Showing care, the Andy Lahera way

Let’s talk some today about the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office.

Not the sheriff. We’ve talked about him enough during the last week.
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No, I’m referring to the men and women who work for the sheriff. Those in uniform, and those in street clothes. Ones with titles or ranks, others work a 9-to-5 day.

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Being employed at the CCSO is similar to that of a regular police department, but for one glaring difference: The boss is elected.

That difference cannot be overstated. Job stability is on the ballot every four years. 

It’s that way for any constitutional office — schools, clerk of courts, elections, property appraiser, and tax collector. Those are ordinary jobs where the boss could be fired by voters every election without warning.

Yet, it’s not really a bother for most people. Only workers near the top of the food chain have reason to fear a change in leadership.

Election season is a little hairy for employees of incumbents on the ballot.

And no one is under the Citrus County microscope more now than the sheriff's employees. Especially deputies.

Not because of anything they’ve done. These men and women continue to make Citrus County proud. Every experience I have with Citrus County law enforcement is a positive one. Most people feel the same way.

They're caught between the politics of their boss and the realities of their jobs. 

An email went out last Friday from the sheriff’s office HR department to employees, basically explaining the sheriff’s office side of the Andy Lahera saga. I won’t bore you with those details, except for the last two paragraphs:

“The catastrophic accident was and is horrific, and the Sheriff continues to support Andy and his family entirely and faithfully. With that said, it is disheartening to hear what was shared in articles recently against our Agency. Nevertheless, our support for Andy will never surrender. There is a real and intense process of grief when getting over trauma, and our hearts go out to the Lahera family.

“I write this to dispel any notion that the Sheriff or any other Command Staff member does not care. We care for you and your family. Should something happen to you in the line of duty, you have the backing of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to the benefits we have in place, the Sheriff and Command Staff will always work behind the scenes to provide additional support.”

Couple of thoughts on that.

First, interesting that the sheriff himself did not pen this email. Second, just saying, but if you need to assure employees they’re cared for…you might want to rethink that position. I mean, this shouldn’t be something that needs to be said. They should just know it from working there.

Now, contrast that with the community’s reaction to Andy’s plight. After wringing out their anger over a sheriff who has an odd way of showing he cares, community leaders sprung into action to begin awareness and fundraising for the Lahera family. (The Lahera Facebook page has details on all the fundraisers.)

The difference is significant. We care for our own, ESPECIALLY first responders. These men and women run toward danger and my gosh, that is not lost on Citrus County one bit. 

I made an error in a Florida Politics story this week about the sheriff’s race. I misread a court document, it could happen to anybody, but the error reflected poorly on sheriff’s detectives and others involved in a high-profile drug case. I felt terrible. That’s the LAST thing I want.

Again, the reminder: Behind noisy politicians are hard-working people who don’t need distractions. The politics of a contentious sheriff’s race should not trickle down to the folks working to keep our community safe. They have enough on their minds.

First responders like Andy Lahera have our backs. Thankful to live in a community that has theirs.

Have a safe and beautiful weekend, friends.

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