4 ms·

I kinda hate that it settled. I fully understand the plaintiffs not wanting to proceed, but i really wish the sheriff was actually punished for what he did. Thi

by samrus 9mo ago

I kinda hate that it settled. I fully understand the plaintiffs not wanting to proceed, but i really wish the sheriff was actually punished for what he did. This sort of power tripping should be a fireable offence

worik 9mo ago
An elected officer. So punishment by ballot box?
- QuercusMax 9mo ago
  Since when are elected officials immune from prosecution for crimes?
  - mminer237 9mo ago
    Nobody was pressing (or even alleging) crimes by the sheriff AFAIK.
- simonw 9mo ago
  That thing where law enforcement officers can be elected is such a weird American oddity. Most countries appoint law enforcement officers who are qualified for the job. We had a problem last year here in San Mateo County, California where our sheriff was corrupt but we had to pass a ballot measure because we couldn't just fire them: https://calmatters.org/justice/2025/10/san-mateo-sheriff-removed-from-office/ https://calmatters.org/justice/2025/10/san-mateo-sheriff-rem...
  - wrs 9mo ago
    On the other hand, look at our current appointed DoJ and FBI leadership. No solution is foolproof.
  - toast0 9mo ago
    In larger counties, the elected Sherrif is usually more managerial and less hands on. If not elected directly, the Sherrif would likely be chosen by the elected County Board of Supervisors. Which I guess gives you more ability to fire, but also means more indirection from the will of the people.
  - noitpmeder 9mo ago
    Appointments are a whole other issue (see the extreme turnover in the American executive branch every 4 years). Id rather the head of my local police dept be significantly supported by the populating instead of an appointment from a governor, mayor, ... whose entire schtick can change on a dime. Independent elections are a good thing. Bundling offices together under a single election that appoints the rest of the world is terrible and only leans further into the two party see-saw that exists in the USA. I really wish for proportional representation. Not that it really applies to your local police force, but we need to break apart the complete A-or-B nature of American politics. Form coalitions, not monoliths that trade off earning 51% of the electorate every cycle that the completely repoints the entirety of the govt for the next 4 years.
  - db48x 9mo ago
    Makes sense to me. County Sheriffs are elected by the residents of the county that they will serve. If you get a bad one then it’s your own fault for choosing poorly. Anyway, not all states elect their sheriffs, or even have sheriffs at all. States that appoint their sheriffs don’t appear to have a noticeably lower level of incompetents.
canucker2016 9mo ago
Sheriff Chad Leonard (queue chad references...) retired in 2022. see https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2022/08/29/dallas-county-iowa-sheriff-chad-leonard-retires-early-term/7927264001/ https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2022/08/29/dall...
- justin66 9mo ago
  It's a pity the $600k won't be deducted from his retirement income.
- deleted 9mo ago
  [deleted]

by samrus 9mo ago

worik 9mo ago

An elected officer. So punishment by ballot box?

QuercusMax 9mo ago
Since when are elected officials immune from prosecution for crimes?
- mminer237 9mo ago
  Nobody was pressing (or even alleging) crimes by the sheriff AFAIK.
simonw 9mo ago
That thing where law enforcement officers can be elected is such a weird American oddity. Most countries appoint law enforcement officers who are qualified for the job. We had a problem last year here in San Mateo County, California where our sheriff was corrupt but we had to pass a ballot measure because we couldn't just fire them: https://calmatters.org/justice/2025/10/san-mateo-sheriff-removed-from-office/ https://calmatters.org/justice/2025/10/san-mateo-sheriff-rem...
- wrs 9mo ago
  On the other hand, look at our current appointed DoJ and FBI leadership. No solution is foolproof.
- toast0 9mo ago
  In larger counties, the elected Sherrif is usually more managerial and less hands on. If not elected directly, the Sherrif would likely be chosen by the elected County Board of Supervisors. Which I guess gives you more ability to fire, but also means more indirection from the will of the people.
- noitpmeder 9mo ago
  Appointments are a whole other issue (see the extreme turnover in the American executive branch every 4 years). Id rather the head of my local police dept be significantly supported by the populating instead of an appointment from a governor, mayor, ... whose entire schtick can change on a dime. Independent elections are a good thing. Bundling offices together under a single election that appoints the rest of the world is terrible and only leans further into the two party see-saw that exists in the USA. I really wish for proportional representation. Not that it really applies to your local police force, but we need to break apart the complete A-or-B nature of American politics. Form coalitions, not monoliths that trade off earning 51% of the electorate every cycle that the completely repoints the entirety of the govt for the next 4 years.
- db48x 9mo ago
  Makes sense to me. County Sheriffs are elected by the residents of the county that they will serve. If you get a bad one then it’s your own fault for choosing poorly. Anyway, not all states elect their sheriffs, or even have sheriffs at all. States that appoint their sheriffs don’t appear to have a noticeably lower level of incompetents.

canucker2016 9mo ago

Sheriff Chad Leonard (queue chad references...) retired in 2022. see https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2022/08/29/dallas-county-iowa-sheriff-chad-leonard-retires-early-term/7927264001/ https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2022/08/29/dall...

justin66 9mo ago
It's a pity the $600k won't be deducted from his retirement income.
deleted 9mo ago
[deleted]