PDF: Letter PDF: Ruth reprimand
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Public handgun classes taught at the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office have become a key political point between the two candidates for sheriff.
Capt. Steve Lawson, a Democrat, leads the department’s Criminal Investigation Division. Capt. Jim Ruth, a Republican, leads the department’s Courts Services Division and teaches the classes.
They are running to replace Tim Gobble, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the 3rd Congressional District.
During a debate this week, Capt. Lawson cited a February letter from the Tennessee Department of Safety which warned that the program wasn’t following state regulations.
Copies of the letter were circulated to news media Thursday from a group calling itself “Republicans for Responsible Leadership.”
The letter states that “the most severe deficiency” in the classes is “a lack of completion certificate reconciliation.”
“This is considered a major violation and could lead to suspension,” the letter states.
Don Bird, Capt. Ruth’s campaign manager, downplayed the letters’ significance Friday.
“This is a group that can’t find anything else to hurt Jim with,” said Ruth campaign manager Don Bird. “In fact, Jim just got an endorsement from the National Rifle Association.”
Mr. Bird said some of the violations mentioned in the letter are simply changes in state procedures. He said the classes, and the certifications of completion are not being suspended. He said the certification form sent to the state is too long to be faxed as required. The state has allowed the department to mail the forms, so some forms may have just been in the mail, he said.
Capt. Lawson disagreed that the handgun class was caught by changes in regulations. The guidelines were revised in 2006, he said.
“As sheriff, I will always speak for myself in tough situations,” Capt. Lawson said. “I think he needs to speak for himself now and not through a spokesman.”
Asked if the department’s handgun permit program could be suspended, Capt. Lawson said, “I think if you compare the guidelines with the letter, the proof is in the pudding.”
Republicans for Responsible Leadership also circulated a 2008 letter of reprimand against Capt. Ruth for discharging a firearm inside an office at the sheriff’s department.
According to the file, Capt. Ruth was cleaning a .40-caliber rifle he had fired at the range that day. He failed to take the ammunition out of the weapon while cleaning it and he accidentally fired it. A round penetrated the office ceiling and struck a metal retaining wall between the office and a hallway, according to the file. No serious damage was found.
Capt. Ruth was suspended for three days without pay.
Mr. Bird said that anyone who routinely handles firearms may have an accident. He said Capt. Ruth followed safety precautions after the incident.
“You might say he turned himself in,” Mr. Bird said.
He said Capt. Ruth is the object of a smear campaign.
“We do not want to run a negative campaign. But we don’t want to let these go unanswered,” he said.
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