14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Sheriff Williams wants to keep all deputies and police officers

Sheriff Williams wants to keep all deputies and police officers

By Brandon Bartlett - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Sarah Harlan - email

VANDERBUGH CO., IN (WFIE) - Tuesday night, Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams responded to Evansville Police Chief Brad Hill's proposal that would have police officers patrolling the county.

That proposal will now be sent to the reorganization committee.

14 News was sent a copy of a letter from Mayor Jonathon Weinzapfel to members of the Public Safety Sub-Committee, who are studying consolidation.

It urges them to do their own research and speak with officials from other consolidated communities and not just rely on information from local law enforcement organizations, organizations that are, this week, making sure their voices are heard.

"The fact that I found out about it from the media was a little off," Sheriff Williams said.

Once Sheriff Williams read the recommendation from Chief Hill, he decided to respond with a plan of his own. 

"He used some language I would have preferred he not use and he made some comparisons that I don't think are appropriate," Sheriff Williams said. "I don't want to take over anything and I don't want to eliminate anything."

Williams disagrees with the Chief's plan of having police officers patrol the county, leaving the Sheriff's Office with fewer responsibilities and manpower.

"I think we need every deputy, need every policeman we got," Sheriff Williams said.

Sheriff Williams also questioned the potential savings of $2.3 million that Chief Hill outlined in his plan.

"There's some very misleading numbers in there and some claims that would be very difficult to achieve," Sheriff Williams said.

In the EPD proposal, Chief Hill recommended that some calls, like some theft calls, could be handled over the phone.

The Sheriff said that won't be his plan.

"Even those theft reports, those that are probably minor in the big picture, are pretty important to the person who's making the call right now and they would like to see that patrol car and the deputy sheriff show up and take a report and no telling what other things we might solve while we're there," Sheriff Williams said.

The Sheriff said in the end there's one main difference the committee and ultimately the voters will have to decide on.

"Do we want to have law enforcement headed up by the guy that was appointed by the Mayor or do we want a sheriff that was elected by the people and continues to be accountable to those people? That is the fundamental question and once we answer that, a lot of the other things will start to come together," Sheriff Williams said.

14 News spoke with a member of the FOP Tuesday night.

Chad Howard said "our stance doesn't change. We believe law enforcement should be left alone."

The Public Safety Sub-Committee will look at the proposals from both the Police Chief and the Sheriff.

They would then be presented to the Re-organization Committee.

That committee only has a few weeks left if it wants to get the referendum on the November ballot.

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