Deputies Involved In Cover-up Should Be Fired

I am appalled that when reading the Hernando Today this week about the Hernando County Sheriff's Office finance director being involved in an accident that was purely a cover-up and, rest assured, that it goes much deeper than the two deputies at the scene.

I would like to know how many DUI stops and convictions by the sheriff deputies in Hernando County where the person driving the vehicle was given a sobriety road side test and blood test and was not in the car when the deputies arrived. I would be willing to bet that there have been more than several, but they did not work for the sheriff's department. I have read in the paper over the years other law enforcement from other counties have been arrested and convicted. Why is it that this person was not treated in the same manner?

I think the reason why is because someone was called in the case to assure that this person was not given a sobriety test and arrested for DUI. The deputies had plenty of witnesses to verify that this person driving was impaired in some way and one of them made sure that her keys were handed over to her. There was open alcohol in the vehicle, in a separate container plus a full unopened one and smell of alcohol on her breath. What does a deputy need to convince himself that this person had been drinking?

As for the second deputy, with higher authority, had overlooked this very important information to let this person slide out of a DUI arrest. Well, any lay person can figure that one out. She apparently knows them or other important people in the sheriff's office to get a break like that and to try to go back to justify what these people did is and always will be "the good old boy syndrome" - take care of your own - and that is just what happened in this case, no doubt in my mind.

Whoever is responsible for letting this slide should be terminated from the sheriff's office even if it goes as high as the sheriff himself. But we have a double standard in this county in all departments. It all comes down to who you know, and I do not think that will ever change.

I have one thing to say about going back to fix what was a mistake to begin with. I have news for you, it's too late. Terminate the deputies. Then we will find out how high this incident went.

Marion Merrell

Spring Hill