The Future of America?

[Jay]

Ashtabula County: Judge tells residents to "Arm themselves"



Jeff Maynor

JEFFERSON -- In the ongoing financial crisis in Ashtabula County, the Sheriff's Department has been cut from 112 to 49 deputies. With deputies assigned to transport prisoners, serve warrants and other duties, only one patrol car is assigned to patrol the entire county of 720 square miles.


"I did the best with what they (the county commissioners) gave me. If it wasn't enough, don't blame me, don't blame this department," said Sheriff Billy Johnson.
Johnson said he is suing the commissioners to get a determination of whether he should use his limited budget to carry out obligations defined by law or put more patrol cars on the streets.
"I just can't do it anymore," he said. "I have to have the court explain to the commissioners and to me what my statutory duties are."
The Ashtabula County Jail has confined as many as 140 prisoners. It now houses only 30 because of reductions in the staff of corrections officers.
All told, 700 accused criminals are on a waiting list to serve time in the jail.
Are there dangerous people free among the 700 who cannot be locked up?
"There probably are," Sheriff Johnson said, "but I'm telling you, any known violent criminal, we're housing them. We've got murderers in there."
Ashtabula County is the largest county in Ohio by land area.
Ashtabula County Common Pleas Judge Alfred Mackey was asked what residents should do to protect themselves and their families with the severe cutback in law enforcement.
"Arm themselves," the judge said. "Be very careful, be vigilant, get in touch with your neighbors, because we're going to have to look after each other."

http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=133951&catid=3

With the way state finances are going, this type of thing might be seen in other counties also.

Lock and load.... ;)

[flintlock]

Re: The Future of America?

In the distant past the sheriff would probably have asked for volunteer deputies. I guess everything is so complicated these days that wouldn't work. Whatever happened to the days when Gomer and Goober could pitch in to handle a crime wave?

[chr5648]

Re: The Future of America?

In the distant past the sheriff would probably have asked for volunteer deputies. I guess everything is so complicated these days that wouldn't work. Whatever happened to the days when Gomer and Goober could pitch in to handle a crime wave?

Hilarious, they don't want anyone doing "work", unless they are on the pba and have a state pension. If someone was to "volunteer" whats to keep from others volunteering and pricing out law enforcement, thats the real reason volunteers or the such are not allowed.

I remember some father was crossing children after school across a busy street, someone called and complained. At the end of the day he was taking a potential government job, and the unions don't like that.

They should try what switzerland does, mandatory military and gun training, and keeping you gun after your tour of duty to protect your home. Crime rates are some of the lowest in the world. The only downfall is suicides go from hangings and overdoses to self inflicted gun wounds. The anti gun folks try to add the gun suicides the actual gun crime statistics to try to discredit gun ownership.

[flintlock]

Re: The Future of America?

The only downfall is suicides go from hangings and overdoses to self inflicted gun wounds.

No, that's actually a positive. Lots of jobs created by the messy cleanup required.

Seriously, I know what you mean. They don't want anyone stepping on their toes.


I actually own one of those Swiss guns they kept at home. Still had the owners name and address on a tag under the butt plate.