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* TPM…
The 73-year-old reserve sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot an unarmed man during an undercover operation earlier this month in Oklahoma was a close friend of the sheriff’s and a major donor to his agency and campaign.
Even before prosecutors announced Monday that Tulsa County Reserve Deputy Roberts Bates, a white insurance executive, was charged with second-degree manslaughter in the death of Eric Harris, who was black, those details raised questions about whether Bates had been paying to play cop.
Tulsa County Sheriff’s Maj. Shannon Clark told the Tulsa World newspaper that there are “lots of wealthy people” among the agency’s 130 reserve deputies.
“Many of them make donations of items,” he told the newspaper. “That’s not unusual at all.”
While the sheriff’s office did not have an itemized list of Bates’ contributions, the insurance executive had donated multiple vehicles, firearms and stun guns to the agency, according to The Tulsa World report.
* How is this germane to Illinois? Well, read on…
While it’s difficult to nail down just how prevalent it is for big money donors to serve as reserve officers with local law enforcement agencies, there is some anecdotal evidence. […]
Howard Buffett, the son and heir apparent of Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, is a volunteer sheriff’s deputy in no less than three counties: two in central Illinois and another in Arizona.
* From the Wall St. Journal…
Howard Buffett’s cellphone rang one recent afternoon to the tune of a Rolling Stones hit. “Start me up,” he answered. The sheriff of Macon County, Ill., was on the line.
Hours later, the eldest son of investor Warren Buffett was patrolling the streets here in his hometown in a bulletproof vest with a Glock 22 .40-caliber pistol strapped to his hip, fulfilling his duties as an auxiliary deputy sheriff. Already this year, he has logged more than 225 hours as an unpaid volunteer deputy in two counties in central Illinois and one in Arizona.
“People say, ‘Oh, Howard Buffett, the billionaire’s son.’ But he’s just one of us,” says Macon County sheriff Tom Schneider, a friend. “He’s got a youthful enthusiasm…He’s the first one digging the ditch.” […]
“I’m mellowing, but still kind of wild,” he says. “Why else are we going out with the sheriff for the afternoon, putting on a bulletproof vest and a gun? People ask, ‘Why are you doing that?’ But for me, it’s a whole new learning experience.”
Umm. OK.
The Cook ‘County Sheriff’s office used to have all sorts of political hacks and others on its auxiliary force before the Sheriff cracked down. I didn’t realize it was so widespread.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:08 pm
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This is not as uncommon as you’d think. In the past this was the angle used as a means of getting around the concealed carry permit in Illinois. Likely to be less common now that it’s legal but still a means for people to get around standard rules.
Comment by MOD Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:13 pm
I heard a story a long time ago that Sam Zell asked for and got a Cook County sheriff’s badge. I doubt he wanted anything to do with actual police work, but somewhere deep down, it must have made him feel more important to have it.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:14 pm
Are these “cops” required to complete any kind of training?
Comment by Democrat Grrrl Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:16 pm
I remember reading the Buffett story. Don’t Shaq and and Steven Seagal do similar “auxiliary” work?
I guess you have to be self-insured. I can’t imagine an underwriter signing off on such arrangements.
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:16 pm
Re: Oklahoma, who would have imagined that giving a doddering 73 year old a gun and police powers could have possibly ended badly?
Sadly this practice is not uncommon. There’s a small town in Michigan, Oakley, that has a few hundred residents. The Chief of Oakley PD essentially sells police appointments, and the town as a result has over 100 “cops.” There are towns all over the country who have some form of reserve or auxiliary police, with varying degrees of clout and money involved.
Comment by NW Suburbs Joe Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:18 pm
At least some of the auxiliary deputies had to take the same firearms course as the regular deputies did; not sure if it was done in all counties… As MOD indicated, was about the only way to get around the concealed carry regulations.
Comment by downstate commissioner Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:20 pm
add “in Illinois” to my last comment. Other states might be more liberal
Comment by downstate commissioner Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:21 pm
My brother has done this with police forces in a number of states including major drug stake outs. He has extensive training with SWAT units….all paid for by him to supplement his gun hobby. It is up to the person as to the amount of training they want outside basic firearms training as well as what is provided locally. He and I have discussed the SWAT courses and says it is even hard for experienced police officers to navigate especially distinguishing the “good” and “bad” guys.
Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:22 pm
Here’s a link to a story about Oakley, MI. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/21/cop-fights-to-keep-his-secret-mercenary-army.html
Comment by NW Suburbs Joe Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:24 pm
Scary and sad at the same time. I hope Dolph Lundgren doesn’t get in on the action anytime soon.
Comment by Jorge Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:24 pm
Didn’t Illinois pass mandatory training for auxiliary police about 5 years ago that largely eliminated the practice because of expense?
Comment by Liberty Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:29 pm
This brings a whole new meaning to the term “citizen’s arrest”.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:31 pm
Elvis Presley - Memphis Police - Captain…
DEA Agent.
So, there’s that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:33 pm
So we have mostly white (other than Shaq), mostly wealthy men paying money for the authority to go chase criminals (who in the present case at least, was black), as some kind of sport/cowboy fantasy. If someone argues that they are just doing a good deed/serving the public, I’d be interested in seeing how many actually served in the military, and what other charitable works they’ve done lately (time, not treasure).
Comment by chi Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:34 pm
“In the past this was the angle used as a means of getting around the concealed carry permit in Illinois.”
At my first job in Illinois two decades ago, half the guys working with me in the warehouse carried badges as “volunteer reserve police officers for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.” I don’t remember if it permitted them to pack a gun, but I do know that it got them out of innumerable traffic tickets.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:35 pm
I knew someone who was allowed as an auxiliary to Champaign County Sheriff way back in the 1990’s who they wouldn’t hire nor would any other police force in the area because he couldn’t pass the psychological exam(his words)-yet he kept trying to master the testing. But he believed the longer he was volunteering, they would eventually hire him. He was also a volunteer fireman. I truly never understood that logic of having someone volunteer that you wouldn’t hire for legitimate reasons. There’s too much liability in that.
Comment by carbaby Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:35 pm
This used to be common for “deputy coroner” appointments. Allowed concealed carry by business owners in high crime areas, or if they carried large sums of cash to a bank.
Comment by Motambe Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:39 pm
Anybody who spent anytime in the field as front line cop has run into all kinds of folks who have flashed a badge when they were stopped identifying them as an auxiiary deputy something or other.
How or why they have them depends on the issuing agency.
Comment by Leave a Light on George Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:39 pm
===has run into all kinds of folks who have flashed a badge===
Happened to a buddy of mine at a Sox game many moons ago. He tapped the guy’s bumper backing out and the aux sheriff started flashing that goofy badge, bragging in front of his girl friend.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:43 pm
It was Mike Sheahan, not Tom Dart who eliminated the auxiliary deputies.
Comment by Wake Up! Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:50 pm
Let’s invite Stephen Segal & his Lawman show.
Comment by Hedley Lamarr Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:50 pm
Since current laws, government, and police primarily serve the interest of the wealthy, I find none of this surprising. Same reason the police & firefighter pensions never get touched, they protect the property of the wealthy, which a lot of wealthy believe as the only legitimate function of government.
Comment by justthefacts Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:52 pm
Kid Rock is a volunteer cop in Michigan
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2015/04/kid_rocks_name_found_on_oakley.html
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:52 pm
Sorry, NW Sub — Posted before I read all the way through
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:54 pm
Is this the same thing Shaq does.
Comment by Mouthy Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:55 pm
I think at one time one of the mayors of Dolton has created a bunch of constables. I also remember guys buying a small railroad and creating railroad cops, finally some park district in the south burbs had more park police than acres of park
Comment by Oneman Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 1:55 pm
Deputy Coroners with badges and pistolas were not uncommon in Metro East in the 80’s-90’s.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 2:06 pm
55 ILCS 5/ 3-6013 says Auxiliary Deputies must be
Resident of the County
So Mr. Buffett’s service ” in two counties in Central Illinois ” appears problematic.
Comment by x ace Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 2:14 pm
In 2013 it was estimated that there were 1000 auxiliary deputies in Illinois….firearm training time 40 hours vs. 400 for a police officer….
Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 2:32 pm
This is far more common than many think and not just relegated to smaller departments. http://www.lapdonline.org/join_the_team/content_basic_view/542
Comment by downstate Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 2:48 pm
They’re not all political rewards. I worked for the Germantown TN police department after I got out of the military. There were quite a few reserve officers that volunteered their time a couple of times a month and during special events, like directing traffic during the charity horse show every year. Back then, they had to have quite a bit of training before they started and according to their website now have to complete 100 hours of initial training plus annual in-service training. All of them carried weapons and usually patrolled with a full time officer.
Comment by Steven Williams Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 2:50 pm
This is so common in Kendall County that an NRA lobbyist has previously been granted a Deputy Coroner badge and there was a lawsuit filed by a former Judge over the posting of this blog. http://patch.com/illinois/yorkville/bp–the-9mm-buddy-badge-and-other-unknown-badge-holde70f6be970d
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 2:54 pm
x ace — Buffett has homes in both Macon and Christian counties where he volunteers. Problem solved
Comment by Bocephus Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 3:11 pm
Soccermom, no worries! I forgot about Kid Rock.
Oneman, you might be thinking of Dixmoor back in the 90’s–their “park district” had one small park, and no office or phone number, but they had 59 “cops” most of whom were gang members. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-02-02/news/9702020114_1_police-officers-street-gang-west-side
Comment by NW Suburbs Joe Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 3:32 pm
The nation is filled with wanna be cops. And those are precisely the type who have no business being one.
Comment by Federalist Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 3:47 pm
Many contributors to the Cook County Sheriff were made “Special Deputies.” Some worked only a nominal number of hours annually (usually as “Holiday Court” bailiffs when most courtrooms were closed). One of the perks of holding a badge as a deputy was that it permitted an individual to carry a weapon.
Comment by Upon Further Review Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 4:27 pm
I believe that there was a crackdown on the number of special deputies in Cook County after O’Grady replaced Elrod as Sheriff.
Comment by Upon Further Review Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 4:29 pm
I seem to recall Ted Nugent bragging about going on covert, dangerous operations with some police agency.
Comment by Cheswick Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 4:43 pm
Thanks for changing your line, Rich. I was going to point out that it was Sheahan, not Dart, that repossessed badges but someone beat me to it. O’Grady passed out a lot of those.
Comment by Clapton-Marley Overdrive Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 4:59 pm
You can own as many homes as you want, but you can only be a resident in one location, which for the Buffett guy is apparently Arizona. Ask Rauner if they let him vote in Montana.
Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, Apr 14, 15 @ 6:20 pm