PRESTONSBURG - Roger Webb ended his time as Jailer on Tuesday handing off the responsibility of managing the counties jail to Cheyenne R. McKinney.
Floyd County Judge Executive R.D. “Doc” Marshall released an order of appointment Tuesday which made the transition of jailers official. According to the order, Roger Webb tendered his resignation at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday April 30, at which time Cheyenne McKinney took control.
Marshall, whose dealings with the jailer have at times been tense, spoke glowingly of the Webb on Tuesday. “I have known Roger Webb and Kaye, long before he was elected Jailer of Floyd County. After serving with him as an elected official, I now fully understand the difficult task of the office of jailer and the responsibility incurred.”
Marshall said that Webb has done an exemplary job. “I wish them the best and may God bless them in the days ahead.”
McKinney will serve in the position until a full term Jailer is elected next year. He has said that he does plan on being a candidate in next years election.
“My duty is simply,” said McKinney. “To ensure the jail operates to its fullest capacity in the field of financial management. It’s my goal to turn over a successful and efficient operation to the citizen’s choice of a full time Jailer.”
Marshall says that he believes McKinney is the right man for the job as the counties new Jailer.
“I am confident that Mr. McKinney will work diligently to perform the duties of the office and follow the guidelines established by the Department of Corrections.”
McKinney begins his time as Jailer in the middle of a financial crisis for the county. County officials have been debating the costs that could be saved by simply closing the jail and housing prisoners at other facilities.
This week a ceremony was conducted, a private party was held, a judge swore in a replacement for the retiring Jailer Roger Webb and your vote, your rights and your opinions where never even considered.
Well Floyd County it has happened again. Another person has been appointed to office and you did not even have so much as a say. Of course this tactic is nothing new. The previous office holder retires and someone in power “appoints” a replacement. Then during the next election cycle which is typically a year; said appointee campaigns solely based on the great year they have had which gives them the advantage of saying “I’m the current office holder.”
I was rather expecting this move as it has now become standard practice when it comes to Floyd County Politics. Anything to remove the will of the people is the norm. And unless Floyd County Citizens stand up and decided for themselves who is the best candidate for the job “you will remain – Null and Void” and a very small number of citizens will decide for you.
“Doc Marshall told me to help you all I can.”
On a recent trip to the court house one of Judge Marshall’s employees confused me with the newly appointed jailer and said “Doc Marshall told me to help you all I can.” We will get you in there. I promised your daddy and Delano May I would do everything I could to help.” After a brief moment I explained to this employee that I was not who he thought I was and in stunned disbelief he profusely apologized. I then told this person that he should reconsider and vote for the most qualified candidate someone who is “highly experienced and very qualified for the position.”
You see this is exactly the problem. We tend to vote based on someone else telling us who to vote for.
Running a correctional facility is unlike nearly any other proposition or experience you can imagine. It literally requires years of training and experience to become proficient. It takes true professionalism and the willingness to make sound and just decisions. The kind of decisions Judge Marshall by this very appointment appears to be unable to make.
And now in my opinion Judge Marshall has made the situation with the jail even worse by appointing a person who has no Correctional or Law Enforcement experience. This is not a jab at the appointee. I’m sure he is by all accounts a very good person, but how does a profession selling coffins and welding qualify him to be a jailer/correctional officer? How was this selection actually made?
Will you vote for a candidate simply because you attend church with him or her? Simply because you think he or she is a nice person? Because you know his or her family; or Doc Marshall and big money told you too? Is that really the right thing to do?