Poor management starts at the top
To the editor:
I must admit the I voted for Sheriff Scott and, as far as law enforcement is concerned, his performance has been adequate if not ordinary. But one must remember that Scott was not elected but his opponent, a self-destructive political dwarf named Shoap, was kicked out of office. He was the eighth dwarf, Sleazy.
Now Scott has had an occasional glitch but, of late, the department seems to be in disarray and lacking leadership. Long-time officers are being disciplined, demoted and disgraced and, I am sure, department morale destroyed. These events naturally lead to questions as to the sheriff’s ability to select subordinates. And, if said subordinates have behaved in an unprofessional manner, why did it take so long to recognize and correct the situation? It is a case of pure mismanagement and reflects a weakness in Scott.
And, as a matter of personal and departmental image, it is a public relations nightmare. I can already imagine a number of those subordinates as candidates for sheriff or, at least, forming a support cadre for any reasonable candidate in the next election.
Having retired from advertising I am appalled at the sheriff’s various antics which erode his image and do damage to the department. I can only assume that the sheriff is getting bad advice from people with no PR or political expertise which encourages opposition in the next primary.
As a loyal Republican since the Eisenhower administration doesn’t mean that I must vote for an incompetent merely because it says GOP.
Peter Stewart Hare
Cape Coral