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Highlands Today

Great Job

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Ralph J. Doney

Published: September 4, 2008

I, for one, am really tired of reading the comments of political adversaries of current Sheriff Susan Benton and her staff of officers.

Informed citizens, know what a great job the Highlands County Sheriff's Office has done for our county. Through their efforts the (HCSD) has entered into the 21st century of upgraded education and crime fighting tools that had been lacking for many years. Sheriff Benton's administration has brought the department "out of the Stone Age." It is not an exaggeration of wanting, it's one of needing additional space to properly administrate and run the day-to-day operations of the department, to eliminate errors of where to store evidence and service our community.

Due to Highlands County expanding in population, it also attracts the criminal element into the system; it's called opportunity for crime. If we citizens do not back the HCSD to further prepare, train and equip our police, the criminal element will thrive further.

For those of you who are not convinced, I suggest that you please check the growing numbers of arrests for crimes, court load of offenders and crimes committed. FBI (quote 2008) Recent statistics report that more than 2 billion burglaries occurred in the United States, but arrests were made in only 12 percent.

If society wants to get serious about fighting property crimes, it will cost lots of dollars. This is 2008, not the '50s or even the '80s. Technology works both ways. Criminals improve in their efforts to commit crimes and find the tools to do the same. The police need to stay one step ahead of them.

Crooks finance themselves by what they steal from citizens. Our police must ask the public to finance them to stay abreast. I ask you, isn't it worth the extra money to properly train and equip our front line in crime fighting and to help remove the criminal element from our society?

To Mr. Citizen G.P. of Sebring: Dear Sir, please do not throw stones when you live in a glass house!

In ending, it is my belief and opinion that our Sheriff Susan Benton and the department as a whole has done a superior job as compared to the elements and lawlessness they face each and every, and I favor and support our sheriff in continuing to improve my safety.

Ralph J. Doney
Sebring

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