Sheriff explains ride-along policy

I was pleased to see M.J. Monroe's letter to the editor regarding the homicide and a civilian ride along. I will take this opportunity to answer the questions and explain a few things.

Yes, the Lake County Sheriff's Office does have a ride along program as do many agencies. It was actually started by Sheriff Geldrich through the Citizens Academy.

I expanded the program to allow deputies the ability to give rides to dispatchers, wives, significant others, adult family members, officers from other agencies, and occasionally friends.

As Sheriff, on 24-hour call, I often have citizens with me when I respond to calls. Numerous deputies have taken advantage of this program — Dan Duryee, Dan Yonkin, Lucky Larson, Lance Ewers, Jody Durham and Larry Kirby to name a few. The fact that a person is a female has absolutely no bearing on the situation.

Every time you put on your uniform and go to work it is dangerous.

You never know what a call will turn out like, and civilian riders face those same dangers. If a rider is injured in some way, the county will definitely have some liability. This is why the program is limited.

A homicide investigation is much safer for a rider than riding with a deputy on a pursuit or traffic stop. In a homicide investigation, we plan our response with the safety of each individual our number one concern. This response was with a team of over a dozen officers. The rider is kept out of the area until the building is cleared, the suspects are in custody and the crime scene is secured. A rider is never allowed in the secured, taped-off area.

In a traffic stop, anything can happen and an officer becomes defensive, making it difficult to protect his rider. When the driver or passenger come out on the fight, officers have been beaten up and shot with their own weapons.

I would rather have a rider in a secure position outside a homicide scene than in the front seat of a patrol car during an officer assault.

Reserve Deputy Deborah Hobbs was on routine kegger patrol the night she was killed.

If you want to go on a joy ride where you won't get hurt or killed, don't ever get into a patrol car, because there is always that chance.

Julie Berry is a member of the Coalition for Kids. One of its main goals is to bring organizations together, working collaboratively for the betterment of our communities.

One of my goals in having her ride was to show first hand what we have accomplished in law enforcement by working together.

She just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

If you know her, you know she wasn't bragging or patting anyone on the back. She was simply trying to show you what good things can be accomplished when we work together.

I don't make decisions like this lightly and if I thought she would have been in extraordinary danger, I wouldn't have allowed it.

I take full responsibility for this individual being on that ride along, and under the same circumstances I would make the same decision again.

I thank M.J. Monroe for the letter and I hope the questions have been adequately answered. Anytime you have a concern, let me know. I will do my best to answer them.

William D. Barron

Lake County Sheriff