The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

McKay to conservative group: Get over controversy between police agencies
Commissioner: 'If I had my druthers, I would rather you pick up the cause on things going forward ... The sheriff and the BoP is something in the past.'

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
CUMBERLAND, Jan. 16 -- Allegany County Commissioner Mike McKay told members of the Allegany County Conservative Tea Party Caucus he would prefer the group pursue other issues rather than continue to focus on the controversy regarding the Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Police.

The issue was put forth with a degree of intensity by Edward W. Taylor Jr., the group's newly elected president, and group member Bernard Miltenberger. The meeting took place Sunday afternoon at a private facility east of Cumberland.

Taylor reminded McKay, who is a member of the group and campaigned for members' support prior to his winning one of three seats on the board as the top vote-getter in the November election, that the group asked McKay to wait until the special prosecutor's report was obtained so the new commissioners could review all the facts before making any changes.

"Yet, before you were sworn in, you started moving (to) consolidate these two entities," Taylor said. "Please tell us why you moved so quickly on this issue."

McKay said he made no secret during the campaign that he preferred the two police agencies under one roof. So far, he said, that's all that has been guaranteed. Exactly how that process occurs depends, first, on the recommendation of an advisory panel established by Sheriff Craig Robertson.

"I'd already been working towards that" by the time Taylor's group met, McKay said. "What we've asked the sheriff to do is come up with a game plan. That's his game plan. I don't believe I've changed gears, per se. I've always said they should be under the same roof."

Besides, that issue is in the past.

"if I had my druthers, I would rather you pick up on the cause on things going forward," McKay said. The sheriff and the (bureau) is something in the past. You all elected three people - three new people. You elected a new sheriff. Give us the benefit of the doubt - trust but verify (us) to do the right thing."

A question of clarification was asked of McKay by one member. Did McKay want to see the two agencies under the same roof or managed by one person, either the sheriff or the Bureau of Police chief?

"I have my own thoughts about that," McKay said. "But I think that, being fair to the sheriff, or being fair to this group, for me to make comments and try to derail the process that that committee comes up with."

There is no timeline for that committee to make a recommendation. Even when it does, however, the onus rests with the commissioners to make a decision.

The commissioners will attempt to look at "all sides of the situation, try to weigh them in and go forward with that."

Miltenberger defended the managerial skills of Bureau of Police Chief J. Robert Dick. When a meeting attendee pressed that the group was meant to advocate for smaller government and less government spending, Miltenberger said Dick "was doing a better job than (former sheriff) David Goad. Will this all pan out over the long term? Yes, I think it will."

Miltenberger was further questioned and seem to acknowledge there was no proof there has been any financial savings since the two police agencies were split in August 2008.

However, "I think, over time," we will" see savings, Miltenberger said.

McKay said he wants groups such as the conservative caucus to issue the newly elected commissioners a "report card" in six months, and then every year. The ultimate report card, McKay said, will be the 2014 election cycle.