To the editor:

It would seem to me, that with the economy the way it is, and the retirement of (Henry County Police) Chief Abernathy, that the county would see the folly in spending more tax dollars looking for another chief of police.

Would it not be more practical and more cost-effective, to consolidate the police department with the Sheriff's Office? That is where it belongs in the first place. The Sheriff is a constitutionally elected law enforcement officer, and as such, answers to the people of the county in which he serves, not to politicians.

I realize that this is an unpopular idea with politicians, because they would lose power over their own police force. It was brought into existence as a power struggle in the first place.The then-sitting board of commissioners was upset with Sheriff Chafin because he wanted insurance and a retirement plan for firefighters, as well as law enforcement.

He got it, but it angered the board. They also wanted to hire and fire his employees. No dice.They work at his pleasure, not the board of commissioners. That upset them, too.

And every police chief who has been hired since, has had some controversy of one kind or another. The first one backed into a guy on a bicycle, when he was coming out of a beer joint. All the others proved to be unworthy to hold down that position. Chief Abernathy has been the only one with any common sense, and knew what he was doing. But, now there is some controversy there, too.

I believe it is time to show some real common sense and fiscal responsibility by putting all law enforcement duties back under the Sheriff, where it was, originally, and where it should be.

BOB WILLIAMS
Hampton