Pubdate: Tue, 08 Jan 2002
Source: Dispatch, The (NC)
Copyright: 2002, The Lexington Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.the-dispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1583
Author: David W Leonard
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption)

LOTS OF INVESTIGATIONS

Editor: I am a former deputy of Davidson County and worked for almost three 
years under the Hege administration. It came as no surprise to me that the 
Davidson County's Sheriff's Office underwent yet another investigation.

I saw many things that were unprofessional, unethical and questionably 
moral. I am personally knowledgeable of five investigations during my 
employment. The SBI investigated a corporal in the jail in '97 for sexual 
misconduct to which he pleaded guilty. There was a sergeant that on three 
separate occasions released inmates before their time had been served. One 
of these I had picked up from prison to stand trial on other charges. That 
inmate even told the sergeant that he had more time to serve. Recently, a 
major and captain were investigated by the SBI for drugs in the jail.

The Department of Labor has even had its investigations, too. Hege ordered 
the K-9 officers to attend training sessions without pay. After the 
investigation, the department ordered that the officers receive $26,000 in 
back pay.

Davidson County's Sheriff's Office is small compared to other agencies in 
neighboring counties. Guilford or Forsyth have much larger agencies yet 
they are rarely investigated. It is time to recognize that the leadership 
is not what it seems and needs to be changed.

As for me, I am just glad that I am no longer one of Hege's "dogs," as he 
called the recently arrested deputies.

David W. Leonard

Winston-Salem
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MAP posted-by: Beth