More than six dozen Harford County Sheriff’s Deputies received pay raises last month as part of a budget amendment agreed to by County Executive David Craig and the deputies’ union, negotiations Sheriff Jesse Bane now says he was not involved with and plans to revisit with Craig.
Under an amendment to the county’s operating budget passed in May, unranked deputies who have been with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for more than 10 years received a six percent raise and a new title, currently being referred to internally as “senior deputy.”
The pay raises went into effect July 7 for approximately 70 deputies among the more than 500 employees of the agency, according to Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Monica Worrell. The budget amendment provides for $382,690 to cover the raises.
However, the raises do not apply to corrections officers who have served a similar amount of time, nor the agency’s civilian employees, Bane said. The increase comes in a year which saw Craig revoke the second portion of a bonus for county employees, and in which the county’s budget contained no broad raises for most employees for a fifth straight year.
“I support the senior deputy plan but not at the expense of others,” Bane said Monday. The raises and new rank are “counter to the way I was raised in the community as a deputy.”
Kevin Thomas, president of the Harford County Deputy Sheriff’s Union, did not respond to requests for comment.
Bane said he had initially spoken with Craig to request raises for all personnel, plus a senior deputy classification for both law enforcement deputies and corrections officers.
But Bane claimed he did not learn that there had been an “senior deputy” amendment to the budget submitted by Craig, until he contacted a County Council member for confirmation. Furthermore, he said “innuendo” in the Sheriff’s Office pointed to him as the force behind the amendment, causing Bane to send an internal e-mail to staff saying he was not.
Bane told The Dagger that he was happy some people got raises, but believed the move would create a “firestorm in the agency.” He said he also warned union officials about the potential for public outcry.
“I have to look out for all my people,” he said. “It’s a morale issue.”
Bane declined to speculate why Craig offered the amendment without consulting him, but said he has waited for “the dust to settle” and would meet with Craig to look for savings in the current budget and pursue raises for next year.
By state law, the sheriff’s own salary is set in Annapolis based on an economic index. Bane claimed that each year Sheriff’s Office employees have not received a raise, he has given back his own increase, which last year amounted to $1,600 and went to support several grant programs.
Dion Guthrie, county councilman for District A, said Craig’s motive in brokering the raises directly with the deputies’ union was political.
“It’s fairly obvious,” he said. “Why would he [Craig] not go to the head of the department?”
Craig’s intentions, according to Guthrie, were to support Republican sheriff candidate and former Maryland State Police trooper Jeff Gahler by attempting to embarrass Bane.
Guthrie added that he also heard rumors that Bane knew about the raises and was “playing dumb,” but said he is convinced the sheriff was not aware of the negotiations at the time.
Though seeking raises for existing employees, Bane also said at several town hall meetings earlier this year that he hoped to hire additional deputies and corrections officers—but that no money existed to do so.
At a town hall meeting in Edgewood in March, Bane placed the first-year costs of training, equipping, and paying a new a law enforcement deputy, including benefits, at $150,000, and for a corrections officer at $137,000. Ideally, he said then, he would want to hire 28 new corrections officers and 137 new law enforcement recruits.
At the time, Bane nonetheless praised Craig, saying the county executive had worked closely with Bane and his agency.
“No complaints against the county executive and county council, they’ve been good to us,” he said. “[But] we are severely understaffed.”
Dagger reporter Cindy Mumby contributed to this story.
Look out for all your people Sheriff Bane? You missed looking out for everyone except the Baners.
I agree. My husband has been with the agency as a Deputy First Class for 8 years and was stiffed on the raise. We have a family to raise and bills to pay as well. My husband has 2 life saving awards and is a dedicated hard worker. UNION means just that, not just for Deputy’s with a certain number of years on..ALL DEPUTY’S. This is a slap in the face and a hit to the already low moral in the department. I pray EVERYONE gets the raise they deserve since they have had no raise in at least 5 years.
ALL HCSO EMPLOYEES SHOULD SHARE IN THE RAISE FOR THIS YEAR. But not if the other county workers are not getting anything in their paycheck. Why should the citizens allow this to happen!
I agree that everyone should get something before some, but this has the ability to affect everyone. But either way, if he has been here 8 years then in 2 more I highly doubt you will complain when he gets this bump. It isn’t a one time bump for 10 year vets, but one that everyone who chooses not to promote can expect in the future. I am sure you didn’t complain when he went from being a deputy to a deputy first class. I am sure you won’t complain when he goes from a deputy first class to a senior deputy. It is no different and cannot be looked at as such.
going from a deputy to deputy first class is the normal progression. This is a made up rank and a 6 percent raise. How dare you say that the person wouldn’t complain. NOT EVERY DEPUTY GETS THE MASTER DEPUTY!!!!!!!! The HCSO has more then just patrol deputies. There are deputies at the jail and in other classifications. So to say that someone wouldn’t complain is being selfish. The other county workers need a raise too!
Whatever dude. At some point DFC was a made up rank as well. If corrections and civilians want the same tell them to come be the police! I am not declaring one job to be more important then the other, but the secretaries at all these investment firms don’t get million dollar bonuses just because the guys they work for do. Complain about something that has some merit. Not all jobs are the same. If you aren’t happy with your job go get another. It isn’t my fault that some people aren’t qualified for mine…. And I don’t complain that I am not qualified for other peoples jobs either. If you aren’t happy with your profession, the wages you make, or the changes that happen… GO DO SOMETHING ELSE!
You are right, I would not complain, but my Union unlike the Sheriff Union has never been so bias. Every raise and step has always been given to all, not just the chosen few. And what about Deputy’s not getting their rightful pay step in 6 years? Don’t you think your all powerful Union should have worked on getting everyone their paystep increase back before this bogus Senior Deputy raise was implemented???Anyway, your Union needs to step up. The pension contribution has gone up as well as health care and any funds that are made avaliable should be distributed evenly to all..
Did you read the above article?
What a slap in the face to all the other personnel who have been with the agency 10+ years. Too bad the correctional officers and civilians don’t have a kiss ass union to look out for them.
Then get off your butts and form one! The person sitting on the sofa complaining never accomplishes anything!
too bad the patrol deputies think they elect the sheriff and their union is the bomb. What about all the other personnel who make the agency run! There is life after work! The citizens of Harford County elect a sheriff and say who will be the boss.
The civilians tried to form a union. There was a lot of hard work involved with getting the civilians in law enforcement and the civilian in corrections united. It’s unfortunate that the people who ended up being voted as officers made it more of a popularity contest and more about what everyone’s plans are than trying to do anything for the civilian workforce. The whole thing just feel apart in one fell swoop….
Someone, you are correct. The civilians did try to start a union. The person who got the ball rolling did an excellent job, but unfortunately she had to step aside. The person who took over dropped the ball. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment to do something like this. Furthermore, to the idiot who compared the civilian personnel to secretaries at large investment firms–you have no clue. The number of civilians at the SO and DC is well over 100. Their role at the agency allows more sworn deputies to be out on the road (until Bane takes them off putting them in one of his many redundant specialized units”. Many civilians are retired deputies. Your suggestion to “become police” if they want a raise is short-signed and idiotic. The people behind the scenes are as integral to the running of the agency as the patrolmen and women out on the streets.
None of the jobs would exist if they weren’t necessary. Civilians are necessary, but they have a different function and purpose. I am not saying one is more important then the other, or that one does a better job then the other. But they ARE different jobs. I do not know of any place on the planet where every employee regardless of their position makes the same pay or get the same raises.
Dear Seriously, no one is saying that civilians, corrections and law enforcement should be making the same salaries. What I am saying is that if there is going to be a “senior deputy” rank, there should also be a “senior corrections” and a “senior civilian” rank. Why should their 10 years of service count any less?
this is as bad as a 22 percent raise for the same job. Looks like someone got money and others didn’t. Doing the same job for more money? Where do I get an application? Amazing that approx 70 deputies get a raise and the rest of the sheriff’s office get NOTHING. Someone has some explaining to do for this unfair raise.
It is interesting to read between the lines in this story. Bane didn’t know this was going on? Bane was not consulted? Those that read this article must understand that Bane is not capable of making such decisions. He is not looking out for the morale of “his people.” He is simply looking out for himself by doing what he always does by being noncommittal. If someone disagrees with what has taken place he can point to others and not take responsibility. This is what he does. That is why the Union had to make this happen. That is why the County Executive made this happen. That is why the council made this happen. Bane is incapable of backing up deputies when they need it. This new rank can be and was justified. Its a shame that our Sheriff did not have the guts to come out and support us.
Republican Voter: Justified or not, don’t you think the timing of this is incredibly poor? There was so much public outcry about a county council administrator getting a $22,000 raise that it was rescinded. It just seems to me that with everyone struggling financially, it’s hard for me to accept something like this occurring now.
Okay, I agree with the bad timing point. You are right. Its just frustrating when you are trying to do a good job, get rewarded for it, then your leadership isn’t there to recognize, support or even admit they know what just happened.
That’s just it. You have Deputy’s on with less then 10 years that are harder workers then the ones with 10 plus. I agree with the Senior Deputy rank, just like the OIC’s in other departments, but if a raise is on the table, give it to all Deputy’s. If they took the test for Corporal and did well, they would get promoted and then deserve a pay raise. Then Sheriff Bane could be held accountable for not doing promotions when they are needed.
Terri, I agree with you. The case can also be made that there will be some deputies who won’t take the promotional test knowing that when their 10 years is up, they’ll get an automatic raise. It is no fun studying for the test, going through the ordeal of the oral boards–the whole process is stressful. Just playing devil’s advocate…
Taking the test and doing well does not mean you will get promoted. There are more then 6 promotional vacancies which have sat idle for months with an active list of people who did well enough that are sitting still with their fingers crossed hoping and praying that they get what they earned!
Seriously,
What is the reason for the delay in promoting to the vacant positions? If the positions exist, then the money is in the budget. What are they using the funded position money for?
Mr. Welsh,
That is a question like many others that I would love to know the answer to. Aside from the promotional vacancies that are available and unfilled, there have been numerous deputy positions that remained unfilled for lengthy times during this administrations tenure. These are planned retirements and openings that they knew were coming and yet sat unfilled for months. I have always thought that the money for those positions which are still in the budget yet went unfilled was being used to fill gaps created by mismanagement. Why else would they complain about needing more people when for lengthy times while they allow the budgeted and paid for vacancies to remain open. When they talk about manpower issues, part of it is to blame internally. Unless you are downsizing, most businesses have replacements ready as the retiree is going out the door. This agency has the ability to avoid the lengthy training time by hiring laterals replacements. But… not so long ago, the lateral pay was adjusted that from day 1, some of the personnel were making what a ten year deputy was making without any service to this county. I agree their experience should be compensated, but when others were not receiving raises, it allowed the morale of the majority upset now to fester. You have 6 and 7 year deputies here making what they left the academy making with all their time and service to this county. Then you have 6-10 laterals making $10 an hour more from their first day here. Rather than capping the experience level or pay given to these laterals at a reasonable rate, it is to the point they will no longer hire laterals to replace these people as they are lost to retirement or lost to termination. Every bit of it all comes down to the inability to manage and make decisions. Most of which the low man on the pole pays the price for.
Seriously,
Sheriff Bane is conducting a shell game. He is using funded positions that he is intentionally keeping vacant to fund overtime and other actions. An example would be the vacant positions of Warden and Correctional Bureau Majors position, not to mention the various other lower grade positions within the HCSO. He does this at the expense of the good men and women in the HCSO who could fill these positions and earn a higher deserved salary.
Republican Voter,
You say that the new rank was needed and was justified. Share with us the justification for the new rank. Explain why this rank is needed in the Sheriff’s Office and how this new rank fits into the chain of command within the agency.
What new or additional duties will come with this new rank? The article above makes it sound like nothing more than a select few (approx 60) within the Sheriff’s Office were singled out for a significant increase in pay. What will these people do to deserve more money than others of their same rank?
I do not believe for one second that Sheriff Bane was unaware Mr. Craig was going to submit a request for this pay action. Bane may not have known the exact day the request was submitted (which was essentially what Bane said) but for us to believe he knew nothing about this is beyond the realm of reality. If it is true then ask yourself this question: Is Jesse Bane really in charge at the HCSO, or has he lost control.
If Bane didn’t know, he is more of an idiot than I thought. If he did know and let it go through, he is more of an idiot than I thought. Just proves that Bane has absolutely no management skills and could care less about the morale of the deputies. I wonder how many of the 6 dozen or so are his supporters? I would venture to say most. Most of the younger deupties don’t belong to the union, so the spoils go to the Baners once again.
Uncle Benny, you are more of an idiot than I thought. You would do better communicating to your wife instead of posting nonsense.
It should be made clear that only a select chosen few in the union knew anything about this even happening and most of the rest are pretty pissed off about it. Especially those at the bottom of the pay scale with 5-6 years experience and still on step 1 (which means in a couple months deputies with 4 less years experience will be making the same as those guys.)
Let’s hose the guys at the bottom while giving the guys who make the most in the agency a sizable pay raise, great plan. Taking that transfer to Baltimore County PD is looking more attractive by the day. It used to be no one wanted to transfer from the HCSO and a lot of people wanted to transfer here because of the working conditions, but that has now changed and potentially as many as 10-15 are seriously looking at going to BCPD (who is hiring something like 50 lateral transfers as we speak.) That’s almost an entire patrol shift if that many really leave.
Good riddance to any of Harford County Sheriff’s Deputies who want to leave. I suspect their good-ole-boy, kick-ass style of law enforcement won’t play well in Baltimore County. Here’s a hint to any Harford County yahoos who think the grass will be greener in Baltimore County: The first time you jack up a young guy because he has an air freshener hanging on his rearview mirror, and Tase him because he won’t let you search his car, the NAACP will be gunning for your worthless arse…
Beemerman: It is the younger deputies who will be leaving. The older ones are getting rewarded, remember? Why would they stay in a job making the same salary they did 5 years ago, but with 5 more years experience than the newer deputies who are getting paid exactly the same? I guess they could sit on their butts and wait around another 5 years for the “master deputy” raise to kick in. I hope they get out while they can and wish them the best of luck in Baltimore County with a police chief who isn’t an incompetent, incapable, inefficient deceiver.
I remember when Bane designed the worst pay plan for the Sheriff’s Office…ever. Some officer’s received a $100 annual raise while others (those closest to Bane) received substantial raises. His total lack of understanding of finance caused many deputies financial hardship for years. Everything he has ever touched he has wrecked. Inept would be a good word to use…
Inept? No, Bane is just a snake…
I think we should all got rises or no one should PLEASE WAKE UP YOU ARE SLAPPING OTHER EMPLOYEES IN THE FACE.
so a ten year deputy making, lets say 35,000 gets a six percent raise….the same deputy makes Corporal, does he keep the six percent plus the raise to corporal? This is an outrage and I am sure that all other county employees are getting nothing. Who thought up this piece of work? The county should step in and stop this. It is a waste of money and the new rank is not needed. Some deputies are just trying to get a raise without having to work for the money. I’m sure the citizens of harford county should be angry. This new rank has no new responsibilities and is just a way for a certain few to get a raise and screw the other county employees.
Outrage,
If you want to throw numbers around then let’s be serious about what an LE Deputy really makes. A new hire makes $42,973 from day one. After one year they make $45,365, and at the two year point would be making at least $50,107. Almost any Deputy First Class above the 10 year point would be making $63,000 or better, with the top end of that rank making $78,062 per year. A six percent increase in pay would take any of the Deputies at the top end of DFC to an annual pay of at least $82,745. That was an increase of $4,683 per year, or $390 per month.
I don’t begrudge anyone a pay increase. However, to believe that the only ones in the Sheriff’s Office who deserved such an increase were a select few who fit a certain category is just plain dumb.
Those numbers would make sense if the pay plan and system was used. You have to understand that there have been no steps or cola or anything in years to bring those numbers to anything close to what you have listed. What the scale says on paper means nothing if it has not been adhered to.
Chumba Wumba,
I stand by my numbers. In fact according to the above article my numbers may be low. The article states that approximately 70 Deputies are affected by this action, and that the cost is $382,690. If you divide $382,690 by 70 people it comes out to $5,467, per person. That is a number higher than the number I used, however, the $382,690 number probably includes additional money to pay the 5 or 7 percent differential which will also have to be paid to many of the Deputies.
Let’s also be clear. The starting salary is just that, a starting salary, and the salary posted for the one year point has nothing to do with getting an overall pay increase. It is the result of being promoted from Deputy Recruit to Deputy.
A 2 year deputy makes about $48k. That’s step 1 of the DFC pay scale (pay grade 3, grade 1 are recruits, grade 2 are probationary deputies.)
Because no one has gotten any steps in years, a 6 year deputy is also making about $48k.
Ken,
The bottom line is that approx 70 Deputies are sharing in the $382,690 that has been placed in the budget to fund this new special pay category. I’m sure not every affected Deputy is getting the same amount of increase, however if they were it would be an increase of $5,467 per Deputy. You do the math.
A deputy promoted to corporal gets a 12% raise. A senior deputy promoted to corporal gets 6%. It DOES NOT add up to 18%. Still exactly what it was before.
Who are you suggesting to wake up? Did you read the article above?
Voters,
Much like this years presidential race, you have a clear choice in the 2014 Sheriff election. You can vote for Jesse Bane, a supposed “nice guy” that has shown little leadership abilities, is a self promoter, assumes no responsibility when something goes wrong but all responsibility for anything right. Or, Jeff Gahler, a honest man with proven leadership abilities, that has a broad base of policing experience that is truly a good guy. Your choice but he choice is clear and supported by the evidence.
Ed, you should have at the bottom of your post “this ad was approved by Jeff Gahler.”
Tell us all about Gahler’s proven leadership. I await eagerly for your information.
Joe Morris,
I approve my on posts. One, I’ve met many of Jeff’s coworkers over the years who have worked for and with Jeff and I’ve met many of his coworkers for which Jeff worked. Their comments about Jeff support which you can see for yourself. Jeff’s state police career and his ascent in the state police are testament of leadership.
Two, I’ve come to focus on Jesse Bane over the last 5 years. Read interviews for yourself. Jesse Bane constantly takes credit for anything good and abdicates responsibility for all problems of the agency. Bane is a master politician and has done a nice job creating the persona of nice old man… This latest “scandal” should upset everyone in the County. Jesse Bane’s assertions on this matter are simply unbelievable and sad.
Did anybody else notice Guthrie’s new role as Gossip Girl? He should remember, anyone that gossips to you will gossip about you.
2014 can’t come soon enough for me Ed. I don’t know Mr Gahler but I guarantee any administrator with any sense of what is going on in the world today with the economy would never have let something like this occur. And Bane admitting that he knew nothing about it is admitting that he is a incompetent.
Is anyone really surprised Craig did this, look up the word “politician” in the dictionary and you’ll see Craig’s face next to it! And he wants to be our next governor too!! As for Bane’s polite comments about Craig and the council come on what do you expect him to say “they’re all a bunch of self serving politicians who only care about their own” – remember he still has to work through these clowns. We have a county executive who only rewards his group of friends with raises and a county council who does the same. Give me a break!
PJ, are you saying Bane is blameless for not knowing what is happening in his own agency?
Uncle Benny,
What do you know about the HCSO. You are not a deputy. If you are, tell us all that. You are repeating what you read on this site and at your meetings. Use your own mind and don’t be such a parrott.
Obviously Uncle I don’t know if he is or isn’t. What I do know is Craig, a self serving politician, does what he thinks will win him the next election. So knowing that I can believe he’d do something like this if he thought it would improve his chances of getting elected. I will say this about Bane as a citizen, I am not happy with the way his dept operates. In fact I think we’d all be better off if the politics was taken out of the Sheriffs position. Not to say Baltimore Co’s system is or isn’t better, but I’d rather have their system then ours.
PJ, we would still have a sheriff’s office. It is mandated by state law to service the court system. So, Baltimore County’s system would be an added cost, with the Sheriff’s Office still having plenty of politics taking place. Then, everyone would be blaming the head of the County Police force for carrying out the orders of County Executive. By the way, does anyone have anything good to say about Bane not taking raises when the deputies don’t get them. How about not taking a SUV for his personal use like his predecessors. Any positive comments out there for this man?
Joe I know they do and their role here should be like it is in Baltimore Co with a Police Dept policing the county not the sheriff dept. As for Jesse Bane I’ve personally known him for a long time and as a person I think he’s great!
no
Uncle Benny, still at aren’t you.
I am new to the county. I notice a lot of negative about the current sheriff and see someone mention Jeff Gahler. What are his good points. I would appreciate any information.
Welcome to a highly charged and politically polarized county. I’s as if people still aren’t over the fact this was occupied territory during the civil war. And the only good democrat is one that preferably lives somewhere else other than here. The important point to draw form this is: don’t depend on any comments in this web forum or the occasional thumbs up or thumbs down as an indication of credibility or truth. You will find just as many anonymous posters here as the original author chooses to use and the thumbs voting is dependent on which IP address the user is logging his wireless device from, at that particular moment in time. Research for yourself, ask other people their opinion and allow yourself the option of considering the source. You will hear lots of good from people that know Sheriff Bane, and you will hear lots of ill from people that come in here to vent their spleens.
Check out Mr. Gahler’s website (www.gahlerforsheriff.com) and link to his Facebook page from there and you will find out plenty about the next Sheriff of Harford County. Also, if you search the DaggerPress, you will find plenty of information on both Mr. Gahler and Sheriff Bane and absent David Porter’s comments, the serious decline of the Sheriff’s Office and the complete lack of integrity on behalf of the Sheriff will be clear.
OnPoint, thanks for your information. I did look at the sites you mentioned. Truthfully, I don’t see anything in his background that makes me think that he is an experienced leader. Being a captain in the State Police is good, but that isn’t enough for me. He hasn’t had a position of leadership the way the current sheriff has, and so he doesn’t come under criticism. You seem to be a really knowledgeable and intelligent individual maybe you could tell me why you think he would be a better choice. Thanks for the help.
No, I am sorry. If you reviewed the sites I mentioned (in about 30 minutes no less) and read about the total lack of character and integrity displayed by Sheriff Bane and the only thing you can think of is that he comes under greater scrutiny, then you are a lost cause. To allow our elected leaders to sit back a outright lie and accept it is why this entire country is in the state it is in. If you really are who and what you claim (new to the area…) and you are honestly looking for the truth I would ask you to do some real research, but I have to say that I am doubtful.
OnPoint, you get a bit riled awfully quickly. I asked you because you seem like an intelligent poster who supports capt. Gahler. I am disappointed that you questioned my ability to read quickly. I happen to be a very quick reader and am a college professor. I asked for your summation since you must know him and the current sheriff. If that is asking for too much, then I apologize but I don’t think you should question my research skills and reading ability. If you don’t reply I understand and am sorry that I angered you.
Billcosam,
I suggest you contact Mr. Gahler and request the information you want. While I don’t know Mr. Gahler personally, I would think he is more than willing to provide answers to any of your questions.
Sorry Billcosam if I came across as angry. That is not the case whatsoever. I only meant to come across as doubtful as to the authenticity of your inquiry, yet hopeful that you are as you claim. With several typos within your message, I am now more doubtful (still, no anger) about you. I will say that I agree with Mr. Welsh in that if you still have questions after your research effort, contact Mr. Gahler or Sheriff Bane directly for the clarification you seek. You could ask Mr. Gahler about his leadership experience and you could ask Sheriff Bane if he ever tells the truth.
Here’s the thing – funding the new rank in the budget didn’t mean Jesse had to give the promotion or the raise. All it meant was he had the money and authority to do it, if he chose to. This is slick on Jesse’s part, but it doesn’t ring true.
Captain,
You are saying that the Sheriff requested the funds. The County Executive and Council approved the funds and placed them in the HCSO budget without requiring Sheriff Bane to implement the pay increases. Then the Sheriff approved and implemented the pay increases without being required to do so. The Sheriff is now claiming he knew nothing about this, yet he is the one who had to take the action to implement the increases. Do I have that right?
So, just to recap, the teachers got a raise. The deputies got a raise. The county council hired 9 personal aides and pays the administrator $96,000 and then the poor dear needs an increase because she is a supervisor. The well-connected employees also received “promotions” and received raises. The rank and file employees had a 2% cut and no raise for 5 years. How does one qualify for a back door deal? So much for transparency in government. It makes me sick. Mr. Craig and the county council should be ashamed.
Agree. Mr. Craig and the Council should be ashamed. Not Sheriff Bane though, he knew nothing!
The teachers get a somewhat fixed or at least a minimum budget every year based on the taxes paid combined with requests to the council. Their raises weren’t through the county. They were internal and had to be found within their own budget by the school board and its leaders. You can’t compare apples to oranges.
So when the pension shortfall showed up on the county doorstep. Why was that a county problem and not a school budget issue?
Craig and the Council refused fund the additional amount requested for teacher raises and steps. HCPS threw them a 1% COLA and a step bone which required cutting deep elsewhere within the existing funding.
Onpoint, you said I had several typos. Please tell me what they were. I pride myself on accuracy and I will be embarassed if I missed something. I reread it and still didn’t see anything wrong. Help me out. Thanks.
Bane is so out of touch he doesn’t even look into the personnel files of deputies before he promotes them to Captain or Major! He is getting ready to promote one who was suspended for falsification of leave and payroll documents, lost $300,000 is a paper work screwup and so on charter or lack of it means nothing to Bane I guess when a freedom of information act is filed by the news media he will say he does know about the actions of his command staff either!!
Onpoint and Mike Welsh, where I come from the election of sheriff is not this contentious. We elected Barack Obama because we wanted a change, and didn’t really know much about Obama. This was a bad mistake. I realize that sheriff is not the Presidency of the United States but it is still an important office. Reading the literature of the candidates is not the most productive way to choose a candidate for office. They write what they want and usually in a way that does not distinguish them from their opponent. On a national level we are forced to rely mostly on what they write and what they say. However, on a local level I find it important to talk to people who know the candidates. Onpoint, you seem to know both and that is why I asked about your opinion as a local citizen who knows the candidates. Truthfully, I don’t trust a lot of sites like this, but I felt in your case I was dealing with rational, informed and intelligent persons. Yes, I can read both candidate’s statements, but that does not do it. My comment about the current sheriff being criticized I stand behind because he is the one who has a record. His opponent does not have a record so he is not criticized. Again, I like to vote for people and just not against them. My question was and is, can you knowledgeable folks(Onpoint and Mike Welsh) tell me why you are supporting Gahler, since he is the only candidate that I see mentioned. I am sorry but I have a problem with voting against a candidate without knowing for whom I am going to vote.
Yes, both candidate’s sites are going to be selling them and not highlighting any shortcomings. That is why I suggested that you take the time to research the past stories on the Sheriff’s election and you can see for yourself.
In fairness (if you did just recently move to the area) you may not know that Sheriff Bane and Mr. Gahler faced off in 2010. Mr. Gahler brought up numerous issues, most notably, Sheriff Bane’s failure to immediately fire on of his highest ranking commanders for a large scale theft scheme. This was a commander that had financially supported Sheriff Bane’s first campaign and was rewarded with a promotion to the rank of major. It was Gahler who said he (Bane) could do it and it was Bane (the sitting Sheriff) who said he couldn’t. In the end, Mr. Gahler was proven right and yes, coincidentally, just after the general election. This is not made up, it is all reported on several news sites.
Yes. After paying close attention to the last race, I am clearly a supporter of Mr. Gahler. Sheriff Bane has been dishonest and bought and paid for be certain factions and his days as Sheriff are counting down.
Bill,
I am supporting neither Gahler or Bane. The election is not until 2014.
Sheriff Bane has a documented history of repeated missteps, especially regarding personnel issues. This article is just another example of the Sheriff being out of touch. He is essentially claiming that he did not know that only a small segment of his staff were going to get special treatment. My feeling is that Sheriff Bane is not telling the truth. If he is telling the truth, then my position is that the Sheriff is not in control of his own agency. You draw your own opinion in that regard. Either way it is not a positive for Sheriff Bane.
If Sheriff Bane does not concur with the special treatment, then he should cancel those pay actions and demand that all of his Deputies be given equal treatment. Keep in mind that any increase in pay for any Deputy requires the Sheriff’s Office to create a change in pay order, by name, and submit that request to the County Payroll Office. I don’t know if the Sheriff signs those orders or not, but if he does not, then I ask again, who is in charge at the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff is implying that he would not have approved such an order.
I intend to learn much more about Mr. Gahler along with any other candidates who enter the race for Sheriff in the coming months. You can learn about them right along with me.
Since you are new to Harford County, welcome! I hope you become an active participant in all elements of the political process.
Bill: I have a few suggestions for you. First, go to the Dagger archives and read a letter written by former Sheriff Tom Golding. Golding is happily retired, living in Florida and has absolutely nothing to gain by sending this letter to the Dagger. He is just sick and tired of Bane’s lies. Secondly, as we get closer to the election, there will be many debates with both candidates. Questions will be posed, answers given. Decide for yourself. In the meantime, issues like this will arise. If you have a bit of background information about Sheriff Bane, you will see that he regularly takes credit for ideas that are not his, favors those who contribute to his campaign, treats his employees with disdain, has lied about his college degree, and, in general, has no management or leadership skills. Remember, the election is over 2 years away. You will be hearing more and more about and from both candidates. You mention in your letter that you cannot vote against a candidate without knowing who you will be voting for. It is my sincere hope that you will either support Mr. Gahler as the election approaches or not cast a vote in the Sheriff’s race as Bane has truly harmed the agency and jeopardized the safety of the citizens of Harford County by creating a monumental morale problem with his deputies. It’s very hard to put on the uniform every day and do a dangerous job, it’s especially hard doing so knowing that your boss does not have your back.
Onpoint, Mike Welsh, BBC and David A.Porter,
Thank you all for your information. I appreciate your comments and the time it took you to provide them to an outsider. I hope that in the future I can ask you additional questions. In the mean time I am going to do what you all suggested and begin researching this topic. Again, my appreciation to you all.
Bill, in case you can’t tell the Dagger Forum and some of the articles posted as if they were news are merely the outspoken opinions of people. There’s a lot of self promotion going on here with a great deal of animosity directed at the guy they don’t like. People who’s best interests are typically their own but not anyone else’. Talk with some deputies, you will find many that feel the organization they work for is professional and courteous. Then talk with some State Troopers and assess their opinions and demeanor.
Bill,
When talking the Deputies make sure you know where they stand within the Deputies Union. In my opinion Jesse Bane is somewhat of a puppet for the leadership of the Deputies Union. The Deputies Union spent tens of thousands of dollars to support Jesse Bane’s reelection in 2010. I’ve got a real problem with the leadership of the Union. They put out an insulting “smear mailer” of Jeff Gahler during the 2010 campaign. Without the Unions strong arm support of Jesse Bane during the 2010 campaign, Jeff Gahler would probably be sheriff now.
Ed, I’m not trying to be a wise ass, but do you really think that a stranger walking up to a random deputy is going to be told the truth by the deputy? Unless, as you pointed out, the deputy is aligned with the union and reaping the benefits that the Baners get. Do you see what I mean? Unless the deputy knows who they can trust, I doubt they will be speaking of their employer in anything than other than glowing terms if they want to keep their job. God forbid if they should say something negative that gets back to Bane.
not sure if it was mentioned, but we have to remember…the majority of the deputies dont want a raise “per se”…they just want the steps back that they have missed out on the past 5-6 years! my brother and a couple other deputies actually lateralled over with 3-4 yrs experience and now have 5-6 years with sheriffs office…sheriffs office started them out with same pay grade as those with 1 yr out of academy in the county. now you have some deputies with 8-9 yrs experience making same as rookies with 1-2 yrs out of academy??? these guys were presented with a piece of paper showing the step increases when they were hired, and now several years later have yet to see a single step?? we all now how the economy has been, but to an extent, people expect to get paid the salary they are shown through their career! funny…most everyone has been told or heard the saying “put yourself in their shoes..” yet when it comes to law enforcement or public service….no one seems to care to put themselves “in their shoes”??
All County employees would love to have been given step increases over the last 5 years. But instead of focusing on the fact that we have not been given steps and cost of living increases, we can be grateful that we have steady jobs with good benefits. I have read numerous news items over the past few years about government employees across the country – including police, fire fighters, and teachers – being laid off and having their pay cut because of huge budget shortfalls. So, we can be grateful for what we have, or we can complain that we are different and/or more important than others and therefore we deserve a pay increase when the money isn’t there for everyone to get the increase. When the taxpayers of this county are struggling to make ends meet, it’s rather tone deaf to complain about not making enough money or not getting raises as county employees.
it sounds like u may be one of the 70 employees getting the senior rank or who have time on and have gotten steps in the past? i think the younger deputies are getting tired of the phrase “being grateful”! the teachers fought for what they thought was right, now deputies should stand together and do the same! these “county employees” are trying to survive just like everyone else. as the price of living goes up every year, their paychecks stay the same, or get smaller when the state decides to take a percentage! i know officers in other dept’s who have been furloughed, except they lost one day, where they make 10k more than dep in this county…one day did not hurt them that badly! i dont think the deputies think they are more important than anyone else, they just would like to catch up with the steps they have missed! remember, deputies are tax payers too!
No. I don’t work for the sheriff’s department. I will not get a step increase or cost of living increase until they are given to all county employees. Again, I’m grateful to have a job and benefits. Hopefully, when the economy improves, so will our chances for pay increases.
You must be living in a dream world. I’m a county employee also and I don’t foresee a raise anytime soon. Craigs’ cronies in the upper management get increases hidden in the budget every year. Where have you been? I’m going to try to retire in 10 years and with that in mind I’ve missed 5 years of steps or increases. The old excuse “You should be glad you have a job” is beyond worn out. If money isn’t available for ALL county workers than nobody should get one.
The deputies(corrections and law enforcement) are hurting at this point. You keep saying the take home care is a huge advantage and I say BS. I urge all memebers to limit their off duty usage just so the citizens of this county can see how few on duty police actually exist. A “political raise” will happen in the next year or two and I hope you see that this is pure politics. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office needs sweeping change. The men and women of this department need to stand up and say enough is enough. Good people work her and they deserve better. I put the administration on notice that we are watching. Let us do our job. Please stop letting politics get in the way of Courage, honor, and integrity as this is our mission statement. Let us police our neighborhoods and take pride in doing so. This means that just because someone contibuted to your campaign, or you owe them a favor, or you know them, doesnt mean that your deputies (unlike you) who are out there everyday while you are sleeping shouldnt be able to do their job. GOOD MEN AND WOMEN WORK HERE AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB WITHOUT FEELING THAT YOU DONT SUPPORT THEM. THIS IS ABOUT THEM NOT YOU. Do YOU KNOW PATROL OR OTHER AREAS OF THE AGENCY OR ARE YOU THAT SEPERATED. YOU ARE MAKING GOOD PEOPLE NOT WANT TO COME TO WORK AND THAT IS NOT FAIR TO THE CITIZENS IN THIS COUNTY. SUPPORT YOUR PEOPLE AND BE GRATFUL THAT YOU HAVE SUCH A DETICATED FORCE. BUT THIS IS A TWO WAY FORCE WHICH STARTS WITH YOUR SUPPORT. SO DO IT SUPPORT THEM MEN AND WOMMEN WHO MAKE YOU WHO YOU ARE AND DONT TURN YOUR BACK ON THEM.
Thank you “People for the ethical treatment of deputies” for including correctional officers. You are one of the few who remember us. Most everyone else forgets about us or treats us like dirt. The LE Union went out of it’s way to make sure we werent included in the “Senior Deputy” raise. We already make much less than the LE deputies. I thought we were all part of the same team, same uniform, same oath, same overall mission. Way to go DSU for dividing us even more!!! Your disrespect and self-centeredness is worse than that of the politicians!!!
I have a question, I am 55 years old and I have worked non-union jobs my whole life. Why is it good for there to be unions of workers? How can a group of people all deserve the exact same pay and a raise at exactly the same time? Some work harder and better than others. I’ve heard stories from union workers complaining that other lesser workers are earning the same amount as them and they have a problem with that. I heard about a truck driver that caused six accidents, but the union allowed him to keep his job. This puzzles me. I’ve always put out a lot of effort to be a good-to-great employee so I earn more money then someone who struggles to show up on time. Am I missing something? Thanks
Try managing 100 employees and maintaining individual dossiers on each of them and hoping that this group over here does not find out about that group over there. Nice that you are not in a union. There are protections afforded by the union, lost in these times because everyone wants to screw everyone else. And for some reason, although they offer protections, people still hate them for the excesses of the past – and not for the fundamentals of why they were created. Work for an arbitrary capricious boss with hypocrisy running through his veins sometime and you will soon see the value of a union.
Right on David. It is exactly the reason the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Deputies formed a union in the first place.
Amen …….unions only protect the bad workers !!!!
Gone… U might want to check YOUR union. They knew about the Senior Deputy rank and were asked to participate. They refused, to concentrate on other issues, so don’t play that card. I’m sick of the CO’s crying wolf, get your union to do something… Don’t bash ours because we fight for things you don’t.
I bet all those folks Corrections Officers and Civilian employees who backed Bane in the last election are regreting their decision now! The CO. Union supported Bane even when the Gahler promised them they would not be working short staff anymore and the would be a priority under his administration! I guess life is about choices!!!
The Correctional Officers union currently lacks cogent leadership. When the CO’s get their act together and elect true leadership they will become a viable organization. CO’s need to understand that relevance comes from numbers, unity, a willingness to work together to accomplish your goals, and dealing directly with the county administration.
Gone,
How right you are. Being an effective union is much more than just being a dues paying member. You must have competent and active leadership. Members must be willing to stand together and give their time to appear at various meetings that consider their issues. Members must be willing to actively fund signs that get their message out to the citizens of Harford County, knock on doors in active support of who they are backing as leadership of the HCSO by getting involved in campaigns. If the correctional officers are not willing to do those things they will always be in the shadows as a union.
I guess while you were all busy going behind the Sheriff’s back to get more money, Corrections was busy just trying to keep the same schedule as LE and not move to a 5/2. You all touched on the union comment, but how about the rest. Same team, same mission, etc….. You gave reasons why HCCA is weak and things that need to be done to fix it. How about the division within the agency. How do you suggest we fix the gap between LE and Corrections, or did you not comment on it because thats exactly what you want?
Gone,
I am not a part of the Deputies Union. I know several of the current members and lots of Deputies who are now retired both from LE and Corrections.
I don’t believe you will ever have total cooperation between LE and CO Deputies unless together you had only one union which would work in concert for each element of the sworn categories.
There is only one “money pie” each year. Several elements work for a piece of that pie. The LE union works directly with county government for their piece. That does not mean they are going behind the Sheriff’s back. It means they are actively lobbying for their members interest with the entity that controls the pie slices. When’s the last time your union had members sit down with the County Exec or Council Members and talked directly about your compensation or rank structure? I bet its been awhile.
I do not get the feeling that LE Deputies dislike CO Deputies. Most of the LE Deputies I know feel they do a more dangerous job than CO’s. I don’t agree with that attitude in principle, however their job is much more visible to the general public than CO’s and by its very nature gets more media coverage. Media creates attention, and attention produces leverage. Its the nature of the beast. Since CO’s don’t get much attention from the media, your union needs to keep your interests visible before the people who count…the County Executive and County Council. Times a wasting, get organized, get actively involved. get visible!
Bane has Presbury running the halls, watching video tapes and issuing IA forms like they were tickets to his next fund raiser. I find it really hard to believe Bane had no idea this was going on. His head hunters hit his door when they hear things like this as hard and fast as a swat team hitting a door on a drug raid. If he would lie about starting a Traffic Task force then why are we to believe he wouldn’t lie about this?
Why is it okay for members to come to Union Meetings while on duty, but not okay to speak of Union Business after roll call Sheriff L Jesse Bane?
Marc is back. How are things in Carroll County?
All this means so much from the former deputy that now runs a porta-potty business. Whats wrong Marc, got tired or taking crap at the Sheriff’s Office so you figured you’d take crap from the general public?!? What a maroon…….
WE ARE ALL UPSET ABOUT THESE RISES BUT HOW COME WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THEM TO NOW WHY DO I THINK THAT SOMEONE IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL MUST HAVE LEAK THIS OUT TO TAKE THE HEAT OFF OF THEM. I SURE THINK THAT THERE IS A GAME BEING PLAY AT THE EXPENCE OF ALL THE COUNTY WORKERS
I can toss a couple bucks your way if it’ll help you buy a new keyboard. I think your caps lock, period, and comma keys are broken.
Gone, if you want to keep crying on what the LE’s get and it’s not fair…..blah, blah. Apply for the road if you are so unhappy as a CO. You need to understand that LE and CO are different, yes they are under the same “umbrella” but do not run the same nor get the same things. Why do you think a LE pay is different from a CO?
Having dealt with Presbury my guess is she got there by who she knows not what she knows true or not?
She proves that on a daily basis. Now they are considering doing the same thing at the jail.
She will kick your butt. Say what you said here to her face.
One important thing that can be said, can you imagine how bad the Aegis would have jumped on a Republican Sheriff in office that would have had the a similar record that Bane has had during his tenure as Sheriff? They would have beaten a Republican Sheriff to death. Multiple criminal incidents with a high profile case involving a former Major!!! and the Aegis reported almost nothing and no chastisement of Bane at all. And it all boils down to a rag liberal paper and a Democrat Sheriff. And even Gunthrie admits that he thinks Bane knew about this whole pay raise issue. Come on Aegis – do your job and disclose Bane for what he really is – a nice guy out of uniform but a terrible administrator and boss when he is in uniform.
Jack Frost: I agree with your comment up until the part where you get to Bane being a really nice guy out of uniform. I’m sorry, you’re either a nice person or you’re not and he definitely is not. Ask the deputies whose careers Bane has ruined. Ask the deputies not promoted because they supported someone else for sheriff, only to be given the promotion when a lawsuit was threatened. Ask the corporal who was terminated when he was on medical leave. Ask the current corporal who is assigned to a civilian position for speaking about a union meeting while on duty. Ask the civilian with breast cancer who has been transferred 5 times so far this year because her son runs The Dagger. Sorry, if you can’t treat your own right, I don’t care what kind of facade you put on for the public, you are NOT a nice guy and Bane is the worst because he purports to be so compassionate and has so many people fooled.
I wonder why the Dagger didn’t bother to get Craig’s or Gahler’s side of this since Bane’s buddy, Neon Dion, claims the pay raise for the select few was by Craig for Gahler? Don’t do half a story DaggerPress!
This may be the best comment yet. This brings to light four real life situations and hopefully hits home for people reading this. Four people who had or have had their lives changed forever. I know three of them(two are no longer with the department, one not by choice). What I saw them go through is a disgrace. If you sit back and watch then you are part of the problem and you may be next. Dont forget that.
You are 100% correct there. The Aegis is as liberal and biased as it gets. They have torn up Craig and the County Council, but ignored Bane doing the same stuff like this pay raise. And, don’t forget the special raise that he gave his one Major that supported him last election. Exactly the same as Craig’s chief of staff, but it does not even get mentioned.
Only in Hazzard County would the Aegis be considered liberal.
Marc, I didn’t get a return message from you. I hope that you are not mad at me. Let me hear from you. Your objectivity and knowledge is missed.
Monster if I was Marc then I wouldnt respond to you. You are not worthy of a response. I bet Marc has figured out that it is not worth arguing with you and David. Facts speak for themselves but that means nothing to you two.
Fact Finder, what are you, Marc’s dummy? You are answering for him, why is that? Then, you are making up why. You call yourself Fact Finder, that is a real joke.
This is all about the next election. The county executive agrees to fund a new employee classification (pay raise) which makes the union happy. Mr. Craig wins their endorsement in his run for governor. I was watching when the amendment was made at the county council meeting and immediately recognized this was a back door raise for some and not all. No one on the council said a word when it was obvious what was happening. Mr. Craig now says there is enough money to build new schools in Fallston and Havre de Grace. Even if necessary funding from the state falls through he wins their support (and votes) because he was in their corner.
Why do civilian background investigators at the Harford County Sheriff’s Office get take home cars?????? Most of which are equipped as an emergency vehicle and they dont even have police powers. Waste at it’s best.
To all you anti-Baners and ultra-conservatives: We can save a lot of money by stopping deputies from taking cars home each night. That could pay for raises. Also, make the retirement 30 years and have deputies pay more of their retirement. Also, have deputies pay 50% of their health care costs. Also, competitive tests for all ranks including senior deputy. Hmmmm, wonder why no one has done this. Maybe Bane should….or maybe the new sheriff that you all hope to elect will.
Maybe Bane should, but he won’t. The Union owns Bane, bought and paid in full. If Jesse thinks anyone will remember him as anything other than the Union’s puppet, he is further gone than I already suspect. The Union leaders wanted this raise for the select few and they pulled Jesse’s strings to make him dance.
TrueBlue, do you think anyone else will? Who is your candidate for sheriff?
Problems with the telling the truth and a union puppet, ANYONE BUT Baneocchio.
True Blue, you remind me of Big Blue. Your intelligence and well worded answers make me believe it could be Big Blue. Have you recovered from the last election yet?
@ Monster- My point is that a civilian background investigator or HR specialist does not have a reason for a take home car. You try to spin this by saying that all take home cars should be taken away. If that happened maybe the citizens of this county would see how understaffed this department is. You know it and I know it, I just hope that no one gets hurt because of it. The lack of staffing is a true officer safety issue, the shift commanders wont raise minimum staffing because they will have to pay ot and will get their @ss chewed for it. So the deputies that work the road suffer.
Wastewatch, how is not taking cars home going to show the public how dangerous the jobs are?
Monster- When you say that “We can save a lot of money by stopping deputies from taking cars home each night”, that eludes to the fact that you are a person of power in this administration. So here is what I have to say about it: Go Ahead take my car, give me a 30 year retirement and make me pay 50% for healthcare. What I will not do is bow down to you and your scare tactics. You try to lead by using fear and that will not work for me, I have had enough.
Great post truth be told.
Says Marc Eaton, crapper first class retired
Truth be told and waste watcher, what I am saying to you is that you need to appreciate what you already have, and better be concerned about protecting it. Bane has not tried to take these things away from you. Go ahead vote for the tea party candidate in the next election. A lot of these posters on this site are tea baggers and ultra conservatives. They are against Bane because they believe he is a spender. So go ahead, then, we will see if you still have all of this. Times are tough.
Oh, Boo Hoo, would all you big tough deputy dogs like a little cheese with all that whine. What kind of a pathetic law enforcement agency would let a bunch of little girls like you patrol the streets?!?! Enough pissing and moaning, if you don’t like it, do something about it or shut your pork hole.
Butter, you must think you are so clever with your stupid witticisms. Are you in kindergarten or lower? Leave the discussions to those who can compose a response Whether or not we share the same views, I think we can all agree that you are an idiot and we don’t need your nonsense on here.
If you really are a deputy, your job is to protect and serve, not whine.
Samuel or Mrs. Sammy whoever you are. Fill out an application if you think this job is easy. Then on top of that try dealing with the political day to day stuff that goes on here. If you want to be critical then step up, we have a citizens academy you can attend and the Bel Air/Aberdeen Police have a auxiliary police force if you want to help your community. Until then don’t be critical of a job that you have never experienced, Thanks in advance! By the way when you are sleeping just know that the deputies you are saying are whining, yeah they are protecting you and your neighborhood.
I feel so much better knowing that you are protecting me, that is when you look up from your computer to actually do the job you are being paid for. Go catch a crook, or a cold for all I care. Just do it without crying, the tax payers can’t afford all the KLEENEX……
Truth be told is an aximoron. You have no idea who I am or what I have done. You and some others like to use this tactic when you cannot respond with any intelligence. Serve as you were hired to do. Clarified Butter said it the way it is and you whiners ought to get another job.
Samuel: Don’t use big words if you don’t know how to spell them and you don’t know their meaning. The only moron is you.
Uncle Benny, you can give it but you can’ t take it. You and the others of your ilk are very sad people. I hope you aren’t a deputy.
We don’t need you either Uncle Benny. Post to your wife. Post when you really know about the HCSO.
Well, Uncle Benny, I guess I’ll just keep my trap shut because you suggested it, or I could go off on some rant about how immature you whiny little piss ants sound on here, but you guys crying like little girls on here already shows the public the true Sheriff’s department.
Tell them, clarified butter. They get real mad when someone gives it back to them.
Heep talkin smack and I’ll thumbs down you!
Cry, Moan, Whaaaaaaa. Cry, Moan, Whaaaaaaa. Cry, Moan, Whaaaaaaa. Cry, Moan, Whaaaaaaa. Cry, Moan, Whaaaaaaa. Cry, Moan, Whaaaaaaa. Cry, Moan, Whaaaaaaa.
There is something seriously wrong with you.
Clarified Butter Bean- It seems that I struck a nerve, are you one of the elite master deputies? Calm down or take a Zanax.
That is what you guys always say when someone disagrees with you. Stop whining and do your job as you would if you were in the military. You can always go to another subdivision and get a job. I bet you will whine after a while there, too.
The only thing you struck was the keys on the keyboard. I just wanted to point out that there seems to be an awful lot of crying little girls at the Sheriff’s Department that are so unsatisfied with their fearless leader’s policies and decisions, yet all they want to do is sit around and complain all day. Now get off the computer and go do your job like a man you little panty wastes.
Clarified Butter – You’re a grade A, number 1, certified A@@hole!!
Well, let’s see, how do I respond to such a statement? I dunno, I guess THANK YOU! I appreciate that all my hard work and effort has paid off…….
The current Union Presidents biggest problem is three past Presidents that need to let him run the Union. Time for the three of them to be just members and nothing more.
Are you saying that he is not up to the job?
@ Mike Welsh- If you are speaking of the Union President. Then yes he is not up to the job, he collects his $ 800 a month check in addition to his Sheriff’s Office salary and he does nothing. He doesnt want to make waves. He has or still is watching people lose their jobs and goes on camping trips. It must be nice to enjoy family time while others are suffering. Our dues were raised to pay the president and vp and they have both sat back becuase they are safe. Dues were also raised to lease property in the 1200 block of Churchville Road, so they said. Did it ever open, I dont know, but it isnt there now. This property also happens to be the same property that Jesse Bane leased for his campaign office. Fishy? You tell me.
I was talking about the union president. Why don’t you folks jack this guy up and have a real heart to heart talk with him?
Mike, who are those folks of which you speak?
Samuel,
Those folks would be the majority of the Deputies Union members who apparently are not getting the representation from their union leadership that reflects their position/concerns.
I took the previous comments as meaning the union leadership represents a small segment of the membership with their special interests, and does not represent the majority position of the members.
Mike, I don’t know what to think about that place anymore. I talk with some of the other retired guys and we all agree that the Sheriff’s Office we worked at is gone for now. The actions of some of the command staff really surprise me, some of the others don’t. I just wonder why they allow this to go on, why they don’t stand up to Bane and his machine.
When you place people in high responsibility positions because of their loyalty to you as an individual rather than their competency and skill as leaders, then you get what is currently happening at the HCSO. I will exclude Major V, since he is up to the task, but doesn’t want to cause waves. Too late in his career for that heartache. The lack of credible capability also exists in the Captain grades, not as bad as in the Major grade, but none the less its there.
If you realize that almost all of the people who work for you are smarter than you, you have a tendency to become paranoid. The normal recourse is to rule/lead by fear. Its how they maintain power and justify their positions. Another way to maintain power is to start rumors and keep the staff divided. That way the staff is busy sorting things out among one another rather than uniting against the wrong headed policies and actions of leadership.
The Deputies united once before to oust lousy leadership. They did it when Sheriff Bane was the Chief Deputy. They got rid of a tyrant and his cronies before, they can do it again.
Mike, at one time I thought you were an objective thinker. No more. You have your mind made up not because you really know but because you believe innuendos and interpretations from some people on this site. A while ago you indicated that you had retired, it wasn’t from the HCSO was it. As far as appointments go, every major executive appoints his/her people to serve in various jobs. You know that don’t you. Even Ronald Reagan, a hero of mine, did it. It is part of surrounding yourself with people you trust. Every organization is filled with ambitious people looking to get ahead and will stop at nothing to do so, so you have to have people you trust advising you. I am disappointed in you, Mike.
Monster,
I am well aware that all elected persons surround themselves with people that they can trust. The problem arises when those people are not competent and up to the task. I have no problem with Sheriff Bane appointing who he wants, but when they are not up to the task then problems arise. You do know that don’t you Monster?
@Monster,
Except Bane’s ambitious people (those Bane selected to lead) consist of a thief that Jesse kept on the payroll, a supporter that got a nice taxpayer funded raise and special pretend rank and another who saw enough and retired to run against this hapless heap. Which one was Bane’s best leadership decision as far as appointments?
Marc, how does it feel to patrol the streets looking for crap? I saw you out on potty patrol shortly after you retired, I know, its a sh!tty job but someone has to do it……..
Clarified, I heard that Marc looked absolutely flushed when he was done. He has always wanted to be a big sh_ _, I guess he made it.
Mike, yes, I know it, but your above post did not indicate that you did. Your judgement that they aren’t competent is your opinion. The corrupt major could and has happened in past administrations. That is not to excuse it, but to dwell on it like Bane appointed a known crook is false. He kept him on the payroll until he was found guilty. What is wrong with that? Aren’t people innocent until proven guilty in a court of law?
@Monster,
No. In law enforcement you are held to a higher standard and you can be fired without any criminal charge or date in court. No doubt you know this, but want to continue your damage control attempts for Bane. There was plenty of information to more than justify Forewood’s termination, but Jesse wanted it quiet until after the election.
I am sorry you do not see the problems that currently plague the HCSO. I wish it was not so, but wishing it away does not make it go away.
With regard to the disgraced Major Forwood who plead guilty to theft and received 18 months incarceration in jail. The documented record disputes your statement that Forwood was fired “after” he was found guilty. Forwood was fired prior to pleading guilty. He was fired by Sheriff Bane after he was caught stealing from the Bel Air Home Depot, while he was suspended with pay pending trial for the initial theft charges. Feel free to consult previous articles in the Balt Sun, Aegis, or Dagger.
And the Dagger “outed” him the night before the election. Too bad it wasn’t earlier or things may have been different.
Onpoint,
Read my comment to Mike Welsh above. You need to tell us what Bane supporter got a raise and who got a special rank. Please tell us all.
@Monster,
It is the same person and now holds the made up “executive major” rank. This was no more than a way to throw some money his way for being a loyal soldier.
Onpoint, why don’t you name him. Afraid to?
Onpoint, it is not whether he could fire him, it is about the American virtue of being innocent until proven guilty. If you don’t believe in this principle than I cannot or do not want to discuss this with you. Because he is a major doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t be afforded the same right as any citizen. As far as being held to a higher standard, I agree, and hence he was fired. You want to put your spin on anything and everything that happens at the HCSO. I am not interested in damage control, only fairness and facts.
Why is “ONPOINT” posting messages and questions to “ONPOINT”??
Onpoint, I’ll answer a couple of your points:
1. Regarding Forewood: no one wants to see someone punished unfairly and without due process. The issue comes when DFC’s and the like are forced into “light” duty positions while their cases are pending. Actually, everyone except Forewood who had an IA/criminal charge that I know of was forced to work to earn their paycheck, not sit at home with pay. My questions is how can you let a friend sit at home and earn over $100,000 a year when you force everyone else to work for less serious charges?
2. Regarding the made up rank: the executive major position was created after a newly appointed major was found to be making more money than an existing major. Since this person was a friend of the sheriff it was suddenly deemed necessary to have a special rank to identify him as the third in charge, complete with new insignia and a pay raise. Fishy? Yup.
3. Regarding the new rank: the Sheriff was aware of this from the beginning. He even mentioned it at a union meeting since he was going after different things then the union or corrections union. In fact, he even referred to this “three pronged attack” a couple times. It shocks me that he is suddenly disavowing knowledge because most of the people who gained the rank are his bff’s. Furthermore, this isn’t just a one time bonus for them, it is a permanent rank that is a tenure award. This means that people who do well at a job and decide to stick with it (i.e. patrol, detective, etc) can stay there and not take a supervisor spot just for the pay raise.
What is the new grade insignia for the “Senior Major”?
Silver oak leaves, like what a Lt. Colonel would use in the Army.
Why not just give him the title of Lt. Colonel? Why parade him around wearing the grade insignia of a Lt. Colonel, but call him a Major? Isn’t that confusing when all of the other Majors are wearing gold oak leaves.
Because it was about handing out a pay raise instead of a “promotion”. The same type of underhanded act the Aegis raked Craig over the coals for several times and much like the County Council position that has been widely criticized. Where is the Aegis calling out Bane on this? Not to be found!
That is not the real OnPoint, it is a monster in sheep’s clothing.
Onpoint, one more thing, how was Bane keeping the Forewood situation quiet by not firing him until after the election? Wouldn’t it have been wiser to fire him before the election? Once again, you spin everything against Bane and distort the situation.
Caught!! Onpoint, why are you talking to yourself??
Folks, it would appear that Monster and Onpoint are one and the same. Credibility is gone. Monster/Onpoint, pick another name and retire the two (or more) that you have been using. You have exposed yourself.
No, Mike. I put his name in the wrong place. He will be horrified and ostracized if people think he and I are the same person. You know that now don’t you.
No, I don’t know that. You have lost your credibility. You are demonstrating a Sheriff Bane trait. No matter what, deny, deny, deny, and try and deflect to another issue.
you are nothing more than the rest of the rubble that knows nothing about the situations of the HCSO and listens to rumor, innuendo, and spin from others who want to be sheriff, or want to get higher rank because of their friendship with another candidate. You are not objective. You think you are, but you are just one of the parrotts. I hope you will finally find a candidate for sheriff that you will vote for. If he wins, you will see at the end of that 4 years the same crap will occur with different people.
Well, whoever you are, Monster, Onpoint, or however many other names you have used, playing both sides of an issue, you don’t have a real, true position. You’re just a troll.
Yes, finally you are correct. Why would you be putting my name in the NAME block if not to offer fake posting under my name?
why in the hell would I want to be you or have anyone think that I am.
Mike Welsh,
You say I have lost my credibility. I never had it with you. Your mind was made up long before I tried to explain the situation on this site. You believe what you want, I am done explaining anything to you. Just keep listening to all of the posters who down Bane. That is what you want to do.
Go pick another name. You have been caught. Monster or Onpoint or whoever you are! You talk out of both sides of your mouth.
Mike Welsh, and you talk out of your butt. You are doing what the rest do, making something out of nothing. I already told you that I made a mistake. Sounds like you needed to retire. You lose track of what is important.
You made a mistake alright. You exposed yourself as someone who posts on here using a least two names, Monster and Onpoint. How many others are you using?
The better question… the one that I raised previously… was how many of you Bane Bashers are simply multiple personalities originating from the same disordered individual or individuals. Uncle Benny, Mark’s 8th Cousin, Mark’s Tenth Cousin on his Girlfriend’s side. Do you really think it matters that you found out someone can imitate another poster when it counters your opinions in this forum? What exactly are the penalties for a smear campaign that is likely created by a few of your friends and allies that have been disingenuous in the gaming of this forum, and the thumbs down voting just to make you seem popular? Who are the anonymous posters Onpoint Deputy Dog, RetiredDeputy, B or BBC? Do you know? Does it give you comfort to know that by gaming the system you can appear to be popular? How sick exactly is that? The fact that so many anonymous posters began chiming in each time a new related to Bane Article appears is an indication that you need the impression of agreement to support a position that will not stand scrutiny in official channels.
Actually David, I have voted for Bane twice and have never said anything bad about him in here.
Onpoint/Monster: Maybe you are Jesse Bane, losing track of things, deflecting blame onto Mike Welsh, talking out of both sides of your mouth, nothing but a fraud
Careful, Uncle Benny, you don’t your wife to post.
Anyone can search my history and see that I go well back into the last election with this same screen name. I will not stop using it just because Monster decided to hijack it in an act of expected class. I think in return, I’ll post some conservative and rational thoughts as Monster to balance things out.
OnPoint, I have already admitted that I made an error. Do you all ever read the posts other than your own? Why would I address the post to Onpoint and sign it Onpoint. I didn’t hijack your name, I made a mistake. You want to make it a big deal when it isn’t. This is what you do to Bane also.
Did you type and post this while looking in mirror? You are continuing to have a conversation with yourself Monster/Onpoint. You ask why you would address Onpoint while posting as Onpoint, its an easy answer…you screwed up! Now you are caught.
@MW,
Don’t be fooled by his destroying my screen name with his little game. I don’t appreciate the inclusion of my thoughts under some Monster game.
Foj Gold and Platinum card members will stop at nothing. Really Sad. So Monster you admit you use multiple screen names, you area “troll” in the words one of your buddy’s David A. Porter. Oh and the Sheriff’s Office continues to spiral into a who’s running the place funnel. Is it The Sheriff BANE(no totally does not know what is going on)(maybe because he isnt being informed), Colonel Carlevarro(No), Stoney(No)Presberry(at times but no), Who is in charge?????? not sure just dont be proactive because someone will fill out an I-28 on you. Head down hoping for change is my motto. This is a joke. Does jesse bane not see the place imploding? I know a what few commanders do, they need to speak up or they are part of the problem. Its like the mofia who will speak up? STOP THE MADNESS DO WHAT YOU ARE PAID AND ELECTED TO DO. HCSO is Imploding 2 years before an election, very sad.
I have sat back for many discussions under the sheriff debate. I have a few points to make: 1.Who runs the place, 2. Are there tough and consistent rules? 3.) This appears to be a governemt orginization on the virge of complete colapse but no one seems to care. Why are there serious issues in HCSO. I am a deputy and care so thats why I ask. The behind the scene select few raises was backdoor move and only included a few, is this union or a sorority? Union Failure and Sheriff Failure at this point. Must feel good that people are struggling and you are sitting back. Careers and terms in office will be known by what you did and you have made piss poor decisions. All others accuse me of whining but this shouldnt be happening its not fair.
Seriously, all jokes aside, we all know that the Sheriff’s Department has issues and that stems from the top on down to the C.O.’s, but do you really think the DAGGER is the place to air your greivances? In my opinion, the County Executive should not have given raises to deputies without the approval of the Sheriff and should not have negotiated such an agreement without the knowledge of the Sheriff. The Sheriff is the duly elected official who runs the department and is supposed to make decisions regarding rank and file, raises, promotions, etc… Also, any employee of the Sheriff’s Office who is on the internet and leaks sensitive material regarding internal affairs of the Department. should be fired. You have a system in place to grieve and suggest inappropriate conduct of any officer, including the sheriff, that would give you a written record of the allegations and the outcome of the issues at hand. This paper trail could then be used in a civil suit by the Union to force the hand of the powers that be, to do the right thing. It also keeps the issues internal and away from the public view in a private setting. Airing greivances on the Dagger is nothing more than hear say, could be construed as counter productive to the healthy growth and morale of the Department, may be libelous per se to the Command Staff and the duly elected Official that was elected by the citizens of Harford County to command such office. Nothing you are doing on this website is reassuring the public that the Department is adequately prepared to ensure the public safety of Harford County or the integrity of the Office, which in my opinion is an offense that should require the immediate termination of the employee and or employees in question.
This has been a public service announcement paid for by the FOJ Cardholders. Butter, if the Dagger isn’t the forum for posting, why in the hell are you posting? You Baners are one messed up group.
And another opportunity for the disgruntled disenfranchised to vent their spleens because they don’t have the backbone to reveal who they are and stand up to their management. Or maybe, just maybe, get another job where their asocial skills will not be a handicap instead of a character quality.
The point is that there is no INTEGRITY with Bane leading by his example. You want to improve the morale and integrity of the Office, 2014 is your next chance. Also, it is very telling that you rank the C.O.’s as the very bottom of the organization.
Clarified Butter, please tell me that some of these posters aren’t deputies. If they are, then, you are right, they need to go. They have a union and complain that it doesn’t serve them and make many innuendos that some people on this site actually believe. Then, there are others on this site that are against Bane because they regard him as a spender. They hide their identity by agreeing to the crap that some of Gahler’s supporters and other possible candidates tell them. Keep agitating them. I am getting tired of being by myself on this site, when I know I am in the majority in the community. They know it too, that is why they are on any possible site spreading their manure.
@Monster,
You were busted last night using my handle. My guess is that you are C.B. too.
Clarified Butter, these people talk big, but won’t go to the lengths that you have suggested if they really have anything. You identified it perfectly when said that they are repeating water cooler crap. They all claim to know about personnel issues when we know that personnel issues are private. Ask Mark Eaton.
When life gives you LEMons….
I bet none of you voted for a county police force, so i am laughing reading both sides complaining when it is our (the voters ) fault. As for lame duck craig bye bye !!
Harford County needs a county police force the way that Anne Arundel County needs a Sheriff’s Office. A chief, now retired in disgrace, who was forced to follow the illegal and immoral demands of his elected executive. Much better than voting for your law enforcement leader (sarcasm intended).
Onpoint, Mike Welsh, Fact checker, Marc Eaton, does the cat have your tongues?
@Monster,
What is it that I should respond to? Don’t see any new fiction that I need to address at the moment? Waiting….
Onpoint, you post without knowing anything any way why is this different?
They’re probably busy checking on agency members grieving over losing one of their own or maybe grieving since they knew the lost. Speaking of that, have either of you or your anti-deputies posted a condolence on that article?
Good point RandomPoster1.
This is just another case of Bane llying to the public and the employees that helped get him elected ( Correctional Officers and Civilians) it’s a darn shame he has such a reputation as a good guy not true!!!!
definitely biting the hand that fed him. things will be different next time around Jesse. get Mildred Sammy to buy tickets to your fundraisers and golf tournaments.
you all do realize that the union is the problem here, right?
The whole anti-union thing is getting old.
Q., could you elaborate on what you mean?
Jtowne,
If you insist on allowing your child to post for you, perhaps you should proofread the posts for grammar and syntax.
Neither of the Unions are at fault. The DSU, and HCCA unfortunately have members who have their own agenda. In my opinion, if rogue Deputies were conducting business in the absence of their elected President, then they should be removed. As for HCCA, we will get our fair share eventually.
By the way, to the poster stating the CO union lacks cogent leadership. LOL, too funny. I applaud your for forcing two dozen people to blow dust of their dictionaries. I’m sure most would prefer to be completely unconvincing, than to be corrupted by greed.
I understand why Deputies want the raise. No one has had a raise in several years, and as a result, our step to years of service ratio is all messed up. Is Supreme Grand Master DFC really the way to fix that? In my opinion no. This new rank rewards deputies for being mediocre. (second time in grade bump, or compete for promotion? Why the hell would you ever promote?)
What happened to both Union’s working together towards common goals? Did that philosophy fade away with Fred?