ROCKLAND, Maine — The Knox County commissioners voted Tuesday not to appeal a Superior Court justice’s ruling that sided with its sheriff over who has control over personnel matters within her department.
The vote was unanimous, Chairman Roger Moody said after the meeting.
Justice Jeffrey Hjelm ruled March 2 that the sheriff retains responsibility for administering and directing investigations, personnel practices and decisions within her department.
Knox County Sheriff Donna Dennison initiated the lawsuit in state court with the backing of the Maine Sheriffs’ Association.
Hjelm ruled that the part of the Knox County charter — approved by voters in Knox County that gave authority to the county administrator to intervene in personnel matters including disciplinary actions — was void. He said the county charter was in conflict with state law that grants such authority to the elected sheriff.
Jonathan Berry, an attorney for the sheriffs’ association, said the ruling applies statewide and was a major victory for the elected law enforcement officers.
Berry said last week that the state law is clear that the county commissioners have the authority to set the budgets for the sheriff’s departments and the sheriffs must operate within those budgetary limits.
Another reason why an appointed police chief is preferable to an elected sheriff. The more you can remove politics from law enforcement the better.
Wouldn’t they be appointed by politicians? I prefer the opportunity to remove a sheriff by ballot to the potential for cronyism of political appointments.
Why is letting a politician appoint preferable to having the people elect? The first option is clearly political while the fomer leaves it up to the people.
…. same politics as everywhere else
Once again, the knox county sheriff has abused her power to get her own way. Way to undermine the people who put you into office, Donna. Lets hope all the voters remember this on the next election day.