Today former Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton announced he would run for Lauderdale sheriff in 2014. Yes, it's a long time until the actual election, but I urge everyone in Lauderdale County to look at Rick's record...and the record of incumbent Ronnie Willis, and make plans to support a great candidate to clean up an office that's been neglected too long.
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Can Singleton not just fade away and be forgotten. His management of the florence police dept. and his record on crimes being reduced or solved is terrible. The only reason that he stayed on so long as police chief was that he was appointed to that position not elected to that position by the people. His management of the dept. was overloaded with supervisors and chiefs (desk jockeys) and not enough indians to actually do the work. Take away all unmarked police cars except the detectives cars and put all supervisors and deputy chief (who we don't need) out patrolling the city. Show your presentence and crime might actually go down and maybe you could actually catch a crook instead of telling the citizens that they should catch the crooks. Why are the taxpayers giving the police dept. over 8 million dollars a year plus for their budget and crime is worse than ever. Thank you for your service to the city, you did your best, but we don't need another double dipper sucking up taypayers money with no positive result coming from it. Please Mr Singleton, just fade away and let the city/county move forward.
I cannot understand why anyone would want Ronnie Willis' job at his level of pay. It's not like the sheriff's department is overloaded with personnel to patrol the county. If the citizens knew how thin the sheriff's patrols are, they'd not feel at all safe. This is a big, big county. And all the time, most of the really serious crimes, like murders, happen out in the county and not in the Florence city limits.
Me personally: I'd rather stoke the smoker and rebuild Singleton's Barbeque to the fine restaurant it once was.
I agree that our sheriff's dept. is highly understaffed. As for Rick, he inherited the restaurant business; I think law enforcement is his calling. While I strongly support Rick, I would vote for anyone before I would Ronnie Willis, the man who asked the FBI for help with animal control.
We need new faces around town,Let someone new have a chance. We have been stuck with same people in these offices for decades we need change get rid of "good ole boy" politics, We may have better people out there that will do better job.
Ronnie and his Deputies have done a really good job considering what they have to put up with day in and day out.
Ronnie and his Deputies have done a really good job considering what they have to put up with day in and day out.
If we knew what nuts the law enforcement community had to put up with on a daily basis, you'd wonder why the officers put up with their jobs. They simply have a strong sense of right and wrong, and someone's got to battle the devil.
Spend an afternoon in circuit court, and you see the same faces over and over. They're a pitiful lot. And pills and illicit drugs are the driving force in what illegal activities are being committed. It's like the homeless--a problem without any solution. I guess somebody's got to do the work.
And as far as Rick Singleton--he could do the sheriff's job. Some people are not prepared for retirement, even though they may have a job waiting on them--like running a restaurant. But now he's committed himself to run for the office.
I cannot understand why anyone would want Ronnie Willis' job at his level of pay. It's not like the sheriff's department is overloaded with personnel to patrol the county. If the citizens knew how thin the sheriff's patrols are, they'd not feel at all safe. This is a big, big county. And all the time, most of the really serious crimes, like murders, happen out in the county and not in the Florence city limits.
Me personally: I'd rather stoke the smoker and rebuild Singleton's Barbeque to the fine
restaurant it once was.
You're right about that Bama Singleton's ain't what it used to be.
This will prove to be a tough choice!
Ronnie and his Deputies have done a really good job considering what they have to put up with day in and day out.
You're kidding, right?
With regards to Singleton as Sheriff, I think he would be great! Not only is he a PROFESSIONAL, he KNOWS the law, knows HOW TO WORK WITH other agencies w/o putting his foot in his mouth, etc., he also knows how to MANAGE.
This will prove to be a tough choice!
Not to those that are informed.
Isn't the police cheif is always an appointed position. I don't think there is an election for it.
As for the sheriff's pay? The sheriff's position in this county makes dang good money for what he does, why would anyone run for it if they didn't. It's the deputies that have to try and live on scratch.
As for needing Ronnie Willis during an emergency? You'll find him most of the time at Lawson's in Leoma chewing the fat with the hunting liars in the area.
I would like to know why under his knew Facebook account "Rick Singleton for Lauderdale County Sheriff" that he is posting it with a picture of it as the former chief, is this not against Section 13A-10-11 Since he is no longer a officer, maybe I am wrong, and why Willis delected his Facebook account. Maybe we need to find someone else to run for Sheriff. If Rick wanted to leave his job that paid somewhat around $97,000 per year, why did he do it in the first place. Another question is that most of his officers never voted for him in the first place when he ran for mayor.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wow, Yabba, impersonating a police officer. Yep. Remind me next November 11th to be on the lookout. I hear a large group of 90 year old men walk around town pretending to be army personnel. I'll be sure to turn them in.
(Thanks to both retired army and police personnel for your service.)
Congratulations to Rick Singleton. There's a new sheriff in town and he's going to be honest!
Do I take your post to say that Willis was not an honest sheriff?
Now all the crooks will have ++ pluses on their eyes.ΘΘ
Do I take your post to say that Willis was not an honest sheriff?
Let's just say that it's been proved he gave preferential treatment to some charged in civil cases, hired unqualified friends, and misused county equipment. If Mr. Singleton should do the same, I hope he's called out as well.
