Who are we Saluting?

May 07, 2008 05:42 pm

— I would like to comment on the recent “Salute to Law Enforcement” that was recently published in the Express Star. I have been a law enforcement officer in this area for over 11 years and am currently the Director of the Narcotics Task Force for this District of Oklahoma. I work with most all law enforcement agencies throughout this state. I feel that we have many outstanding officers that we should all be very proud of in our communities. I do, however, find it very embarrassing when there is a “Salute to Law Enforcement” and three members of the Sheriff’s Office we are to be “saluting,” including the sheriff, are currently out on bond for their own particular criminal felony cases and are awaiting trial. These are the same guys that were indicted by an independent Grand Jury and were bound over at Preliminary Hearing by an independent Judge for multiple felony charges!!!! This is a huge embarrassment!! I also find it appalling that these same officers blatantly lied to the law enforcement officers that were investigating the illegal activity that they were involved in and were protecting! The sheriff himself snitched out this investigation to protect the illegal activity. Now we are all just supposed to forget that any of this has ever happened and “Salute” these guys?? Come on, wake up!! I work all over the state and everywhere I go I am asked about these particular defendants at the Grady County Sheriff’s Office and how their cases have been continued for so long and how it is that these guys have been allowed to continue to work as officers while they are out on felony bond. I’ve wondered this myself. These cases were originally prepared to go to trial by the District Attorney in October of 2006 and these defendants have been granted continuance after continuance. Two of their codefendants have pled, been found guilty, and moved on. I would simply like to take this moment to tell the many law enforcement officers and prosecutors that were not recognized yet perform their jobs on a daily basis, thank you so much for your dedication, hard work and professionalism. Many of you have advised that you do not want to be associated with these corrupt sheriffs that were recognized, and I don’t blame you one bit. I do want you to know that we all appreciate your honesty and integrity in a world that seems to be losing the value of this. It is a shame that you were not recognized yet these few deputies that have tarnished the badge and are out on bond for their felony crimes were. Keep up your quality work and this embarrassment will hopefully be over with soon.
Dusty Dowdle