Sheriff Rick Singleton
FLORENCE-On Friday, May 15 Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton held a news conference regarding HB516 or The Uniform Bill. Here is what the sheriff said in the news conference:
“In recent weeks there has been much news coverage of a local bill introduced by Representative Phillip Pettus at my request. This bill concerns the uniform allowance provided for deputies and employees of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office.
The uniform I’m wearing hear in front of you today represents a personal investment of approximately $470, excluding the gun belt and weapon. It is the same uniform our deputies wear every day they work. They, too, have to pay for this uniform out of their pockets.
The bill we have introduced would change that. Under the proposed legislation the county would provide the basic uniforms and an annual allowance to maintain them. This bill would do two things; it would give the county commission full authority and control over how much is budgeted to provide the uniforms and allowance; and it would give them the flexibility to change the amount budgeted when the circumstances warrant it without having to go back to the legislature for a new law to do so.
Our current law requires the commission to either provide the uniforms OR provide an allowance set at $300 per year by law. They can’t do both nor can they increase the allowance without a new law passed by the legislature. THIS ALLOWANCE HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE THE 1970’s!!!
I have not met a single citizen of Lauderdale County who opposes this legislation! The four voting members of the county commission adopted a resolution fully supporting the bill but the Chairman refused to sign it. Five of the six members of the local legislative delegation have signed off on the bill to move it out of committee but one, Representative Johhny Mack Morrow, refuses to sign off stating the he doesn’t think the county commission should have to pay for a legislative mandate and the funds should come from other sources. The fact is the commission has been paying for uniforms mandated by legislative act for more than 40 years so this is nothing new. Representative Morrow represents approximately 7% of the citizens of Lauderdale County, the vast majority of which support this bill. Let’s just be honest with our citizens; the funding mechanism has nothing to do with his opposition to the bill. He opposes this bill for personal, petty reasons and in the process is showing total disrespect and a lack of appreciation for the men and women of this department who put their lives on the line every day protecting our county.
This is National Police Week. Today is Law Enforcement Memorial Day, yet we have a legislator who lets his misdirected personal feelings dishonor the local men and women in this profession. Shame on him! If he really supports law enforcement, if he really appreciates the job our deputies do day in and day out, he’ll join the citizens of Lauderdale County, our county commission and the other five legislators who support this legislation and sign off on this bill so we as taxpayers can at least provide them the basic tools needed to do their job, their uniforms.”
