Sheriff’s Election

<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/10/26/news/state/25-sheriff_x.txt" >Big Horn sheriff candidates defend records</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Big Horn County sheriff candidates Lawrence "Pete" Big Hair and Debbie Uffelman Winburn are battling not only for the job but also against questions that they aren't qualified to serve.<br />n<br />nBig Hair is accused of improprieties as a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer. Winburn is not certified in the state's standard training for law officers.</blockquote><br />n<br />nThis is the local sheriff's race that I am contending with. These things have been reported in the local press but I am sure glad to see them getting a bigger airing. I don't think more "air" will clean it up any but more people will know about it.<br />n<br />n<br />nThe improprieties spoken of about Big Hair?<br />n<br />n<blockquote>One case accuses Big Hair of wrongful death because his service weapon was stolen from his house and used in a homicide in 1994. The other case accuses him of raping a woman while he was a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer taking her to jail for alcohol violations on Christmas night 1995.</blockquote><br />n<br />nSounds nasty. He claims innocence, of course, and since there was never any criminal prosecution he is technically right. The local paper did report that in the rape accusation against him the sheriff's office "lost" the paperwork for the case against him which is why it wasn't prosecuted. A note of interest here, the sheriff, who "lost" the documents, is Big Hair's cousin. Sounds pretty cozy. <br />n<br />nYou want to know what sounds even more cozy? Big hair had been refused employment by the sheriff's department, according to local sources, for the accusations against him until the day before he filed for his candidacy at which time his cousin hired him. Really makes a person wonder, doesn't it?<br />n<br />nOne last thing about Big Hair. After this story run in the local press, he showed up in the offices of the local paper, conveniently when no male persons were around, and reportedly intimidated the women in the office so bad they were scared for there lives. They filed a complaint against Big Hair with the Sheriff, his cousin, but have seen no action yet. Surprise, surprise. Because of this the local paper has closed it's offices unless there is a male person present since Big Hair is not known for intimidating make people, just female.<br />n<br />nI haven't talked much about Winburn but she is definitely derelict in not taking the courses required and should be held accountable for this. I'm sure she can take them after the election if she wins but it's definitely a mark against her.<br />n<br />nThis whole sheriff's race in Big Horn County is a mess. We don't have much of a sheriff now so whatever we get is what we deserve I guess. If you ever wonder why I have very little respect for local law enforcement, this fiasco is the reason why. The outgoing sheriff is no better than Big Hair but the accusations against him have never made the paper. I won't repeat them here since I value my life and lively hood but I am glad he is going. The thing I am afraid of is his cousin will get elected and take up the business for Medicine Horse and we will be no better off. That's politics for you, the public always loses.<br />n<br />n<strong>I don't use drugs, my dreams are frightening enough. M. C. Escher</strong>