From Jeffrey R. Gahler:
At two recent community “Town Hall” meetings, Harford County Sheriff Jesse Bane took the opportunity to espouse “facts” concerning Sheriff’s Office staffing levels that are easily demonstrated to be an apparent work of fiction. Sheriff Bane again provided misleading facts concerning his Office’s staffing levels during a subsequent news conference concerning the State shifting teacher pensions to the counties.
A simple check of Uniform Crime Report data published by the Maryland State Police shows that Sheriff Bane is either uninformed or is not being candid in his comments concerning deployment of County law enforcement resources. The motivation for misrepresenting basic staffing is suspect. Were the citizens of Harford County mislead for a political purpose or due to a lack of familiarity with reported facts? Regardless of the motivation, the population and officer data does not equal 0.8 officers per 1000 citizens as Sheriff Bane claims.
Data provided to the Statewide Uniform Crime Reporting Program by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office reveal that the Harford County Sheriff’s Office reports 292 sworn law enforcement deputies, Maryland State Police reports 54 troopers assigned to Harford County, Havre de Grace Police Department reports 35 police officers, Bel Air Police Department reports 31 police officers, and the Aberdeen Police Department reports 45 police officers. The data presented above is self reported by each agency and can be found on page 201 of the Report.
Data extracted directly from the 2010 Uniform Crime Report reveals Harford County’s population was 246,347 (page 96). Using basic math, the actual ratio of officers to citizens is shown to be 1.9 officers per 1000 Harford County citizens (page 195). Although this is a 2010 Report, it is the most up-to-date printed source for the information and the small changes in population and staffing over the past year are not significant enough to change the ratio.
Even when the population of the three incorporated municipalities is not included in the County’s total population, and only the Deputy Sheriffs and State Troopers who serve Harford County are included in the calculation, the ration is roughly 1.6 officers per 1000 Harford County citizens. To further the review into officer staffing in the County, utilizing only the number of Deputy Sheriffs in the equation, the ratio is roughly 1.2 officers per 1000 Harford County citizens.
I present these figures in an effort to establish an understanding of fact. The information presented by Sheriff Bane during the community meetings and press conferences is misleading and could lead a reader to believe he accomplishes much with little. The fact is that by utilizing an antiquated staffing model discontinued by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and incorrect ratios of law enforcement officers to citizens, Sheriff Bane has attempted to seek some type of recognition and demonstrate a need for additional personnel while avoiding questions of need based on measurable data driven demands for law enforcement services.
More accurate staffing models for today’s police departments are based on calls for service and other definitive and measurable demands. If there is a need for additional personnel, the citizens of this County should expect Sheriff Bane to use facts to demonstrate the need, not fiction. We should all expect the complete facts from our elected officials, especially the Sheriff.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to address an issue important to the safety of our communities.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey R. Gahler
Link to 2010 Uniform Crime Report: http://icac.mdsp.org/downloads/2010_Crime_in_Maryland_Book.pdf
Perhaps it is time to revisit the consolidation of all the municipal police forces in Harford County and the Sheriff’s Office into one larger County Police Department. This would eliminate Sheriff elections and broaden the base of qualified applicants. Our small town Mayors should not be running police departments for many reasons.
I would like to see this become a public referendum in the next general election.
While a County Police Department is possible, it would in no way eliminate the Office of Sheriff, nor elections for Sheriff. The Sheriff would still be responsible for the Courts and Detention Center.
Interesting idea of creating a county police department. Of course the job of the Sheriff wouldn’t be eliminated, but rather reduced significantly in scope as Mr. Welsh stated. I think the other poster may have meant that once a county police dept is created, there will no longer be elections for the Chief. Of course, this would be an appointed position which has pro’s and con’s. But, most cities and larger counties use the appointed Chief position with a set term contract, that is renewable based on performance.
I am curious how the county residents would vote on this.
B
Why are you so eager to give up a vote?
L. Jesse Bane–the ultimate spin doctor. He is both–a liar AND completely uninformed. Harford County deserves better than this.
When did a supposed News activity become the forum for promulgating opinions from hateful nasty people with personal grudges? Has the editor of the Dagger taken leave of his responsibilities to report News?
Mr Porter: You previously posted, on a different thread, that you liked Jesse Bane but you wouldn’t give the reasons. Or something to that effect. He must have done you a personal favor, hired someone you know or turned the other way when you did something wrong. Either that or you are 85 years old and/or live in the southern end of the county. Those are the demographics for the Bane supporters. Seriously, you read all these posts by deputies who have had enough of Bane yet you steadfastly support the man and give no reason for your support. His detractors have given many examples of why he is incompetent and ruining the agency. Do you doubt Mr. Gahler’s (our next Sheriff) facts? If so, prove him wrong. Take your blinders off and open your eyes to the truth.
He doesn’t bother me as much as you folks complaining about him. It’s all relative. And I just see the majority of you as disgruntled employees or worse – the folks his organization manages to take off the streets. Are you sure you know who you are allied with?
@DavidPorter,
It is a sad statement about your values that you do not mind being intentionally mislead and misinformed by an individual in a job were integrity should be the most important thing. I have already spoke to several of my coworkers and I can assure you we do not share your high regard for yet another blemish on the Office from Sheriff Bane.
I have not been misled by Sherrif Bane. I appreciate the professionalsim of his staff and the difficult work they have to perform. Having said that, I will not engage in hateful and spiteful dialogue about someone I know nothing about. If you wish to do that because you feel you know him, and you feel that enhances your life by exercising that demon regulary, then you are free to continue to enjoy yourself. From my perspective, your hate makes you undesirable to listen to. Which may explain why you feel opposition to Sherrif Bane.
David Porter,
You say that we are free to continue to enjoy ourselves. Well thank you so much for granting us freedom. Gosh, what would we do without someone like you letting us be free. Are you the same jackass who posted on another thread, bragging about doing 48mph in a school zone and only getting a warning ticket?
Retired. If you had bothered to understand what I said… I was not bragging about doing 48 mph. I was about how ignorant your deputy was about the need to calibrate his measurement device which he was using to measure my speed – and that instead of ticketing me for a valid measurement of 48mph he chose instead to give me a warning – which to me suggests he had no idea how fast I was driving and did so with complete contempt. Thank you for your willful ignorance – again.
David Porter,
It makes no difference who the people are. The facts are the facts, and the facts are what you should speak to. If the facts are wrong point out where or how that is so.
Did you really just insinuate that those people who are not supporters of the Sheriff are either criminals or disgruntled SO employees? That is one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever seen posted on this website (and that says much). I am personally insulted by your outlandish name calling. I am neither an employee of the Sheriff’s Office (disgruntled or not) nor am I a criminal, yet I am not a support of Mr. Bane. He has used the office as a political position rather than a crime fighting position more often than not and there are more than enough pieces of anecdotal evidence about problems within the Sheriff’s Office and at the Detention Center to believe that he has a serious management issue.
The truth as I see it is this: Since moving here four years ago I have had three unfortunate incidents requiring the need for a sheriff. In each instance the sheriff who presented to the scene arrived quickly, was polite, efficient and informative, and treated me with respect.
My neighborhood recently had a rash of break-ins which resulted in a robocall to all of us alerting us to what was happening and to be vigilant. A sheriff could be seen after that on patrol.
As a citizen and taxpayer a I am quite pleased with the services I have received from Sheriff Bane and his staff. I assume that is how most people make a judgment of how he is doing his job and why he remains well respected and appreciated by most people I speak with.
As I could very well have been involved in your neighborhood’s needs, I am happy to hear the good comments. But there is no denying the issues that are continuing to come to light about the leadership of the Office. If the Sheriff is not willing to be honest, does that make it okay for the deputies who respond to your needs to be equally as carefree with the truth? If you or your family members freedom comes down to the word of a deputy (or the sheriff) don’t you expect that person’s integrity to be above reproach? Hope you are not on the wrong end of finding out. As we are not in a position to bring these issues to the public’s attention, many of us are more than pleased that we have not been totally abandoned.
It is simply amazing to me that elected officials like Jesse Bane will say and do anything to stay in power. It is also amazing to me that when truth be told, people who disagree are somehow offended.
Hopefully about the same time the supposed News (your Baltimore Sun and Aegis) started accepting things blindly. There is nothing hateful or nasty in the letter from Mr. Gahler the way I read it. Why don’t you work on refuting his “facts”, after all, he made it easy for you. There is a link to the source and even page numbers. Let’s ask Jesse for the same source to his “facts”.
@Porter, I agree with Onpoint. Good job Gahler and good job Dagger. It is obviously from Gahler and not writtn as a news story, but there needs to be a news story about why Bane feels it is okay to lie.
county police force was voted down by Harford county citizens years ago. Jesse Bane was re-elected not too long ago. It appears the campaign season for Sheriff’s office is starting up again. When is enough? These retired policemen trying to get a fat cat salary on top of pensions. blah blah blah. most of us are just trying to make ends meet, I know Jesse is loaded also but I just get tired of these wise cracker know it alls trying to get money and power by downing Bane. He paid his dues for years in the HCSO, let him serve.
Bel Air Feb,
You have said nothing refuting the “facts” as laid out by Mr. Gahler. Mr. Gahler provided a link for you to read the facts. Are you saying that we should disregard the misinformation given by Sheriff Bane? There seems to be a pattern of misinformation by the Sheriff and his inner circle of leadership at the HCSO. If the report cited by Mr. Gahler is wrong then let the Sheriff point out where the report is wrong!
@Belair Fed,
Logic like yours got us elected officials like Obama, O’Malley and Bane. Hey let him serve, serve up any bs he wants and I will follow blindly. No doubt you are surely a valued federal employee. Do you recall any historical mention of the need to question our elected leaders or are you too busy scraping by on you federal pay check?
I know and like Jesse Bane. He has served this county honorable for a long time. But that doesn’t stop me from thinking Harford County is long overdue for a county wide non political police dept. I’m not saying get rid of the Sheriff; that office would retain the duties comparable to those of a sheriff in other similar jurisdictions i.e. Baltimore County. We also sorely need a professional county wide EMT and fire service in this county. Where those responding to medical emergencies are trained and licensed to treat and stabilize individuals in crisis situations. The volunteers doing it now do a wonderful service to the county but when one’s life is on the line you want to know that the person responding is trained and qualified. Having witnessed our current system in action several times tells me loud and clear we’ve grown beyond the capabilities of what we have today.
PJ, you and others just seem to gloss over the fact that Jesse Bane is either dishonest or in over his head. Which is it? Whenever anyone puts forth “Fact” that contradicts Jesse Bane’s gross incompetence – the good ole boy comments come out.
Believing any branch of law enforcement could be non-political was your first mistake. If the commander is not elected, he serves at the pleasure of someone who is, so he’ll deliver the results to keep that person happy, which means results aligned with the County Executive’s platform.
Here we go again. The only thing that will change with gahler, or whomever, being elected is all the has-bins are going to come back in. People don’t seem or what to remember what it was like with the last two administrations. Bane is doing a good job with what he has. Yes, he has some faults, but why go back in time. A county police force would not solve the problem….just make everyone grip more.
Jesse continues to fabricate things to fit his unrealistic view of the world. He did not understand the UCR reports 5 years ago and apparently has not bothered to learn about them. If he were to properly staff his patrol shifts with existing personnel he would not need the citizens to fork up another 2 million dollars for 20 more officers. He would just continue to mismanage those officers too. Harford County will survive if we don’t hire more officers this year. Jesse is so old school he is using outdated methods to calculate his staffing. When will people understand that he is incompetent to be our sheriff?
The Bane supporters on here are just as delusional as he is. Apparently it’s ok to mislead, mismanage & misinform as long as it’s your guy doing it. You Bane groupies need to be put out to pasture with him.
YEAH OK…..ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE PAST…..VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE. It amazes me that people think that Bane is the problem and they want all the old timers back…
Well sorry to shock you out of your amazement but yes, Bane is the problem. If you ever saw the way he treats his own people you would be even more amazed.
He is not a supportive commander. The very word “command” and the dynamics that go with it confuse him. He fails to understand that when people are in positions to command they must be able to command. He won’t let his commanders do their jobs. All decisions have to be funneled through him. How can the officers do their jobs and be responsive to community problems if they cannot make decisions to address those problems? He does not trust others to make decisions. This is due in part to his paranoia. He does not understand the very basic process of problem-solving. He sees everyone plotting against him when in reality they just want to do their jobs and go home. He is a sad lonely man.
If anyone who has knowledge of a police force that’s unelected – ala Balto County could point out a department that’s well run and not political – if they could speak up here and tell us where and what makes it a good PD, it would be much appreciated. It is so tiresome year after year hearing from wanna bees. I hate the way good guys end up getting their reps trashed – like Ted Moyer – excellent state trooper, elected sheriff, then bad mouthed out of office years ago.
Bel Air Fed,
And who bad mouthed Ted Moyer out of office? If I am correct it was Jesse Bane, and Domonik Mele.
Mr. Welsh: You are correct about Mele and Bane.
@BelairFed,
Once again you could not be more incorrect. Any police department with an appointed chief gets nothing more than a puppet to carry out the political agenda of the elected appointing authority. This has been seen clearly in the Baltimore County Police Department, the Baltimore Police Department and the State Police. Dutch Rupersburger appointed Sheridan who was a train wreck in Balf. County. Governor Shafer appointed the guy best known for walking his dog, Governor O’Malley appointed Dutch Rupersburger’s buddy Sheridan who continued to be a train wreck to the State Police and every City Mayor has gone through every chief who did not tow the company line. I will tell you all of this is first hand knowledge having worked in an agency with an appointed chief.
I am curious as to what it is you do for your Federal “scraping by” taxpayer funded paycheck. Will you share your area of expertice with us? To be clear and fair, mine is law enforcement.
@Bel Air Fed and Factchecker,
Factchecker, you forgot to mention Aberdeen Police Department where the Mayor fired the effective previous chief of police and then conducted a NATIONWIDE SEARCH at taxpayer’s expense for the best candidate to fill the vacancy. This NATIONAL SEARCH located the best law enforcement executive and it just happened to be the guy who supported the mayor’s campaign and had been in an acting role since the first chief was fired. Yep, no politics with an appointed chief.
To OnPoint, well, your point is well taken with the one example of small town politics. However, by and large, an appointed Chief selected from a comprehensive nationwide search who is not connected to local politicians would have a set term/contract and not be subject to the BS you suggested. The concept of consolidating the local police departments would also yield many economies of scale such as more bang for the buck on training, equipment, manpower,and more.
Regardless, having an elected Sheriff as your Chief LEO becomes a giant headache every election cycle, with bizarre allegations and fingerpointing, some fact, some fictional.
The voters should decide if this is something they want to change.
@Marcusp,
I understand the debate, but boil it down to basics and your law enforcement “chief” can either answer to the voters for the job he/she does or the “chief” can answer to the mayor or other elected official, holding him/her in debt to an agenda that is not primarily focused on law enforcement. I will take the debate and work through the politics to get to the best person for the job. As far as this story, I openned the link and looked at the information contained in the report and the letter and I do feel that the currest sheriff is not being honest.
Perhaps Uncle Jesse is just using the “artistic expression” concept that he is so fond of, in fabricating his statistics.
Is anyone bothering to actually read the letter and then take a look at the Crime Report? I did and I am astounded! Our Sheriff either has twice the resources he thinks he has or he intentionally goes to these events and lies! I would like to know what David Craig thinks of having his argument for the County not being burdened with the teacher’s pensions resting on this misinformation. I have an idea, shift the teacher’s pensions to the County and take the money from the Sheriff’s budget since he already has more than he needs.
Taxpayer: You are correct on both counts. He goes to the Town Hall meetings to get his picture on the front page of the newspaper that idolizes him and to present himself to the general public as having their best interests at heart. As far as resources, someone needs to ask him why it is necessary to have 3 sworn deputies installing and repairing in-car computers and radios when 1 or 2 civilians could do the job. Or ask him why he has 12 deputies assigned to Homeland Security, the Gang and CART units. Ask him why some specialized units have almost a 1:2 ratio of supervisors to personnel. Ask him why today he has 3 patrol deputies, one a supervisor, sitting at the empty new southern precinct watching people carry in 90 new computers. Yes, 90, that is not a typo. He has the resources, both personnel-wise and financial–he is just completely and totally mismanaging every aspect of the agency.
Living in Mayberry with Sheriff Jesse. Well what do you expect, they didn’t have ratios a thousand years ago, what ever good round number sounds ok to Jesse must be right. You could get a better explanation from George Bush.
maybe there should be a nonpartisan board of citizens set up, equal dems/reps with authority to search for and hire PD. Getting rid of HDG, BEL AIR, and ABERDEEN, police in favor of rolling everyone into one consolidated department. we have the same thing in fed gov, we have 5 or 6 adjudication entities set up all doing the same thing, but due to politics, each remains a separate entity, even though they are all now located in the same building at Ft Meade. Cry about Federal waste but willing to put up with it at the local level to get your man elected? not consistent. It doesn’t do a whole lot for voter confidence to hear your sheriff is a dumb jerk every 4 years. Right now Jesse is the dumb jerk/liar. If Gahler gets elected next time someone will find something to make him a dumb jerk/liar. Let’s see, Moyer, Mele, Bane, Meadows, Comes, Kunkel – all jerks/liars????
Bel Air Fed,
No thanks, our system might not be the best, but I will take it over having a few individuals make the decision for me. Hopefully people will begin to wake up in this state and hold their elected officials accountable. O’Malley lied to us about slots, BGE rates and on and on, but re-elected easily. Just as easily, Sheriff Bane gets up and spins lies and people jump to defend him. Everyone needs to take a minute to look at the act and not the person. He is going to be the nice guy who is picking your wallet while smiling at you and thinking how easy it was to lie to your face and get away with it.
Bel Air Fed,
If Mr. Gahler should run and get elected next time, I think there will be one very major difference in what you see on a forum such as this. That difference will be the myriad people, especially Deputies, who will be more than happy to openly support him, and use their real name in doing so.
Can you imagine an organization such as the HCSO, where personnel, even those who support Sheriff Bane, will not publicly do so using their real name. What does that say about how things are in the HCSO? What it says to me is, Sheriff Bane has very few supporters within the HCSO. Those who do support him, mostly for the rewards which he channels their way for the support, do not want to be seen publicly backing him as that would compromise the things they say behind Sheriff Banes back to their fellow Deputies. This is not a good situation and needs to change.
What is your real Name? Gary V or Terry N ?
Drednaught!
If Gahler dumps Bodway he would have a better chance.
Toobad1234,
What’s your problem with Bodway? Why is having Steve’s support a bad thing?
Let’s see:
1) in a time of shrinking budgets he wanted to build a museum and create a new rank with no requirements, just to hand it out to his older buddies
2) reprimanded deputies for failing to put their hats on prior to getting involved in hot calls. i.e. robbery in progress, fight, etc. In fact at one point deputies who had numerous subjects detained rotated back to their cars to put their hats on in order to not get in trouble
3) lectured deputies on the power of the hat, the mystical power of the stetson to which no policing power was present without
If you’re retired, what’s stopping you from using your real name now?
True That,
I continue to have contact with many current employees of the HCSO. I do not wish to place them in Jesse’ target line simply because they may be associated with me. So I, like you, remain anonymous for the time being.
Maybe you think if Steve gets in you can come back.
TooBad1234,
I have absolutely no interest in leaving retirement, now or in the future. I am completely happy with my freedom and would never choose the daily grind of public safety as a replacement for my current carefree life.
Care to share your thoughts regarding Steve Bodway?
totally agree about our current governor. Man uses the label progressive to beat the snot out of our wallets as he positions himself for his own Presidential ambitions. The governor of the state with the best schools (aka: most money thrown down a hole per student), the only gay marriage state to survive a referendum (just a little prognostication), the green governor (he and his federal judge salary wife the only ones with green left as they use our dime to fuel their Ford SUVs). I hope he gets his clock cleaned and ends up relegated to some law firm when they swear in a Repulican President in 5 years.
Now that I see how good Jesse Bane is at reporting numbers, I wonder about his crime reduction numbers – another self reported figure. I wonder if he is being honest about?
Winning: You should absolutely be concerned about the stats that Uncle Jesse spews. Whatever makes him look good.
TOOBAD1234: Having Retired Major Bodway support Mr. Gahler is a positive. Mr. Bodway admirably stepped aside so Mr. Gahler could step up, thus allowing for the Republican vote to be unified, and not split among several candidates as happened in the last election. I originally thought having Howard Walter involved in Gahler’s campaign was not a good idea, based on the feelings some of the Deputies who have been around feel about him. Personal feelings aside, Mr. Walter is savvy about politics, understands how to run a campaign and definitely knows how to raise funds. Power changes people. We thought we were getting a Sheriff with courage, honor and integrity. We got one with cowardice, shame and corruption.
Tru Dat,
As time goes on, people will find your words more and more true. If people look back in time when Jesse Bane was the Chief Deputy for Dominick Mele, they would see the same pattern of behavior developed from Jesse. It was Jesse’ behavior and actions that made Sheriff Mele a one term Sheriff. Nothing has changed, except he now feels more empowered as the Sheriff.
…and there it is! Repulican vs. Democrat, “unified vote” what a bunch of crap spewed from talking points given out in a Rt. 40 meeting.
I cannot believe that this is happening in the Haford County Police Department. I voted for Jesse Bane in the last election and thought that he had the support of his officers. I got a postcard that showed his opponent as a trash man or auto mechanic and it came from the officers union(I think). If the officers are as mistreated as you have said why did they support him in the last election and where is your union? My husband is a retired police officer from Baltimore City and he said that his union would not allow this. Is this really happening, if so its a failure on your police department and your union, and its really sad.
Juan, what’s your husbands name? I think I might know him??
Lesser of two evils. There was the known: Bane, and the unknown: Gahler. The command staff under Bane was known, under Gahler there was talk of the return of past problem people, i.e. folks who put GPS’s on cars on non-current sheriff supporters in order to catch them doing things they themselves did as retaliation.
Also, when a candidate says they don’t need the support of the union because they are backed by trooper organizations, it kinda helps you know their priorities.
You knew the Command Staff under Bane. Did he not promote three people to the grade of Major after his re-election? The HCSO only has four Major positions! Perhaps you knew who he was going to promote. Guess you’re on the inside track.
First off its a Sheriff’s Office and not a Police Department. Second off if we dare speak out then we will be skipped over on the promotional list or transferred to Midnight Shift, Property Managment, or Evening Shift. Third we did support Bane in the last election but I can say now we dont. When we vote again in three years he WILL NOT get the endorsement. Fourth its a failure mostly at the Sheriff’s Office level and not the union. There are people (including the second floor breakfast club) and several commanders who know what is happening and have failed to do something about it. I am confident that Karma will bite them in the Buttox. Lastly I leave you with the definition of Coward: a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person.
Thank you Mark’s cousin. I think people are finding it hard to believe that any agency could operate this way without something being done. I can’t believe it myself. I’m glad you mentioned the breakfast club. The is one designated sworn law enforcement officer whose lone task is picking up breakfast for the prima dona women on the Sheriff’s floor. This is around 8:30-9:00. The chosen ones eat and then start talking about lunch around 10:30. Lunch is picked up by the aforementioned deputy and is served in the conference room on the second floor precisely at noon where all the “Buttox” kissing boys and girls sit for approximately 2 hours. All the while, the ones who are committed to the agency go about their business until one of them finds themselves targeted. This has got to be the most dysfunctional agency in the universe. Even Chef Gordon Ramsey couldn’t straighten out this mess.
hey now! I here he also sends out emails and policies that come from the big heads. so food runner and email sender, sounds like a good use for a sworn person.
It appears others have made similar statments.
Gahler is saying the exact same thing as Golding did a few years ago:
http://www.daggerpress.com/2010/04/04/former-sheriff-golding-on-bane-the-last-thing-they-and-the-citizens-of-harford-county-need-is-a-sheriff-who-has-no-clue/#comment-100719