Sheriff ought to be a leader

Almost every time I introduce myself to someone and mention that I am running for sheriff, I hear a horror story about law enforcement in McHenry County. It's not always about things that happen in McHenry County that involve the sheriff's department and deputies; it also includes matters happening within the municipalities in McHenry County.

The sheriff's primary jurisdiction is the County that is not incorporated. Village and City police primarily take care of law enforcement matters within their own boundaries.

But when police powers are being abused, then the sheriff should inject himself into solutions. Legally, he might not have standing, but he ought to be a powerful persuader on the side of Right.

This morning I heard about a man who was stopped about a month ago somewhere in the County; when I get the whole story, I'll know in what town he was stopped or if it was in the County. He did not have his driver's license on his person, but the officer acknowledged that the computer check indicated he did have a valid license.

The driver, of Hispanic origin, found himself facedown on the hood of the car and his hands cuffed behind him.

What? For leaving his driver's license at home? I can't wait to hear the whole story. I asked the person reciting the story to ask the driver to call me.

If a driver just doesn't have his license in his pocket (which is a violation), does it warrant arrest, handcuffing and transporting him to the police station (and probably jail), if everything else checks out okay? Why not just write him a ticket (which is going to be dismissed, anyway, when he trucks over to the courthouse and presents his valid driver's license) and send him on his way?

Just what does the sheriff have to do with this, if it occurs in a city or a village in McHenry County? He ought to be paying a little visit on the police chief and persuading him to educate his officers. And, if the officers are violating any laws themselves while performing the duties of their office, then the sheriff ought to be arresting the officers!

Of course, he won't be too popular with the chiefs of police but it is, after all, his sworn duty - to enforce the laws impartially.