Sheriff Jim Hammond was described on this paper’s front page Friday as “defiant” as he responded during a news conference to complaints that his department has presided over incidents of violence involving some of his deputies, the public and among inmates at Silverdale Detention Center.
Defiant is an understatement. Dismissive and disrespectful would be better descriptions of the way this 78-year-old sheriff – who should have resigned four years ago – acted.
He fear-mongered as he held up photos of tattooed bodies and complained about having to allow job fairs at Silverdale where he is now in charge. He held up pictures of contraband that he said somehow found its way inside the jail.
“As sheriff of this county, my job is to protect the lives of my officers first, the citizens of this community second and the inmates third,” Hammond said. “There are those who think that once you’re locked up you have to be given the same rights as when you’re outside,” he said. “That’s not true.”
No, sheriff. Being arrested and being booked into a jail means someone has lost – at least temporarily – their freedom. It does not mean they’ve lost their human rights. It does not mean they’ve lost their right to protection – either by you and your officers or from you and your officers.