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Highlands Today

Rude And Uncaring

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Franklin E. Flannery

Published: October 9, 2008

My wife and I are residents of Highlands County five months every year. I spent 40 years in law enforcement and public service and worked at every level from patrolman to chief of police, and finally a town manager. I currently teach Spanish for law enforcement in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Several times I have assisted police officers in and around the Sebring area by translating for them when they had someone stopped who didn't speak English.

Realizing the large Spanish-speaking population of the area, I contacted the Highlands County Sheriff's Office to offer a basic course in Spanish that would cover words and phrases needed by the deputies to protect themselves as well as assist them in performing their duties. The eight-hour course would be given free of charge and the sheriff could invite neighboring agencies if she chose. This was in early December of 2006.

The lady I spoke to at the sheriff's office advised me that the sheriff would not be available until after the holidays, and we set a time and date for me to meet with her in January.

On the date of the appointment I went to the sheriff's office and was told that the sheriff was in a meeting. I waited for close to an hour past the time that the meeting had been set for and finally, I decided to leave. At that time a major came into the waiting area and took me to his office. The sheriff didn't have time for me. I offered my services to the major and to this date I have never been contacted.

Two words come to mind, rude and uncaring. Since that time I have watched the sheriff's race with great interest and I have only one comment. There is a need for a change in Highlands County: Ron Grimming for sheriff.

Franklin E. Flannery
Lake Placid

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