Clarion, Venango lawmen have been in positions for six months now

By AMY A. THOMPSON Staff writer  Oil City Derrick

New sheriffs in Clarion and Venango counties are nearly six months into their positions, and both have been busy redefining the role of the position in their counties.

The two sheriffs have a couple of things in common, including ousting incumbent sheriffs. In Clarion County, Rex Munsee beat William H. Peck III during the May 2009 primary. Munsee earned both the Democratic and Republican nominations for the November election. Peck was seeking a third term in office.

In Venango County, Eric Foy defeated long-time sheriff Gene Price in the May 2009 primary, capturing both party nominations for the November ballot. Price served 24 years (six terms).

Both Munsee and Foy have taken an interest in becoming more visible to the citizens who elected them.

“The sheriff’s office does have a function other than moving prisoners,” Munsee said.

Munsee said he has taken the time to stop to talk to people and “if they need a hand I’ll give it to them.” He quipped that his management style is “management by walking around.”

“I think our visibility increased,” Munsee said.

Foy believes the Venango County sheriff’s department also has made efforts to be seen by the public. “I think we owe it to the people of Venango County to be out there for them,” Foy said.

Both sheriffs agreed that increasing visibility has had other positive results.

“We’ve increased foot traffic into the office,” Munsee said. He added that letting people know what the office does for the public has led to increased traffic.

“It seems like we’re getting busier and busier,” Foy agreed.

Munsee and Foy also believe morale has increased in their offices since they took over. Munsee thinks it’s just a natural result of having someone new in office, while Foy said he has encouraged deputies to participate in training, and the deputies have responded positively.

The departments are also building bridges with other law enforcement agencies by assisting them whenever they can.

Munsee said his department has been helping the Clarion Narcotics Enforcement Agency by serving drug warrants, assisting the state police with checkpoints and resuming the task of serving domestic relations-related warrants. Munsee said constables had been serving these warrants the past couple of years in Clarion County.

Clarion County deputies also served as a presence at a Tea Party function a couple of months ago. Munsee said it was a chance to train deputies in using emergency management equipment.

Munsee said the county didn’t believe there would be a disturbance at the Tea Party rally, but he said the deputies are prepared to lend aid in any future event where a disturbance could break out.

“The atmosphere in the law enforcement community is receptive,” Foy said of the relationship between his department and other agencies.

Making connections with other members of law enforcement isn’t a stretch for Munsee as he served more than 27 years as a state trooper at the Clarion barracks before retiring to run for sheriff.

Another way the departments are contributing to law enforcement is by patrolling, but each department has taken a different approach.

Munsee said his deputies have become more active in pursuing traffic violations and have assisted the state police with checkpoints.

In Venango County, Foy said the deputies are looking into bicycle patrols at Two Mile Run County Park and are researching a grant that will make that a reality.

Foy, who also owns horses, believes a horse patrol at the Venango County Fair would be a great idea. Foy said the county could have a “sheriff’s posse” of deputized volunteers who could help keep the peace at the fair.

“I just think it’s great PR,” Foy said.

Foy said these reserve deputies are a way of increasing manpower without increasing the budget.

Forest County Sheriff Robert Wolfgang said his department has already been doing some of the same things Munsee and Foy have implemented, including traffic patrols.

“We’ve been doing patrols since I came in as sheriff,” said Wolfgang, who is serving his third four-year term in office.

All three sheriffs believe patrolling is a way of serving the public and supporting other types of law enforcement.

“I believe that the sheriff is a county official that should be out there doing things in the county,” Foy said.

Stretching resources is another reason the three are in favor of new legislation that would extend the authority of a sheriff’s department.

Munsee said Pennsylvania’s law enforcement situation is unique compared to other states in that sheriff’s departments only have investigative power when they actually see a violation taking place.

Munsee said state troopers in other states are restricted to highway patrolling, while sheriff’s departments conduct investigations.

“It’s really hampered us a lot,” Wolfgang said.

Wolfgang said if the sheriff or deputy sheriffs believe a violation has occurred but don’t see the offense, they must wait for municipal or state authorities to arrive before an investigation can begin.

In Forest County, which is rural and has no municipal police, Wolfgang said that becomes an issue and a waste of resources. In the time it takes for authorities to arrive, Wolfgang said incidents aren’t as fresh in witnesses’ minds and evidence can disappear.

“It’s kind of a slap in the face to my constituents,” Wolfgang said.

“They want to do what the people pay them to do and that is to enforce the laws and keep the peace,” Foy added.

Wolfgang said the sheriff’s departments are not trying to step on any other agencies’ toes. “There’s enough crime out there for everybody,” he said.

Wolfgang said state troopers are retiring every day and aren’t being replaced. He said sheriff’s departments used to have the authority to investigate crimes, but it was taken away a few years ago.

“We’re not asking for any additional authority. We’re just asking for our authority back,” Wolfgang said.

In the meantime, all the sheriff departments are busy with day-to-day duties including sheriff sales due to delinquent property taxes, issuing gun permits, serving warrants and protection from abuse orders, taking prisoners to court proceedings and other appointments, participating in training and educating the public on various safety issues.

Munsee said there are sheriff sales every other week in Clarion County for about three of four properties.

Both Munsee and Foy said the deputies keep busy serving paperwork.

Another similarity between the two sheriffs is the praise they both have for their deputies and office personnel.

Munsee said his staff has his trust, while Foy said his staff is a large part of what makes his job so great.