Pubdate: Sat, 21 Feb 2004 Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN) Copyright: 2004 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co. Contact: http://www.knoxnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/226 Author: Winston K. Smart SHERIFF SHOULD ANSWER FOR ACTIONS IN OFFICE Who does Sheriff Tim Hutchison and his staff have to answer to? It seems that, on a consistent basis when we Knox County citizens and taxpayers open our newspapers or hear our local newscast on TV, Hutchison and his staff are in a situation that doesn't look good on them and their department. It seems that Hutchison and his staff have their own rulebook and make up the rules as they go. Everyone has to answer to someone, and Hutchison should be no exception. It seems to me that Hutchison and his staff get behind closed doors, and he tells them what he is thinking about, such as building airstrips in East Knoxville, leasing property to put horses on, giving bids to campaign supporters and on and on, and he asks his staff to find a loophole in the law so, when he goes forward with the project, he and his staff can't be held accountable in any way. There are way too many things Hutchison has taken upon himself to get done without any approval from anyone other than himself. It seems to me that Hutchison should get approval from a committee somewhere first before he makes any decisions to spend our tax dollars or seize drug monies in any way whatsoever. It is very arrogant of any one of us to think we can set our own rules in any position we are in and that we don't have to answer to anyone for it. The citizens of Knox County might want to refer to Hutchison as Sheriff Tim "Loophole" Hutchison if this behavior continues. WINSTON K. SMART Powell - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman