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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Del. AG Opinion Restricts Power Of County Sheriffs

WILIMINGTON, Del. (AP) -- County sheriffs in Delaware don't have the legal authority to make arrests.

That's according to an opinion Friday from the state attorney general's office, which also urged lawmakers to clarify the issue.

Sussex Sheriff Jeff Christopher had argued that sheriffs were essentially "peace officers" under state law and therefore had the power of arrest. Christopher had ordered his deputies to stop dangerous drivers and execute arrest warrants. But the opinion issued Friday notes that since sheriffs and their deputies don't attend the state police training academy, they're not expected to enforce the laws.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a major defeat for the LEO's and agencies in Delaware.I'm sure the local FOP has turned even bluer!
Will this set a precedent in other states?
GREAT! Now lets take their guns away too. This decision may save many lives of the deficient, under trained, overzealous officers.

Anonymous said...

If deleware Deputies can't enforce the law what good are they?