Saturday, February 11, 2012

The wearing (out) of a uniform

Readers have pointed me to Cal Skinner's McHenry County Blog for raised eyebrows, because Undersheriff Andy Zinke is showing up in uniform and armed at off-duty political gatherings.

Remember the Assistant State's Attorney who was "fearful" when a Woodstock Police officer showed up in court for a hearing involving her son? She had just gotten off the night shift and went straight to court. Didn't he say he felt concerned or worried by the presence of a person with a gun? (Give me a break!)

Photos on Cal's blog show Zinke, in uniform (white shirt with Department emblems) and with gun at McHenry County political meetings last October (Nunda Township candidates' night) and at the McHenry County Business Meeting, a new political action committee (PAC), on February 8.

Can you imagine the furor if a deputy showed up (off-duty) in uniform at a political gathering, particularly if he were running for an elected office? He (or she) would get raked over the coals by his supervisor and probably get "written up"; you know, that dreaded document that will be held over your head for years into the future, impeding your promotions and raises.

Or how about a police office in Crystal Lake or Woodstock or McHenry? If an officer showed up (off-duty) in uniform and armed at a political function, how long would it take for word to reach his chief and for the after-effects to "run downhill"?

So, why is it that Undersheriff Zinke can show up at political meetings in uniform and armed? Wouldn't it be appropriate for him to change into civilian clothing and wear a jacket over his sidearm? Sure, everyone knows he'll be armed, but he'd better be at political functions off-duty and not in any official capacity, unless he is "on the clock". Is he doing so, because he knows there is no one to complain to?

And, if he is on the clock, maybe as an administrator he ought to be sending a deputy to provide any needed security and not be there as a law enforcement officer himself.

To whom can a taxpayer complain? To Zinke's boss, of course. Let's see; do you want to call Minocqua, Wisc. or Cape Coral, Fla. to reach his boss?

2 comments:

UR1096 said...

What would happen if an Officer showed up at Zane's fundraiser in Uniform? I'm sure that would have been encouraged.

Gus said...

The Undersheriff is furnished a Department vehicle. Does he drive it to political functions?

Are all deputies who are provided take-home cars allowed to drive those vehicles anywhere, at any time?

For example, if a deputy took vacation days and went to Missouri, could he drive his take-home vehicle there and back? Aside from the fact that it's personal mileage and the mileage should be chargeable to the deputy as taxable income (is it?), what about the risk of damage or breakdown?

If the transmission went out in St. Louis or in the Ozarks, who would pay for repairs or towing the vehicle back?