Governor’s Plan to Bolster Law Enforcement Is Meek Rather Than Bold
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17 responses to “Governor’s Plan to Bolster Law Enforcement Is Meek Rather Than Bold”
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Good article. Sounds very much like plans for teacher retention. I might add- dual enrollment for 18 yr olds right out of high school to go into law enforcement?? In my opinion, scary.
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My thought exactly… but at least they get 24 weeks of training before being issued their weapon and badge… (I am not being sarcastic here… I am grateful they at least get some training first).
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VA Code sets entry deputy sheriff age at 18. There are many support roles in sheriff offices, short of patrol, that can be discharged by younger deputies, relieving experienced officers and filling the personnel shortages.
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And I think an appropriate pathway.
A good Police Officer needs to have experience and good judgement, something that needs to be acquired over time.
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Good article. Sounds very much like plans for teacher retention. I might add- dual enrollment for 18 yr olds right out of high school to go into law enforcement?? In my opinion, scary.
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Dick’s, usual thorough and informative in-depth article.
What strikes me is this whole separate world of budget and enabling legislation that involves legislators and agency liaisons that many know little of and Dick cracks that door open a little with minimal partisan or political slanting.
Thank You!
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“When it comes to violent crime, it’s crucial to understand that the solution lies in a whole of Government approach…”
I am sure more than a few from the Right may take issue with this belief… 🤷♂️
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Law enforcement personnel, with strong professional leadership, properly funded, properly trained, and supported by the elected representatives has a better probability of doing their job. Adding the other parts of focus toward safer communities is of course prosecution. Those components are now shaping up.
From what I have seen of the Attorney General and the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the latter whom I personally know, is that both have a professional focus toward enforcing the law to achieve our desired effect. Both of these people had predecessors who were politically focused, vs. their job. As the previous AG did not enforce all the laws and allowed other influences to set him awry. The previous Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security had no experience in his whole life, in law enforcement.
We have the right leaders to tackle the crime issue. And I wholeheartedly agree with the article’s premise that funding is essential and most probably too shallow – my inference. The Governor, and his team has shown that they understand the interrelationships of the economy and the other issues such as education, and law enforcement. Now what we should do, is to continue to quantify the goals, and ask the Governor what else he needs to get the job done.
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It will be difficult to convince me that Jason Miyares is not “politically focused.” He has been nothing but that since he took office. Yes, his predecessor was politically focused, but no more than Miyares.
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Actually, I am not as eloquent in my writings as many. Nevertheless, the first part, in which I believe the question was focused on is: “Both of these people had predecessors who were politically focused, vs. their job.”
The second part of qualifying that statement is: “As the previous AG did not enforce all the laws and allowed other influences to set him awry.” That was the point. He was not doing his job.
Now does the present elected AG go awry in his perspective of performing the job, or does he perform the job as prescribed by law? We will see.
To the Politically Focused part, I believe ALL elected and those appointed by elected representatives are focused on an agenda. Now does that make the word “politics” a negative connotation? Most probably people today feel that way. Moreover, today that word in usage is a “broad brush.” It can also be positive if used correctly. Or did I touch a nerve?
You are the first in this web site I have ever replied to, in directing a question to me, as I respect your research, and you are not condescending.
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So, should the AG, ANY AG GOP or Dem be directly involved in local issues?
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Herring defended politically gerrymandered district maps passed by the GA as part of his mandated role as AG. Miyares withdrew VA participation in advocating for the ERA passed by the GA. Sometimes, the AG job requires holding one’s nose. The relative political motivation is for the voters to decide.
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All AGs are “politically focused” and running for governor or re-election. . .which is why they shouldn’t be elected.
At the same time, I think the APA should be a bit more politically focused and public-facing.
Appoint the AG, elect the APA.
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I agree on appointing the AG. I don’t understand the benefit in electing the APA. That is pretty much a technical position.
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That’s the problem–APA becomes too technical and opaque. Outside of state government wonks, no one pays attention to the APA or the valuable oversight work. Damning reports with sometimes a laundry list of findings are rarely read, most of the time because no one knows they even exist. I’d be surprised if a good number of legislators even read them. You practically need a CPA to understand what’s written, so journalists aren’t going to take their valuable time to decipher auditor jargon.
Electing the APA (like about half the states do), introduces transparency and accessibility into the office’s work.
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I’ve mentioned in other contexts, policy is only as good as the people making the policy. It seems the SPSHS team has gaps in experience and expertise:
Mosier has sheriff’s office experience, but based on his resume, most of his career was focused primarily on federal work (until his election as sheriff in a NOVA county 7 years ago).
One young deputy secretary is active in her local party and was an AUSA (federal).
Another deputy spent his career with ATF (federal), and did a stint with the McDonnell administration.
The third deputy worked in intelligence in the USMC (federal).
There’s no bio on the assistant secretary or special assistant.
So basically you have a team overseeing a diverse set of agencies (VSP, Fire Programs, Forensic Science, ABC, VDEM, DOC), creating state-level public safety policy to help localities. . .but everyone comes to the table with a federal perspective.
The plan is meek because the people creating the plan don’t have a firsthand grasp of the problems, so they’re doing the only thing they know how to do: throwing money at the problem.
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Gee, who knew that dreaming up programs was easier than actually making them work? Or that rhetoric and reality don’t always align? In 40 years around state government I had never noticed! Dick and I are about equally cynical on this front, never see a full glass, can spot the pitfalls. But sometimes he sees half empty and I see half full. 🙂 A different governor, we reverse.
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