Leave Sheriff south of town

Dear Editor:

In a March 10 editorial, The Morgan Messenger urged that the sheriff’s law enforcement office be moved to either the new courthouse or the adjacent building which is now the Magistrate Court. It stated that this would be more convenient for the sheriff, and downplayed the effect on traffic congestion and parking.

But The Messenger reported in its January 31, 2007 issue that: “After studying the needs of various offices, officials decided to leave the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Office at the Rescue Squad Building, where they have been located since the fire. That way, the comings and goings of police cares are removed from the center of town, and the cars do not take up parking spots.”

I agree with the original plan. The sheriff’s law enforcement activities should be headquartered where they are now.

Besides the traffic and parking problems, there is a question of appearance. The legal system is two-sided, both the police and those accused are presumed to be equal. For one side to be ensconced in the place where justice is administered would create a feeling of favoritism.

Berkeley County has a big new courthouse like
ours and the sheriff’s law enforcement is located elsewhere.

The two main law enforcement agencies in Morgan County, the State Police and the sheriff, would be best kept close to each other, south of town along U.S. 522.

William B. Carey
Berkeley Springs