There is other data I think would expose how effective Charlie Deane is as a leader. Arrests numbers through self-initiated contact. When he became C.O.P. the PWCPD was a great place to work, and few sworn members turned in their badge. Street officers used to pride themselves in finding criminals in the act of committing crimes. Slowly I watched Deane change the street mentality of enforcement measures. He immediately changed the direction of internal issues by having the Internal investigations Unit report directly to him instead of being independent from administration influence. More power and influence was achieved by this move. He could now direct and influence the outcome of any investigation. Over time, several great public servants have had investigations work against them for what appears to be a simple lack of regard Deane had for them. But it appears his personal campaigns against his officers has caught up to him. After observing several “good cops” get insanely disciplined for acts which should have produced positive recognition or valor awards (Andrew Cornell fighting for his life while immigrants attacked), it appears street officers have gone into employment survival mode by staying in their cars.

My understanding of this incident from reliable sources was that his first back-up remained with his police car waiting for additional help while Cornell was getting beaten by numerous hispanic subjects. The unwillingness of the initial back-up to get involved was a major factor in the need to use deadly force. While defending himself during the investigation, Cornell demanded that charges of cowardice be placed against the back-up officer. But investigators refused, deciding instead to place procedural charges against Cornell. The fall out from this incident. Andrew Cornell who was an outstanding cop, became disgusted with the manner this was handled and quit. Another head scatching incident brought to you from the desk of Charlie Deane.

But many cases of “Good Time Charlie” investigating off duty personal and/or marital issues have left several officers looking for another department or another line or work (both voluntarily or by firing). When I worked for Deane the department’s citizen/officer ratio was well below both recommended F.O.P. staffing levels and ratios of surrounding jurisdictions. I bet those ratios haven’t changed much.

While at a briefing, I witnessed Deane engaged in a topic involving police retention. I heard Deane remark, “police officers no longer have loyalty.” I immediately realized that someone needed to clue this man into the actual problem………….loyalty is a two way street. When your reputation as a leader suggests that you are finding ways to fire your officers for minor incidents on or off-duty, department members will desert you for no other reason but self preservation. But the great looking women and “yes” men he has surrounded himself with would not risk their career by informing him that he might be the problem.

But things look great from the outside. I’m sure he will get support from the PWCPD Police association. And why not? He has promoted almost all association presidents for their cooperation and support of his internal policies. Another smart power play. The truth surrounding the leadership of the association (which I was a member) is that if you stay out of the way, vote on the Chief’s personnel decisions he presents to you, and not worry about representing department members, you will be rewarded. A message to all promotion oriented newer officers. If you want those sergeant strips, get on the sergeant’s list and become an elected position with the police association and just do as Deane tells you.

I could continue to expose “the puzzle palace” with numerous incidents involving this man. But the citizens of PWC need to embrace this thought. Charlie Deane is a very powerful man. He sits on the jail board, has undue influence in the Sheriff’s Office with the election of Glen Hill, and doesn’t forget those who question policy within his police department. If you feel safer in PWC than you did 20 years ago, then Deane is your man. But I drive the streets of the county frequently and only see a police car when it is rushing to a call. My opinion based on inside observations, as long as Deane remains the C.O.P. you need additional law enforcement. That will not happen with Glen Hill. I suggest if a candidate for Sheriff presents you with a platform that includes additional street presence and enforcement, you should consider it a vote for your safety. Don’t fall for the “duplication of services” garbage that Deane will feed you when he supports Hill in the upcoming election. His support is simple……..he is “protecting his turf.”

Please look me up at the Fotis for Sheriff victory party, thre will be two: either on the primary night or at the general..

Id’ love to chat about this… esp the officer invovled stuff.

When our previous Sheriff was increasing the involvement of his street deputies in routine traffic enforcement, county park security checks, and back-up for county police officers, Charlie Deane became angry. Instead of embracing these efforts as help for a police department which struggled just to keep up with calls for service, the Chief publicly addressed the Sheriff’s Office efforts as, “duplication of services.” But within the department he was directing police supervisors to make sure they “protected police turf” by keeping deputies away from police calls and county parks. As a police supervisor for Charlie Deane I only wanted more patrol officers to keep from drowning from the demand for police response(s). I welcomed the involvement of the Sheriff’s Office.

Many do not know that it was Charlie Deane who encouraged Glen Hill to run for Sheriff during the last election. It was a classic power play move on Deane’s part to rid the county of a law enforcement official who refused to answer to him.

I like Glen Hill. I found him to be very helpful while conducting investigations involving the county jail. But I never thought he would be an effective elected offical. To point to how much Charlie Deane influences policy over Glen Hill, you only need to count the number of staff members appointed to the Sheriff’s Office coming directly from Charlie Deane’s staff.

Collectively, their first order of business after the election, was to have radar units collected from deputies, and memorandums issued which ended the involvement of increased enforcement and protection. This doesn’t sound like progress to me. The only achievement this action created was to give the Chief of Police the absolute power he craved.

I have worked with Mike Messier. I find him to be a very fair and smart person when dealing with internal issues. His past decisions inside the Sheriff’s Office as the Chief Deputy have shown he posesses the common sense necessary to deal with other agencies at both local and state levels. Under his direction deputies had few complaints, and all the deputies I know who are currently in the Sheriff’s Office support him.

I would love to see our current Sheriff debate Mike Messier. It would leave voters with no doubt making him Sheriff would improve law enforcement in Prince William. The influence that Charlie Deane has on the Sheriff’s Office has to be broken. I have heard Charlie Deane say, “I make decisions based on the potential headlines they create.” Based on the current morale and retention problems he has this statement does not include right & wrong and a sense of fair play. The staff of the Sheriff’s Office has had too much exposure to “fire first, ask questions later” mentality of our current Chief.

For Glen Hill’s lack of proactive measures on the street, and keeping a troubled Police Chief happy, he should expect to lose his current position. Prince William needs deputies helping an understaffed and inexperienced police presence on the street. This will never be achieved with our current Police Chief or Sheriff.

Disclosure: I do not currently hold a law enforcement position, nor desire it.

Good Time Charlie

The incident occured about 3 years ago in Dale City. Illlegals have a party hich the PWCPD was called out to. The officer involved in the shooting was trying to obtain information about the party and one of the party goers started an arguement. Officer 1 “his initials are AC, not sure he would want to see his name on the internet, had a knife pulled and was about to have his neck slit. Scuffle insued and he shot the guy. Did I mention that his back up sat there scared in his car? Back up even admitted it in the Admin. investigation. AC ended up gone because Charlie Deane told him the Hispanic backlash would be too great. The backup was even so much as suspended for a day.
Charlie Deane is the most anti-policeman person I have even has the displeasure of knowing. I cold give you more facts about Charlie Deane and his misconduct and power tripping ways but not necessarily in this public avenue.

To concerned citizen- I know for fact-Charlie Deane only involves himself in officers affairs if he has an ax to grind with on individual officer. He has put his nose in officers personal lives while off duty and not in county. Please don’t get me started on his personal misdeeds!

I can’t wait until this Sherrif’s race is over and this annoying tendency to have every thread hijacked by folks with an ax to grind about Sherrif’s candidate will stop. You’d think the only place the campaigns were operating would be in these comment threads.

NR, it just goes to show you what type of person you really are if you cannot handle the honest to goodness truth that you have to call on IP for some back-up….

VOTE HILL JUNE 12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn’t recall the story about the officer you mentioned… but it does sound wrong, unfair and, sadly, all too familiar. The politics of illegal immigration and what law enforcement is going to do about it is a VERY POLITICAL ‘thing’. (Would you post data to help me research that case.)

My point about the Office of Sheriff is — that when there is a strong Sheriff who wishes to lead — that person — by virtue of having been elected and therefore accountable to “the people” rather than to other political ‘bosses’ — can use the position of one of the (handful of) countywide elected leaders to champion what the people want.

In short, until common sense and the will of the voters (a.k.a. common folk) is aggressively injected into this political battle, the voters will continue to be screwed on this issue.

The current Sheriff is part of the problem; Fotis for Sheriff will TRY to be part of the solution… I believe this issue will only be resolved through strong political leadership! Does anyone else see anyother ‘real’ way this will be resolved? Prince William County is not getting that strong leadership, especially on this ‘law and order’ issue and now, on June !2th they can do something about it: Vote Fotis for Sheriff

Naked - Will you state for all of us to see your charge that Hill was fired for somekind of ‘bad’/innapropriate thing.

Vote4Hill - Would you like to try and explain how (or what) Hill has done to ‘lead’ on the immigration issue… some oblique reference to his service on the Jail board with no tie-in that I could see is not sufficient.

Super Trooper - still don’t care to admit, honestly and directly for all to see, the truthful answer to the question: Do you work for Hill, are you a Sgt.?