I would like to take exception to the recent comments of
Rick Hollis printed recently in the local media. Mr. Hollis immediately rushes to the
fail-safe political answer when someone has the guts to stand up and point out
the problems within an organization. Mr.
Hollis accuses the retirees of the Sheriff's Office of being disgruntled
ex-employees, stating half-truths and outright lies. These comments are nothing more than a means
of misdirection in order to avoid addressing the issues presented. It also is a means of shifting the
blame.
Interestingly, Mr. Hollis, who was the past Commissioner of
the Board of Elections, personally told me that he was going to leave his post
without informing County Officials because they would not pay him what he was worth. He also stated to another Mackney campaign
supporter that if they want him to help with the transition to the new Board of
Elections Commissioner, “They can pay me.”
Mr. Hollis' actions obviously speak to his character, and
show a deliberate effort to create chaos for the organization. Sure sounds like a textbook definition of
“Disgruntled” employee to me. It also
sounds like a person who is not in the position to serve the public, but is
seeking personal recognition and financial gain. Furthermore, Mr. Hollis told this Mackney supporter that he
was supporting Mr. Whitney because Mr. Whitney let him use the situation room
for his Board of Election trainings.
That statement certainly provides evidence of supporting the incumbent
because of his qualifications???
If Mr. Hollis had taken his valuable time to foil information from the Treasurer's Office regarding payroll, he would have understood the financial implications of the continued increasing overtime in the Sheriff's Office. Instead, he spent his time digging for payroll figures on candidate Mackney when he doesn't have any idea what they actually mean.
If Mr. Hollis had taken his valuable time to foil information from the Treasurer's Office regarding payroll, he would have understood the financial implications of the continued increasing overtime in the Sheriff's Office. Instead, he spent his time digging for payroll figures on candidate Mackney when he doesn't have any idea what they actually mean.
Mr. Hollis seems to think he has his thumb on the pulse of
the inner workings of the Sheriff's Office.
I just recently retired in April
after 37 years of service under five different Sheriff's. I am quite certain I have a better feel of
the operations at the Sheriff's Office then you, Mr. Hollis. Working for someone and how they present
themselves to the public are two different things.
In response to another media contributor, Mr. Bill Locke
makes comments concerning double dipping.
The position of Sheriff is an elected position providing the ability to
collect one’s pension and their salary as Sheriff. However, in the case of the Undersheriff,
which is an appointed position, Mr. Whitney has to secure a 211 waiver allowing
Mr. Monroe to collect his pension and current salary or as you say, “Double
Dip.” So, it is Mr. Monroe who is actually
Double Dipping.
As I write this correspondence I noticed a Whitney palm card
on my desk. Mr. Whitney boasts that he
has 35 years of experience as a Law Enforcement Administrator. Mr. Whitney came to the Sheriff's Office from
a department that has only one full-time employee. In other words, Mr. Whitney was Chief of
Police of himself. Mr. Whitney then
compliments his inexperience in managing a large Law Enforcement Agency by
recruiting a retired Patrolman who had never held a supervisory position in his
entire Law Enforcement Career. Sounds
like a real recipe for success.
Like most of the Law Enforcement Community in Allegany
County, I will be supporting Walter Mackney for Sheriff. I encourage all
eligible voters to do the same in the Primary September 13th, and again in the
General Election on November 6th.
Sincerely,
Deputy Jeffrey A.
Fontaine
Allegany County Sheriff's Office (Retired)
