Republican Candidate for Chairman of the Board, Charlie King, has called for police department in Loudoun County. King has issued the following press release:
Date: 9/18/2015
Contact: Charlie King
(703) 559-3500 (703) 431-4389
KING CALLS FOR FORMATION OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
York Ignores Citizen Support
Republican Candidate for Chairman Charlie King today called for the Board of Supervisors to immediately begin the process of creating a Loudoun County Police Department.
“In the past several Sheriff’s races we’ve heard allegations among political adversaries regarding misuse of county assets, contract irregularities, side businesses, absentee management, infidelity, pornographic text messages and now the disclosure of private emails in campaign literature obtained through a questionable internal affairs investigation,” stated King. “Regardless of the merits, these publicized reports are embarrassing and distract from the mission of law enforcement.”
“Subjecting professional law enforcement officers to political turmoil every four years, and the uncertainty as to whether their careers may come to an end when the Sheriff begins a new term, is unfair to those who would risk their lives to save ours. With a police department, these officers would be afforded the same protections as all county employees,” King continued.
Over the past decade, Loudoun County has been one of the fastest growing jurisdictions in the nation and is now Virginia’s third largest county. “Loudoun residents deserve to benefit from a national search for a police chief rather than be restricted to candidates that must be county residents,” said King.
“County residents overwhelmingly agree this move is long overdue, but it takes decisive leaders that are not simply interested in the status quo. For sixteen years, our current Chairman has said he wants a professional police department, but for sixteen years he’s been negligent in taking any action to accomplish this for our citizens. As Chairman, I will take the needed steps to make this transition a reality,” King said. “The Board must have direct oversight of law enforcement, while ensuring fiscal accountability and not leave public safety to political chance every four years. It’s simply too important.”
Pursuant to the Virginia Constitution, the Sheriff would retain control over court security, the jail and civil process.
4 comments
[…] candidate for Sheriff, former Sheriff Steve Simpson, has issued a response to candidate for Chairman Charlie King’s call for a Loudoun police department. Simpson issued the following press […]
A Republican candidate wanting to create another layer of government. My, it’s fun spending other people’s money.
Until we change our form of county government, this is an absolute no-go.
(and I have told Charlie my opinion on this–just my opinion)
We are the largest and most populous county in the state to still use the Traditional Form, adopted in the Reconstruction Constitution of 1868. All power rests with the Board of Supervisors.
To form a police department under this form is asking it to be MORE politicized, not less, subject to any and every swing of the political pendulum.
Jeanine, you haven’t been here long enough to remember Jim Burton back in the 90s, saying loud and long that the BoS needed a police department “with an appointed police chief under the direct control of the Board of Supervisors.” What a nightmare that would be, if a board like the 99 one ever got in again!
Virginia has had other forms of government available since the 1920s, to address the differing needs of counties that have grown, as well as urbanized. Positions under these other forms have specific rights and duties delineated in state law that protect both the individual in doing their job, and the people for whom they do it.
The Traditional Form would be fine if there were still only about 15K people here, and the government consisted of part time legislators who had farms and stores to run. That hasn’t been the dominant life here since before nearly EVERYONE moved in.
Under the form we have now, a Chief as an at-will empoyee of the BoS would be a potential recipe for disaster–as it is, at least the Sheriff is accountable to the electorate. (I know you’ve often expressed the opinion that only people like you should vote–but that isn’t the case. And I wouldn’t want to live in a dictatorship formed by you and the small circle of your besties any more than I would want a police chief answerable only to the BoS).
Wait – I’ve heard this one before… from DEMOCRAT Brian Allman, the sheriff sideshow. It’s the entire Democratic platform!
King looks more like a Court Jester every day. Who is running this trainwreck of a campaign?