Sheriff Supporter Spins It Again

From the T&G:

Letters
Business is business, and politics is, well...
Dear Editor, Another day, another article, and another dent in the reputation of Camden County, and its government. Camden County Sheriff Bill Smith comes under attack once again, for donating money to a scholarship fund ("Sheriff's scholarship awarded," Aug. 31). The money came from drug dealers. It didn't come from hard-working people with honest jobs. It came from crooks and murderers. This donation was approved by the United States Department of Justice and is earmarked for scholarships in the law enforcement field.The article says that Sheriff Smith wrote the check without permission from the Camden County commissioners. They even filed a lawsuit to try and get control of the money that the sheriff's department seized. The article further states that the commissioners filed a request for a restraining order against the sheriff to stop him from spending any of the money that his department had seized. The sheriff was given 30 days to respond. Thirty days have not passed yet. Still, the commissioners want control. Nothing has been decided in court. The lawsuit hasn't been heard, the restraining order has not been decided upon and yet the commissioners think that just because they flex their legal muscle, that the sheriff is supposed to knuckle under and give them control of assets seized by his department (that) are earmarked for law enforcement purposes only.
Commissioner (Katherine) Zell states in the article that the sheriff showed a lack of professionalism, and thumbed his nose at them. Commissioner (David) Rainer does not want money spent until "the court decides the issue." Commission Chairperson (Preston) Rhodes considers it "inappropriate" for the sheriff to spend money until the lawsuit is settled. Commissioner (Steve) Berry wants the sheriff to abide by the rules. The "rules" he mentions are 13 years old, and have not been enforced for most of that time.Who can blame Sheriff Smith for not wanting to change the way he runs his office to suit the commissioners? After all, this is the same board of commissioners who voted to increase taxes to fund the sheriff's budget request, and then took the money back, and are trying to penalize the sheriff and his employees by cutting their budget even more. This is the same board of commissioners that promised pay increases to the sheriff's department employees. The commissioners reneged on the raises also, but still the deputies are there 24 hours a day, just a phone call away if needed.Our commissioners need to put politics aside, and get on with the business of running Camden County. They need to learn just what is their business, and just what is not their business. Leave politics out of business, and we will all benefit from the change.
Charles Wood
St. Simons Island

TRSP Review:
This letter is completely wrong.
First, the money does not come from murderers. It comes from drugs only. And it says in the federal guidelines that scholarships are not allowed.

Second, because the "rules" are 15 years old they can be ignored? I will have to use that in court one time.

Third, We all know the commissioners did not promise anything, as the commissioner only approve what the Sheriff puts in front of them. And raises are part of the budget. This board has not done anything with raises. I believe the previous board approved a 3% raise, someone please correct me if I am wrong. But nothing since the first of the year has happened with raises.