ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601110012
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Guest Column
SOURCE: RICHARD ABSHER
As I read the article "Marrs sworn in as sheriff; 2 top deputies lose jobs" in the Dec. 28, 1995, Current, I was struck by the comment of Sheriff [Ken] Phipps that he was "disappointed that the Sheriff's Office is losing good experience. ... These guys have been an asset to the Sheriff's Office. I hate to see anyone with this many years law enforcement experience be lost."
I was curious why he feels this way now. Four years ago he did not reappoint three longtime career deputies to positions in his administration. None of the three whom he let go had come in on the coattails of a previous sheriff, but were deputies from the beginning of their law enforcement careers.
I was one of the deputies not reappointed. On Jan 2, 1992, I was told by Phipps that my job had ended at midnight Dec. 31, 1991. I lost my job so that, in his words, he "could bring in his people that he could trust."
I had started in the Sheriff's Office in 1978 as a correctional officer in the jail. When I left, I was lieutenant of investigations. I was very proud of my career, my work to get where I was, my professional reputation and my department.
I can sympathize with Dan Haga and O.P. Ramsey. I've been in the same position and it is not pleasant. However, I think it should be noted that they obtained their jobs the same way that they are losing them. They and Phipps should have been very aware that this could happen. It appears to me that this was one last attempt to strike out at Sheriff-elect Marrs for whatever reason they might have.
I also agree with Ramsey's TV comments on Channel 7 News that there needs to be more job protection for deputies. During the summer of 1992 I spoke to a subcommittee of the Virginia Crime Commission on this very subject. Unfortunately, the Virginia State Sheriff's Association has too much political clout and the issue was never pursued further, to my knowledge.
This letter is not intended to condone or condemn any of the people involved. But since the outgoing sheriff's administration has chosen to make an issue of not reappointing deputies, perhaps the media may need to present more than just one side of the story.
Richard Absher, of Christiansburg, spent 13 years with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and was lieutenant of investigations when he lost his job Jan. 1, 1992. A lifelong resident of Montgomery County, he now runs his own business doing custom woodworking.
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