Sheriff's proposal rankles city boss

Largo Manager Steven Stanton says the offer to extend service to the city in the wake of the police chief's retirement was "in bad taste."

By ERIC STIRGUS

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 9, 2000

LARGO -- City Manager Steven Stanton said Thursday that the sheriff was out of line in suggesting a takeover of the city Police Department only a day after its leader announced his retirement.

On Thursday morning, Stanton read in the newspaper that Pinellas Sheriff Everett Rice was interested in handling law enforcement in Largo. He then heard that the sheriff called the county's police union to seek support for the idea.

Then Stanton met with Largo officers who wondered what was going on.

"I'm disappointed that Sheriff Rice would bring it up at this time," said Stanton. "It's in bad taste. It creates more disharmony and morale issues in a department that has enough on its plate. It could have been discussed in a much less public place."

Chief Jerry Bloechle on Tuesday announced plans to retire in October after 20 years with the department.

Rice said Thursday that he was not trying to act like a scavenger, but he remains adamant in his belief that Largo would be better off with sheriff's deputies patrolling the county's third most populated city.

"I'm sorry (my comments) gave the impression I was trying to take over," said Rice.

The sheriff said he did call the union, the Pinellas County Police Benevolent Association, but not for the reasons Stanton believes. Rice remembered the union's initial resistance when negotiations began with Dunedin in 1995 to contract with the sheriff. Rice said he simply wanted the union to keep an open mind about Largo.

The union's executive director, Bill LauBach, said Thursday that Largo officers are doing a good job and believes there is no need for a change to sheriff's deputies. The starting salary for a Largo officer is about $2,000 more than that of a sheriff's deputy.

"Our position is we do not encourage, endorse or want the sheriff to take over the law enforcement responsibilities in Largo," LauBach said.

In Thursday's edition of the Times, Rice said he thought now would be an opportune time to discuss a contract. Bloechle is leaving in the wake of a scandal involving allegations of sexual conduct between officers and members of the department's youth Explorer post, a Boy Scout program that provides on-the-job training for youths 14-21.

Stanton called Rice's statements an effort at "self-preservation," given that annexation efforts by Largo and other cities are shrinking the area sheriff's deputies have to patrol.

Despite Stanton and city commissioners' resistance to his suggestion, Rice was persistent Thursday. Rice believes Largo could negotiate a contract with the county in which the city would spend less than the $11.2-million currently budgeted for its Police Department.

Rice last presented the idea to Largo officials about two years ago during a meeting about the county's fee for fingerprinting services.

"I just don't understand it," Rice said about the reluctance of Largo officials. "I think they would want to see what their constituents think."

Stanton said he believes the city should not have to pay for the county to provide law enforcement. Because Largo taxpayer dollars are funneled back to the county, Stanton thinks the sheriff has a duty to handle law enforcement in Largo without a contract if the city decided to disband its police force.

Rice agreed in principal with Stanton but said cities without police departments should pay for such services to offset the cost of providing law enforcement.

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