the first time the sheriff has indicated, verbally or through letter, that he feels the communication picture should all belong to him," Fisher said.
Although state law calls for sheriffs to operate such communication systems in counties with fewer than 750,000 residents, a provision allows commissioners to continue operating systems created before 1993, Fisher said. Delaware County's system has been in place since 1989.
Commissioner James Ward said the three-member board was in the process of trying to resolve the issue with the sheriff when he went to court.
"I don't think anything good will come over him controlling it," Ward said.
The commissioners have until Nov. 21 to respond to Myers' complaint.
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=46&id=51779
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What is up with Sheriff Myers? I have yet to read anything good about him in the press. Its always more money or something else. Good grief. Leave things the way they are.
DANA WILSON
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
The Delaware County sheriff's dispute with commissioners over the countywide emergency-radio system has escalated to court.
In a lawsuit filed this week, Sheriff Al Myers is asking the Ohio 5th District Court of Appeals in Canton to let his office run the system.
"I firmly believe the state law says the sheriff's office of the county must be in charge of any countywide communications," Myers said yesterday. He added that his attorney advised him to bypass Common Pleas Court and file with the appellate court.
His complaint contends that he never told commissioners in writing that he does not want to operate the system, which recently was upgraded to a digital signal. Taxpayers paid $15.6 million for the project, which allows law-enforcement officers and other emergency workers to communicate on the same radio frequency.
Myers said it's an issue he has long debated with commissioners.
"I've tried to make offers on how to remedy this," Myers said. "I think the public's better served by public safety taking care of public safety."
Emergency Services Director Larry Fisher, whose office currently runs the system, said "It's exactly where it should be."
"This is not the first time the sheriff has indicated, verbally or through letter, that he feels the communication picture should all belong to him," Fisher said.
Although state law calls for sheriffs to operate such communication systems in counties with fewer than 750,000 residents, a provision allows commissioners to continue operating systems created before 1993, Fisher said. Delaware County's system has been in place since 1989.
Commissioner James Ward said the three-member board was in the process of trying to resolve the issue with the sheriff when he went to court.
"I don't think anything good will come over him controlling it," Ward said.
The commissioners have until Nov. 21 to respond to Myers' complaint.
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=46&id=51779
====================================
What is up with Sheriff Myers? I have yet to read anything good about him in the press. Its always more money or something else. Good grief. Leave things the way they are.
