Sheriff David Clarke's says new budget is "retribution"

Sheriff David Clarke called the County Executive Thursday right in front of Chris Abele's office. The Sheriff says his office is not getting $4 million more as Abele has claimed.


\"Chris Abele's 2015 budget for public safety is not a budget,\" the Sheriff said Thursday. \"It is retribution, just as I predicted. He has no respect for election results that do not go his way.\"


The sheriff says the budget actually comes out to $5.7 million in cuts to his office. He would have to lay off 19 more deputies and eliminate 11 command staff positions.

The disagreement over numbers centers around the transfer of management of the 9-11 center from the Sheriff to the County. It is similar to the transfer of power that occurred with the House of Corrections a couple of years ago.
\"Abele's political mischief is not only dangerous,\" declared the Sheriff. \"It's unacceptable. He's manipulated his own budget document.\"

Abele then held his own press conference to answer to the claims.

\"We're putting together a coordinated emergency center which has the support of all fire and police chiefs. He gets $3.9 million more in tax levy. So, he's getting more despite having to do less.\"

Abele suggested that the Sheriff go to the state to get more money. The Sheriff urges taxpayers to do their own research and decide for themselves who they believe.