Is Sheriff Hutchinson being treated the same?

Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson plead guilty to a dwi crash. He had a blood alcohol level of .13, there was also evidence of THC use, crashed a $75,000 County owned vehicle and was carrying his firearm. Being Sheriff he was returning from a Sheriff's Conference and was considered on duty.

In an interview given to Fox 9 he says he "received no special treatment" and  is "being treated like everyone else." Is he? 

Yes he was given 2 years probation and fined $610. He says he will make sure Hennepin County tax payers don't have to pay for damages, but what about everything else?

As a Union steward at the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office for over 20 years what about discipline? Sheriff's Office employees are almost always given a suspension without pay. One supervisor driving a Sheriff's Office vehicle under the influence was given almost one month off without pay and demoted. Is Hutch giving up any pay? I represented a few members who had gotten DWI's and there was almost always time off. This is setting a new precedent. No discipline beyond Court ordered. As to the THC, that's grounds for firing and losing the ability to purchase or carry a firearm! I realize an elected official can't be fired, but again this is precedent setting. 

Photo Alpha News

It's illegal to carry a firearm under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. MSS 624.7142 states that is also a crime, a misdemeanor and you can have your ability to carry a firearm suspended. That happened to around 37 citizens last year. Hutch?

Employees of Cities and County's are generally banned from driving Government owned vehicles after a DWI even in a personal vehicle. Is the Sheriff still going to be driving a Hennepin County owned car?

Other Peace Officers have had their POST License suspended after DWI's. Will Hutch? If so how can he remain Sheriff if his License is suspended? It's a requirement of the Office.

The average citizen also has their drivers license suspended and their entire household gets 'whisky plates' put on their cars. Will his license be suspended? Will he and his Husband get whisky plates on their cars?

If I was a still a Union Steward at the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office I'd be asking for all past and future suspensions of members be returned for DWI's for the duration of the Hutch Administration. What's that popular term now? Oh yeah, Equity.

Obituary for Karen Clossey

 I was very sad to hear of Karen's passing. She was 54, way too young. I worked with her for many years and had a few drinks with her over the years.She always had a smile and a great sense of humor. RIP, you will be missed.

Vaccine mandates and CO shortages

Corrections Officers worked all through the pandemic. Many of them, too many, caught Covid, recovered and kept working. They were called heroes.

Suddenly they are being told to get vaccinated against Covid 19 or be terminated. Some thanks. Well many CO's are refusing. There are many reasons, already have natural immunity from having it, religious exemption, and gasp, free will.

Employers public and private use coercion to force vaccines on the unwilling. The threat of losing your livelihood is a strong threat. But many employers are finding that's a two way street. More and more industries have had to reverse course on mandating the jab because workers have chosen to withhold the labor they need.

That is happening now in Corrections. Pima County, Arizona is now requiring all CO's to be vaccinated or face being fired. 158 of the 371 CO's are not vaccinated. There are calls to 'reduce inmate population' if the unvaccinated are fired!

At the end of the day labor is a two way street between employer and employee. 

Full story Western Journal.

The passing of Karen Clossey

This was  forwarded to me. There is no other information available at this time. I worked with Karen for many years. I will pass on when it becomes available. RIP friend.

HCSO Sheriff Hutchinson charged with DWI

 

KSTP is reporting that Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson has been charged with 4 counts after an impaired driving crash.

FULL STORY

I hope he gets the help he needs.

HCSO Sheriff Hutchinson involved in possible DWI.

 KSTP is reporting that Hennepin County Sheriff Hutchinson was involved in a single vehicle roll over crash around 2:30 AM this morning. The Sheriff is injured and in the hospital. State Patrol said impaired driving is suspected and took a urine sample. The case will be reviewed by the Douglas County prosecutor.

The position of this blog has always been due process. So first off I wish Sheriff Hutch a speedy recovery. 

However, if he was driving impaired there is great concern.

He was at the Minnesota Sheriff's Association's winter conference. That means he was on duty AND driving a County vehicle. If true this is a can of worms. He has disciplined employees for DWI's and they have at times been given suspensions without pay. His Sheriff's Office issues DWI complaints against the public with severe consequences. Imagine the cost to Hennepin County tax payers if he injured or killed someone?

He admittedly is held to a higher standard, and should be held to higher consequences if found to be true. 

Here's the last few hours of the Schedule for the MSA winter conference. 

It's quite possible he enjoyed "The Brassholes" then the cash bar before driving.

To err is human. If you're the Sheriff who's job is Public Safety, Law Enforcement and disciplining employees, and you drink and drive, the trust is broken.

It's possible he was just tired and it was an accident. If proven otherwise public trust, the integrity of the Office of Sheriff, and the respect of the rank and file would demand he step down.

Dec 3rd Workgroup meeting-Final?

Friday Dec 3rd we had what may be the final Pension Work Group meeting. The Chair Dar Pankonie went around and asked the Members if 911 Dispatchers should have an enhanced pension. There was NOT a consensus other than the dispatchers. The County and City Groups argued cost and whether an enhanced pension was what was needed to attract employees.

Then it was asked if the pension were to be enhanced whether they should be added to the Correctional Plan.(Remember when they tabled it I said tabled doesn't mean gone). Again, no consensus. Heidi the PERA CO from Sherburne County mentioned an assault on staff with a bucket of feces being dumped on a CO's head and said the jobs have no comparison. Dan Gorman from the State CO's argued pension doesn't come up when hiring people and I brought up that when a CO goes to work we don't know if we will be going home, to the hospital or the morgue. Dispatchers don't have that risk. 

At this point some of the dispatchers became very emotional arguing their job is dangerous too. 

Are we out of the woods? NO!

The report is being written by Chad Burkitt the Analyst for the LCPR. He wrote the 'memo' suggesting there was no statute for CO's having our pension. I asked him if he knew why  the 40/60 split is in statute 353.63, he replied he didn't. Only Police, Fire and Corrections pay into their pensions with that formula.

He stated during the meeting dispatchers are Public Safety too. There is no 'Public Safety Pension'. There is Police and Fire and Corrections. Calling 911 Telecommunicators Public Safety (which they are) doesn't qualify them for our Pension. While he must say the committee didn't reach consensus, we won't know the slant or recommendation of the final report until it's done.

They stated they wanted this to be our last meeting but once the report is done and sent to the members of the Work Group they said we may have one more if the Work Group had questions. I would be surprised if that happened.

The process going forward is for the Work Group's report to go the LCPR who will in turn pass it on to Senator Bigham and the Pension Retirement Committee.

There was no consensus and I hope this is the end of trying to add Dispatchers to the PERA Correctional Plan.

If not we fight on.

Watch the Detention Home blog soon for video highlights.