TO THE EDITOR:

Commissioner Schultz,

Let me start by saying that your recent proposal to cut the Chisago County Sheriff's Office budget by $200,000 is absolutely astonishing. I think Washington County Attorney Doug Johnson said it best in 2005 in a television interview, "...the Chisago County Board's behavior is dysfunctional...."How well is the public being served?"

Although you may not have been part of the board that Mr. Johnson refers to, you are certainly doing your part in carrying on that legacy! Have you forgotten that you, as well as your loved ones are the"public" in public safety?

Your attempt to tell the Sheriff in this county how to manage his fleet is amusing. You, ma'am have completely overstepped your bounds.

Let me make an analogy. Imagine yourself (a teacher) having to exchange desks with every other elementary teacher at the whim of your Superintendent.

You are also required to use the same teaching aids that they have on their desk. Do you think for a minute that you could be as efficient in teaching 2nd graders with a 6th grade lesson plan and text book?

Let's translate that into law enforcement. The safety of the officer as well as the safety of the motoring public hinges on the safety of his squad car.

Law enforcement by nature is hard on vehicles. They drive in all weather, all terrain, and at times are required to drive at high speeds. (They aren't driving Miss Daisy to and from the grocery store)

When an officer maintains his own squad car, he insures that everything is in good working order. He is the first one to know whether or not it is handling how it is supposed to. Officers spend the majority of 10 hours a day in a squad car, which is literally their office, and portions of this time are spent at speeds that would scare the average driver!

Squad cars, like any other tool eventually wear out. To rotate cars as you have suggested is impractical and unsafe. Tell me this, when your family car wears out and is no longer safe to drive are you going to pass it down to your kids?

Keep in mind that, statistically, one-fourth (1/4) of all officers killed in the line of duty in this country are killed in motor vehicle crashes.

As far as your stance on the newly purchased in-car computers, that also leaves a lot to be desired. These items are a staple in modern law enforcement. There are many law enforcement agencies that are significantly smaller with much smaller budgets that have this technology. They have had it for years. By cutting funding to not allow use of the tools would set law enforcement in this county back 20 years.

You, ma'am are uninformed and naive. It's blatantly obvious that you lack common sense, and that is unfortunate. Especially for the constituents that you represent and Chisago County as a whole. I can only hope that this letter might open their eyes to what it is that you actually represent. Perhaps in 2009 they will be able to show their disapprovement.

Ms. Schultz, ask yourself, "How well is the "public" served?"

Jay Helin
Sunrise Township