Sheriff Warns on Merger: ‘You’re Going to Die’

The city of Fort Wayne (Ind.) and surrounding Allen County have been hashing out a proposal to merge their public safety communications operations for several years, with no degree of success until Monday, when the mayor and county commissioners came up with a tentative agreement. However, the plan is opposed—strongly—by sheriff Ken Fries. During a Monday meeting, the commissioners outlined that under the plan, the city and county would each select three members of a joint control board for the new consolidated center, and that group of six would select a seventh member. Sheriff Fries arrived 20 minutes after the meeting began with his chief deputy and six comm center employees, all in uniform. According to the local newspaper, “(Fries) criticized the proposed merger saying it would reduce accountability and hurt public safety—adding he plans to conduct a news conference after such a merger costs people their lives.” Then, the report says that Fries shouted at the city and county staffers as they left, “You’re wrong, you’re wrong. People are going to die.” Read more about the debate here. Another story has been posted here.