No Entrepreneurial Law Enforcement
No Entrepreneurial Law Enforcement
To the Editor:
After reading the article in The Fayette County Record on April 28, I am moved to submit this letter voicing my opposition to raising salaries for the two drug interdiction officers because they engage in civil forfeitures and seizures. I consider this “entrepreneurial” law enforcement.
As a retired police officer, I have the highest respect for the law enforcement community. People are drawn to the law enforcement profession for a variety of reasons including job security, service to others, reputation, respectability, benefits, retirement and making a livable wage. This attempt to single out two deputies for salary increases based on civil seizures is illogical, discriminate and unfair. Although not prohibited by State Law, civil seizures and forfeitures are generally used to purchase law enforcement equipment that agencies are unable to purchase through the normal budget process. Allowing two deputies to earn salaries outside normal county pay scales will create dissention and animosity among other deputies and county employees in general. What happened to the purpose of government of providing services to its constituents?
It matters more to me that deputies are saving my property from being burglarized than to be seizing their salaries on the Interstate. Will these deputies retain any of their existing duties of patrolling and providing services to county residents or spend more time on Interstate 10 chasing the almighty dollar? What about “regular” deputies that engage in seizures because they also want favorable treatment? Will patrols end on my county road?
Chief Deputy Noviskie added that officers working for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) can make anywhere from $65K to $125K and that he was fearful of losing the two deputies. I challenge Chief Deputy Noviskie to detail where a DEA agent currently works targeting vehicles on a highway making this salary. His two deputies could not simply join the DEA and get this assignment.
I respectfully ask our County Judge and Commissioners to continue funding budget needs as they have done in the past. Civil seizures and forfeitures should only be used to supplement law enforcement training, equipment and facilities.
John A. Urby
La Grange
La Grange Citizens Alliance Applauds Samaritan’s Purse and Hope Hill
To the Editor:
The Steering Committee for the La Grange Citizens Alliance continues to monitor the development of the Hope Hill subdivision located at 808 Horton Street in La Grange and is pleased not only with its appearance but also with the news that Samaritan’s Purse, as the manager and developer, has also become the owner of this project and recently took possession and title to the 22.95 acre land tract. The former owner had been the La Grange Area Disaster Recovery Team doing business as the Fayette County Disaster Recovery Team.
Samaritan’s Purse, a Franklin Graham company headquartered in Boone, North Carolina, had donated funds totaling three million dollars in the spring of 2018 to the Fayette County Disaster Recovery Team for the development of a project to house area storm victims of Hurricane Harvey. Unfortunately, these donated funds were intended for both the purchase of the land and the development of the subdivision’s infrastructure; however, no roads or utility services were provided nor did the Fayette County Disaster Recovery Team construct one new house as a prototype. On the other hand, an existing house converted to a dairy barn was refurbished on the property and its road upgraded more than a year ago, but its usage at that time remained limited. It should be noted that the Fayette County Disaster Recovery Team was never a part of Fayette County government but is rather a privately owned entity operating as a 501(c)(3).
Samaritan’s Purse took management control of the Hope Hill project in the spring of 2019 and soon commenced with site preparation followed by the infrastructure including roads, curbs, gutters and utility services. Houses are presently under construction and are readily visible from Horton Street. Samaritan’s Purse continued with its efforts to acquire title to the land for the Hope Hill project and was successful in this endeavor on February 5, 2020. The Fayette County Disaster Recovery Team is no longer affiliated with Hope Hill, and the project is now totally in the capable hands of Samaritan’s Purse, which is producing a respectable product. The Steering Committee for the La Grange Citizens Alliance applauds the efforts of Samaritan’s Purse concerning the Hope Hill development.
The La Grange City Council in August 2019 voted against the annexation of the Hope Hill subdivision from Fayette County into the City of La Grange even though a portion falls within the city limits. The Steering Committee for the La Grange Citizens Alliance, however, is now in support of the annexation of the Hope Hill project due to its pleasing design and change of ownership and would encourage City Council to reconsider a new vote on annexation in the near future.
The Steering Committee for the La Grange Citizens Alliance:
Dr. Mike and Sarah Mabry, Leon Mueller, Ralph Rosenberg, Harvey Busch, Ken and Rita Dernehl, Lummus and Agnes Hannes, Scott Givan, Neale Rabensburg.