Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 14, 1990 TAG: 9003143252
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: VICTORIA RATCLIFF Staff Writer
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Hodge said today that he and the sheriff met Tuesday and "worked out an arrangement that, during the transition, things will operate as they have been."
Kavanaugh agreed not to start any new programs or reassign personnel in the law enforcement side of the sheriff's department between now and July 1 when a county police department will take over those duties, Hodge said. "We're doing everything we can to have a smooth transition."
The two deputies who filed grievances last month - Lt. Mike Winston and Sgt. Jeff Swortzel - had been assigned with Lt. Leonard Wade to a rotating team of patrol supervisors that were to supervise uniform patrol officers when their regular supervisors were off duty.
In addition to filling in for shift supervisors, Winston was ordered in a memo from the sheriff to alternate working weekends and holidays with Wade, whom Kavanaugh demoted from captain.
Winston is the second-highest ranking officer in the patrol division. Wade, who was the highest-ranking uniform officer under former Sheriff O.S. Foster, was demoted from captain by Kavanaugh.
Wade had been assigned to the jail since his demotion and was transferred back to the uniform division at his request just before the sheriff re-assigned him to shift work. Wade did not file a grievance.
Swortzel had been temporarily assigned from his duties as a shift sergeant to coordinate the department's efforts to become nationally accredited.
According to the agreement reached Tuesday, the rotating team of supervisors will be disbanded, Hodge said. Winston and Wade will return to their administrative duties in the uniform division.
Swortzel will return to his former duties as a uniformed sergeant until a new police chief is hired and makes a decision about what direction he wants the accreditation process to take, Hodge said.
Hodge, in return, has agreed that Kavanaugh's chief deputy, Maj. J.E. Robertson, will become part of the team of law enforcement officers that meet each week with Assistant County Administrator Don Myers, who is coordinating the transition for Hodge.
Hodge also has agreed to hold a meeting with all of the law enforcement officers in the county and tell them that it is time for "peace and harmony on both sides."
Kavanaugh, who ruled against Winston and Swortzel in the first stages of their grievances, was not available for comment today.
But Hodge said he attributed the sheriff's change in attitude to the fact that the General Assembly agreed just last week to fully fund the county police department.
No decision has been reached on a grievance by a third deputy - Youth Officer Ted Allen - because Hodge has not yet heard the grievance.
In his grievance, Allen alleged that he had been harassed by his supervisor because of his involvement in a group of deputies appointed to assist in the transition. Allen is a member of that transition team.
by CNB