County to lay off Sheriff

[normanvin]

So how do we renew our "gun permits"?


http://www.timesleader.com/news/Coun...2-16-2012.html


Luzerne County Sheriff John Gilligan said he was informed Wednesday by county Interim Manager Tom Pribula that he will be laid off, effective March 1.


The 2012 county budget adopted by county council Tuesday requires a projected 56 layoffs.

Gilligan said Pribula indicated his position is no longer needed because the sheriff and security departments will merge.

Gilligan expects county Security Chief John “Jack” Robshaw will be handling sheriff duties after his departure.

The sheriff oversees courtroom security, prisoner transport, mortgage foreclosure sheriff sales, gun permits and the serving of civil court papers and protection-from-abuse orders.

“I definitely wish Jack the best of luck. I’ll do everything in my power to make it a smooth transition for Jack,” Gilligan said.

Pribula said he can’t confirm or deny the names of employees who will be furloughed until the human resources department finalizes all details and all impacted employees have been notified.

Robshaw said he has not been notified he will be overseeing the sheriff’s office. The administration wants to merge the departments to combine resources and increase efficiency, he said.

County security guards primarily man the entrances of county buildings.

Gilligan was appointed sheriff in June 2010 to fill a vacancy after Michael Savokinas resigned. The elected sheriff post was abolished with the implementation of the new home rule government on Jan. 2, but Pribula opted to temporarily keep Gilligan in the post.

Gilligan said he had hoped to continue in the post, which pays $36,562.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I made it to the top, and now I have to step down,” he said.

Robshaw, of Wilkes-Barre, was hired as security chief in May and is paid $37,500.

He worked as a full-time police officer in Fairview Township and for the Luzerne County Drug Task Force from November 2000 through January 2010, in addition to employment as a police officer in other municipalities, his resume says.

Consolidation of the security and sheriff’s offices has been discussed for years but was never fully implemented.

Prior commissioners decided in August to start training security workers to carry guns and Mace, with the goal of reassigning security guards to the sheriff’s office.

Robshaw said 10 of the 25 security guards have been trained to use pepper spray and handcuff restraint to date. Most security workers are interested in gun training, but the instruction was put on hold because of the county’s financial problems, he said.

Security guards who complete training will be categorized as “Level 2” security deputy sheriffs and receive pay increases.

Guards who don’t complete training will be classified as unarmed “Level 1” and will be assigned to county property that doesn’t require high-level security, such as the courthouse parking garage, parking lots and Moon Lake Park, officials have said.

Robshaw said he supports a consolidation to share staff and improve communication about security issues.

“We all have a lot of the same responsibilities providing protective services,” he said.

Regarding layoffs, county managers received an email from the human resources department Wednesday requesting lists of employees who will be furloughed due to budget cuts as soon as possible.

Human resources will then send each employee a letter in compliance with their union contract or the county personnel policy, the email says.

[soberbyker]

So if the Sheriff is being replaced with a "security chief" who will issue the LTCF in which the statute specifically gives the "sheriff" that power?

ETA, somehow I missed your first sentence, but I'll leave this post here to echo the thought.

.

[HiredGoon]

I don't understand this part either:

"The elected sheriff post was abolished with the implementation of the new home rule government on Jan. 2..."

[gnbrotz]

I've moved this thread to the 'Pennsylvania' forum as I believe the underlying issues could be relevant and of interest to everyone.

[GrumpyBear]

Yeah.How exactly do you lay off an elected position and keep an apparently appointed position?

[streaker69]

Would this appointed position have the authority under the UFA to issue LTCF's?

[normanvin]

Originally Posted by streaker69

Would this appointed position have the authority under the UFA to issue LTCF's?

That is the question. Or to sign off on class III paperwork.

[streaker69]

Originally Posted by normanvin

That is the question. Or to sign off on class III paperwork.

If they do not, then the citizens of the county would have a good case to sue the county and have an actual elected sheriff. Since this "home rule government" is infringing upon the rights of the citizens to bear arms.

[twoguns]

Originally Posted by streaker69

If they do not, then the citizens of the county would have a good case to sue the county and have an actual elected sheriff. Since this "home rule government" is infringing upon the rights of the citizens to bear arms.

Home rule has a nice ring to it but it has its roots in the bowels of U.N. and is dangerous in that, as you have pointed out, it takes power away from the people and places it in the hands of appointed bureaucrats. Not good!

If you think accountability is lacking now, just wait for Home Rule to go fully into effect.

Didn't the people have to vote this in?

[JustinHEMI]

Originally Posted by twoguns

Home rule has a nice ring to it but it has its roots in the bowels of U.N. and is dangerous in that, as you have pointed out, it takes power away from the people and places it in the hands of appointed bureaucrats. Not good!

If you think accountability is lacking now, just wait for Home Rule to go fully into effect.

Didn't the people have to vote this in?

I agree. This is outrageous. The Sheriff is the duly elected law of the county. How can they just replace it with someone the people have no say in? I need more info. Did the People vote for this?

Justin