FERGUSON NOT WEARING FLIP FLOPS!

The recent articles in both newspapers indiacte my unwillingness to accept a city/county dispatch agreement.  NOT TRUE!  I would accept a properly funded joint dispatch and have taken great lengths for the Consolidation Committee to observe first hand the dispatch operations.  Only one member spent any time there.

The CCC agreed that the joint dispatch should be funded at $1.6 million.  That would maintain operations under the control of the county.  If the county is unable to fund this joint venture, then the obligation should be turned back over the city fathers. 

I for one have sat and trained dispatchers and have a first hand knowledge of the challenges they face every day.  I still stand by my first comment that I will not sign an improperly funded joint dispatch for the fact that it jeopardizes the SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS! Don’t put me on hold if I call or need emergency services!

Rich Ferguson has stood by his proposals from the beginning and will not flip flop as the other candidates have done!  The other candidates started out in may say we needed a new jail, no work release and now both state that they will not need a new building and want work release.  I am glad they agree with me.

Jail Overhaul

With the release of the wrong inmate, an escape and the recent sexual assualt of an inmate, I believe it is time for a complete overhaul of the administration of the jail operations. I have be a proponent of changing the jail back to the linear concept. This should be a big start to turn our jail back into a “REAL JAIL” and not the Hilton.

New computerized warning system will help Sheriff Department!

While many county and city officials struggle to locate monies for weather sirens, we need to incorporate a computerized system to notify thousands per minute.  This system is relatively inexpensive and can even be utilized to notify neighborhoods of lost children, wanted persons and of course weather heading to our area.  This system would give the department an extra thousand set of eyes to help us locate and track down criminals and keep our community notified of impending weather.

Other Candidates do not agree on Work Release! Linear jail concept.

After reviewing the other sheriff candidates and their responses to questions their view on work release programs are incorrect.  A quick study of the inmate population shows that a large number of them could qualify for the program if it was offered as our judges could initiate that option.

Linear jail concept would remove the correctional staff from direct contact with the inmates thus adding more bed space and less officers to manage our facility.  The one time cost is expensive but long-term would prove a cost saving measure.

Independent !

I have filed my paperwork and shall be running as an Independent in the race for Howard County Sheriff. I will be bound by the voters as a whole and not by one party.

Commitment to Staying ‘Local”!

I have pledged to stay local with our bids for vehicles.  When times have been good, our local factories have brought us prosperity.  Now in their time of need, we should be looking out for our local car dealerships and keep our tax dollars with them.  We need to diversify our fleet of vehicles and add the Chevy Tahoe and other police packages.  Statistics show that the Tahoes are only a mile per gallon difference than the Ford Crown Victorias.

Lets buy local and keep our tax dollars here.

Sheriff Talbert agrees with us! Work release is possible !

Kokomo Perspective printed the story this week that Mayor Goodnight and now Sheriff Talbert agree a work release center will work downtown.

Lets get those folks locked up the ability to pay back their dues!  Two counties around us have already have operational work release centers and they are working!  Its time for Howard County to join those ranks.

Going “Green” on paperwork!

We literally destroy hundreds of trees each year due worthless case reports.  It is time that we take a closer look at going paperless using our computer file system.  A copy of certain reports would be as a need basis rather than the term “paper trail” used today.  We will be saving trees and money.

Lets go GREEN!

Join us for Pizza! Fundraiser at Pizza Hut west Tuesday November 17, 2009 at 6:30PM

Free will offering and join us there!  Joe Soots will be there to draw your favorite request in cartoon form.  Tips go to the fundraiser.  Hope to see you there!

Inmates working with Humane Society to train dogs for homes