The sheriff's new unmarked SUV

I understand the risks of having alot of random vehicles out there but they also run the risk of not doing something about a danger to others if they are witness to it and just cruise on by or let another driver continue on if they can do something to stop them. I am sure that it isnt SOP to use a private vehicle but what if that deputy/detective/investigator had just got off work and happened to be in his/her own vehicle that was equipped with lights and let a drunk driver going at a high rate of speed continue on down the road directly toward the vehicle loaded with kids coming home from soccer? I am sure they would rather just call it for a marked vehicle and continue on home but I am pretty sure somewhere in that oath they take it says they have to stop or attempt to stop that activity.

And in that situation, too, I agree that they should do something to stop the hazardous driver. But to intentionally put unmarked and/or private vehicles out on the roads for routine traffic enforcement is where you may run into more frequent risks, chases, complaints, etc. And I'll go ahead and admit that I don't think using unmarked and/or private vehicles going 5 to 8 mph over a 55 to 70 mph speed limit is a good use of such strategy, but when the LEO driving such a vehicle sees a drive going 15 mph over the speed limit, driving aggressively or erratically, etc., then by all means, they should pursue the offending vehicle.

More than likely that is what is happening. Keep in mind that last week was probably one of the busiest weeks of spring break and possibly the season for South Walton. It's kind of an all hands on deck situation. They may very well have had to use unmarked vehicles to patrol 98, even if they hadn't I'm sure the number of times it was spotted could have very well been one of the "out of the norm" situations described.

There have been numerous cases of "unmarked" cars pulling women over in this area and I am sure other places. Not law enforcement, but impostors. The reports say the thing to do is keep driving until you get to a well lit, well populated area (preferably a police or fire station) and call 911.

That's why the Sheriff said call dispatch - because they can immediately tell you if the car pulling you over is legitimate and send a REAL cop if they aren't.

Well maybe the vehicle will pay for itself.

My motto is to drive no faster that you can afford to drive. And with gas and tickets what they are, I have slowed down quite a bit.

sheriff needs to be voted out!

on this easter sunday, i saw one of walton county's sheriff storm troopers writing a ticket to an elderly couple dressed for church south of paxton on u.s.331. i guess something so disgusting makes us all feel a lot safer in our homes'.
oh wait, writing lots' of tickets allows the fat, rolly polly fella to drive a fancy new unmarked suv.
god bless america. in a time when gov. scott is asking for government to go on a diet, this career political animal has bellied up to the taxpayer breast. it's time to say no in '2012 and send sheriff mikkie packing out of office.

So because someone is elderly or dressed for church they should be immune from getting a ticket if they are breaking the law?! Whatever.:roll:

Somebody has voted early.

For only a 2nd post, this more or less takes the cake, particularly since he/she doesn't evidently know what we had previously for a sheriff and even less about the overall operation of the sheriff's office now compared to then. Go Sheriff Mike Atkinson and Deputies!!!!

I have recently been traveling up to South Georgia on a job and noticed that an unusual number of marked and unmarked police cars have been parked beside the roads. I asked a friend and he said they were parking and watching traffic because of the price of fuel. I don't know if this is the case here, but it makes sense.

I think 2 years ago the State of Florida did something similar to this. As I understood it they were advised they did not want a lot of running up and down the road and still wanted them to be visible.

on this easter sunday, i saw one of walton county's sheriff storm troopers writing a ticket to an elderly couple dressed for church south of paxton on u.s.331. i guess something so disgusting makes us all feel a lot safer in our homes'.
oh wait, writing lots' of tickets allows the fat, rolly polly fella to drive a fancy new unmarked suv.
god bless america. in a time when gov. scott is asking for government to go on a diet, this career political animal has bellied up to the taxpayer breast. it's time to say no in '2012 and send sheriff mikkie packing out of office.

Could you advise more detail what the current sheriff has done wrong? I'd be shocked if he got less than 80% of the vote in the next election.

P.S. Yes, seeing law enforcement doing their job DOES make us feel better.

Don't know what you find so disgusting about the ticket .............. unless it was you getting it.

Could you advise more detail what the current sheriff has done wrong? I'd be shocked if he got less than 80% of the vote in the next election.

I was looking over the county report sent out by Ms. Ingle and saw that the Sheriff's Dept. has continued to add employees while everyone else has taken significant (and needed) cuts. I asked someone I know and he told me that the increase has come in administrative personnel and that actual deputies are lower than when Ralph was in office. Since this man begged me to vote for the current Sheriff over Ralph, I believe him. That said, I doubt there will be any changes, it seems the worse incumbents do the more we vote for them.

Link Please

Again, if you or the other fly by poster would like to post actual reports or stats I'd take it into consideration, but so far all I'm seeing is gossip and innuendo. I find it hard to believe that we have fewer deputies as I've seen more deputies patrolling in the last year than ever.

Just for discussion sake, what exactly would be our options?

Again, if you or the other fly by poster would like to post actual reports or stats I'd take it into consideration, but so far all I'm seeing is gossip and innuendo. I find it hard to believe that we have fewer deputies as I've seen more deputies patrolling in the last year than ever.

Just for discussion sake, what exactly would be our options?

I would guess the first option would be to follow the lead of SWFD and cut administrative posts first.

The link to Ms. Ingle's report is:

http://www.clerkofcourts.co.walton.fl.us/report/Annual_Citizens_Report_2010.pdf

If you look on page 8 you will notice that the BCC has cut 90 employees since 2007 while the Sheriff has added 33 positions. The other constitutional officers have all cut positions for a total of 12.
Also, if you look on page 11, the General Fund has been reduced over 11 million dollars since 2008 while the Sheriff has increased over 4 million. Every other constitutional officer has reduced their budget since 2008 (page 12) with the Clerk leading the way at a cut of over 900 thousand. The fire/ems service cut over 2 million and corrections and other public safety ( code enforcement?) increased about 400 thousand. The Parks Dept. also cut over 2 million dollars. Transportation cut 2 million.
I admit I am repeating something I heard from someone else regarding the number of administrative staff and deputies. I really don't know where to go to confirm it. But what got me looking and asking questions was the report Ms. Ingle put out and included in the DFS paper a couple of weeks ago. I am glad some of the officials are trying to save taxpayer money and in fact was pleasantly suprised. Ms. Ingle in particular deserves praise for her efforts.

If this is true why is the sheriffs dept hiring more. I have not noticed anymore than normal

idlewild your right. sheriff mikkie is adding employees while every other department in the county has cut workers. but let's remember sheriff mikkie hires by the hour. he goes through veteran and young law enforcement officers like most people change underwear. the man shows no loyalty and they show him none. at least behind his back.

Maybe mikkie just needs help

I have one question I consider to be of importance. Is he operating within his budget?

I have one question I consider to be of importance. Is he operating within his budget?

As far as I can tell from the report he is. I think there are laws in Florida that prohibit going over your budget. I was told one time ( I know, heresay) that a public official who goes over budget in Florida is personally liable for the overage. I will look that up if I ever have time. But anyone can operate within a budget if the budget is high enough. Except the Federal government. I want all of them, local, state and federal to cut spending and restore sanity. I don't care what party they represent or who they are friends with, either they are fiscally responsible or they are not.

idlewild your right. sheriff mikkie is adding employees while every other department in the county has cut workers. but let's remember sheriff mikkie hires by the hour. he goes through veteran and young law enforcement officers like most people change underwear. the man shows no loyalty and they show him none. at least behind his back.

It would make sense that there has been increased demand on the Sheriff's department in recent years and decreased demand on other departments.

And I don't know what your personal hiring/firing policies are, but IMO firing law enforcement staff for breaking the law seems correct. As does firing employees who are disloyal and doing things behind their employer's back.

One of the reasons we elected him Sheriff was to clean house.

Disloyal to who, the Sheriff? Scooter that is crazy, not everyone likes the the folks they work for yet perform the task assigned to them. Attitudes such as yours are just one of the reasons there exist a need for Unions. So just because an employee may put up signs opposing the Sheriff in the next election he should be terminated. Larry Ashley the Sheriff in Okaloosa County by your thinking should have been terminated by Charlie Morris for his actions. Really, that is just disappointing. Also, although I did not vote for him, the reason I voted for the guy I did was his ability to lead.