Labor & Employment Law

Wis. Sheriff: Deputies Are Not Palace Guards

By James Parks

Said at a press conference today by Dane County (Wis.) Sheriff David Mahoney, whose district includes the state Capitol:  he pulled his officers from a duty to guard the state Capitol building’s entrances yesterday after state officials closed the building to the public.

According to WisPolitics, Mahoney said that over the past two days, “we have placed those law enforcement officers in the position of being palace guards.”

The deputies had been told that the doors would be open at 8 a.m. yesterday, but that didn’t happen and the officers didn’t find out why until the afternoon, Mahoney said.

When asked to stand guard at the doors that duty was turned over to the Wisconsin State Patrol because our deputies would not stand and be palace guards. I refused to put deputy sheriffs in a position to be palace guards.

Mahoney said  he was confident ?that we still have a peaceful demonstration.”

But it’s crucial that individuals have a voice and access to their lawmakers.

Mahoney added he’s “never been prouder” of his officers than over the last two weeks.

Earlier today, a Dane County judge ordered state officials to re-open the Capitol. A hearing on the matter was scheduled for this afternoon.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on March 01, 2011 (boomark / email).