Letter to the Editor: Sheriff Tuhy is not a monster
July 10, 2012 at 7:00 pm in The Dickinson Press
I am writing in regards to all the negative articles about Stark County Sheriff Clarence Tuhy. I am a former employee of the LEC and I got along with everyone there, including the sheriff. I never had a problem with him! He always greeted people with a “good morning” and made it a point to see how your day was going. Continue Reading
It sounds to me like you DIDN’T work directly under Mr Tuhy. I did. He is a micro-manager, controller, and he bullies his employees. I, and a group of other past employees, can’t believe that you would go and say the things that you are saying, If you worked directly under him. In my long career in law enfocement, I’ve never met a man (Tuhy) who runs a department through fear and intimidation the way he does. It has gotten so bad in the last few years, 22 employees have left the sheriff’s department in that two year plan (We only have 18 employees total in the whole department). Some were good friends of mine who came to me before leaving, who wanted to stay in law enforcement, but because of Tuhy’s tyrant behavior, they got to the point they couldn’t take it no more. It wasn’t worth the stress it was causing them and their families. This man “is a monster”! The way he treats his employees – he abuses his staff. In reference to the house of Manna, he is the Sheriff of this county, he makes a good salary. Those items at the House of manna are to help those in need. He has also been seen by many driving his Sheriff vehicle on personal (off duty) time. I’ve seen him myself driving it on weekends going from yard sale to yard sale. And yet I know for a fact he makes his deputies call in their mileage in the beginning of their shift and the end of their shift to ensure they aren’t doing the same thing as he’s doing – yet he does not do it. He is the type of man that basicly is telling you “do as I say, not as I do”. So yes, this man is a “MONSTER”.
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Monster, tyrannt, micromanager, bully ….wow!!
Words used by many disgruntled employees found in the region.
Don’t like it? Leave.
Already left? Then get over it!
The world doesn’t revolve around you cupcake.
Employee turnover has been at an all time high in the western part of the state. Where have you been? Pay attention boy. There is a boom going on.
Increase work load, not enough money, employers expecting top performance and then some. It hasn’t been a cake walk for many.
Then top if off by having “disgruntled employees” who moan and groan about micro-managing while trying to micro-manage a job they don’t even have. Gotta love the concept.
Seems to me that I’ve read Tuhy had repeatedly asked for new equipment ( including safety gear) for the department. And I think he has also approached the board about pay-raises for his staff. ( That Tuhy is one tough guy)
Let’s move past this for a moment and talk about your skills at micromanaging peoples shopping skills per house of manna. I wasn’t aware that they had hired a shopping consultant for the house of Manna. Is it now required that people fill out forms and disclose their salaries? Have you checked the other cliental that shop there?
Seriously dude. You are obsessed. I’ve seen people go to the house of Manna to shop for items that they can sell at rummage sales. ( No donut for you cookie! your detective skills suck)
Your concern about using the patrol car for personal use is rather telling. Are you playing “detective” while off duty? Do you know how many times a real officer is asked questions/ or does things on their own time that involves police work?
I am thinking that if you couldn’t handle the stress within the department walls, you surley couldn’t handle the stress out on the streets. (To be quite honest, I don’t know that I would feel very safe having to count on you to protect )
People don’t want a wishy washy yes man. The public voted for Tuhy because they have confidence in him and the fact that he gets the job done. He has been fair and he is a good man.
And it is with his direction and the loyal support of his hard working staff that has continued to make this area a safe place to live. I feel safer knowing that those working in the Department aren’t a bunch of marshmallows that cave when under pressure, be it by criminal activity or a couple of people on a board that are trying to “micro-manage” in areas that they are not qualified.
So McFly, if you really would like to do some good, maybe you could start your own business and stir the pot there.
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Your letter to the editor in reference to Sheriff Tuhy is foolish!!! As mentioned in the previous comment I too worked directly under this man and I can say 1st hand that he is a monster and a tyrant!!! He has no sense of leadership and apparently no morals!! The incident at the House of Manna was not just an “unfortunate misunderstanding” I understood it rather well! He took items from them, they were not borrowed, loaned, or even paid for, to me that constitutes the crime of THEFT!!! He is held to a higher standard in the community and makes good money pretending to be the sheriff. But!!! he has not only let his employees down he has let ALL the citizens and tax payers in Stark County down!! He HAS!! created a hostile work environment for his employees, as was evidenced by the number of employees that have left there in the last year. Its time for things to change, ITS BEEN TIME FOR THINGS TO CHANGE!!!! That man is a chameleon he will put on a good show, but his true colors will always shine through!!! It seems rather logical to me that Sheriff Tuhy is going to be on his best behavior, now that he has the State of ND and the Governor eyeballing his every move! Its time to get back to reality Rene!
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Jesse, It is not only past employees who think Tuhy is a bad manager, supervisor, ect… It is current employees as well. Stark County’s own County Commisioners have seen how badly run the department is and have a great concern on what is going on. They have made great efforts to correct the problems the department has, and are continuing to do so (Number one -getting rid of Tuhy). This is and should be a concern for all citizens of Stark County. In a 2 month span the sheriffs office lost 3 deputies that together had over 30 years in law enforcement. Here is why they left. They came from departments that knew how to treat their employees, and clearly understood what kind of sheriff Tuhy was immediatly (That is why they left=and that is why the department now has young deputies). There love of law enforcement is so great that they went to the Dickinson Police Department (A cut in pay). We do not get into this business for the money (Law Enforcement) We get into it because we care about people and want to make a difference. Sheriff Tuhy makes the Stark County Sheriff’s department so stressful by controllling and micro-managing every move, and decision that is made. He controls his employees by Bullying, and threatening them. So if you want deputies patrolling Stark County that are stressed over their own office work area then so be. I don’t! The job of a peace officer is hard enough, so when you have a hostile work enviroment in your own office it just magnifies the stress and that will reflect your out put. The turn over rate in the department has nothing to do with the oil. The deputies that have gone did not want to go but because of the constant bullying, micro-managing, controlling, and not being able to be part of the decision making process they have gone. As far as the House of Mana thing it is wrong in all areas. We in law enforcement are held to a higher standard. That means we are suppose to set the example (Exspecially at Sheriff Tuhy’s level). So remember when the county wants to raise your taxes because they can’t pay the bills, and you have people like Tuhy driving their county vehicle like they own it then don’t cry. Sheriff Tuhy drives his patrol vehicle 24/7 as if it belongs to him. It does not! It belongs to the people of Stark County. The gas he puts in it is paid by the citizens of Stark County. The over all main issueis the peace and safety of Stark County and its citizens. 22 employees have left the department in 2 years. That is an unacceptable trun over rate. That points directly to management (Sheriff) and the way the department is run. It takes a new officer any where from 2 to 4 years to be able to settle into the position of partol, investigations, ect… The Stark County Sheriffs Office constantly has new employees patrollling our county roads as well as responding to our calls. I don’t want nothing but new and young staff making life an death decsions in my county!
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Mr. Small – I am a little confused as to your posts.
You mentioned that you WERE employed under Tuhy’s watch and yet you seem to post information that only those still working in the Department would have. How does that work?
Also, to be fair about everything, I’ve looked for information via the county meetings and the commisioners to see what problems have been addressed. I didn’t see anything. How would YOU know what the county commisioners are doing or what they are thinking? The one thing I did notice is that they themselves voted on a raise for him. (That would appear to me that they were more than satisfied with his work.)
What I did see in those county minutes were many occassions that Mr. Tuhy asking for the many needed things for the department.
If you don’t mind, could you show me the newspaper story or the link to the county minutes that back up anything you say?
This is where I looked : https://mylocalgov.com/starkcountynd/Index.asp?section=3
I even went back to check on the election results and it is obvious that the public wants Tuhy for Sheriff. I can’t remember the name of that “other guy” but Tuhy I think won over 75% of the votes.
Like or Dislike:
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It is funny how people keep talking about how many employees the Stark County Sheriff’s Department has lost in the past few years, and have put the blame on Sheriff Tuhy but has anyone mentioned how many employees left to work in the oilfield? Reality is, buisnesses everywhere are losing employees due to the tempting wages the oil field has to offer. As far as the previous negative comments go, I suggest people read the article before making comments. The person who wrote the original article never stated she worked under Tuhy, she simply stated she worked for the “LEC” that includes all agencies in the Law Enforcement Center. As far as calling the article foolish and telling the author “Its time to get back to reality”, I call the people who continue to make this an issue FOOLISH and tell them to get back to reality and move on! If you worked for a place that made you unhappy, then find something that does and get over it! I have a feeling however, that these people who claim to have been so unhappy with the Sheriff’s department will not be happy in their next job becuase these are the type of people who like to make a mountain out of a mole hill and there will always be something about any job that you dislike. As far as the community being in danger due to Sheriff Tuhy and his “young” deputies, I would ask the former employess how young they were when they entered law enforcement and should that suggest that they too at that time were a danger to the comminities they worked in? I would also suggest that maybe the community is in danger, not due to the Sheriff, but rather at the fact that we have commissioners who can decide that they don’t like the way things are being done and decide they are going to force someone out of their job. This being said, maybe every city and county employee should be afraid that this will also happen to them. For the sake of the community, let’s move past this issue of disgruntled former employees and give the Sheriff’s department a chance to move on and rebuild with the great people who are employed there and choose to be!
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From kfyr in 2010: The oil boom is having a negative impact in the Stark County Sheriff`s Department. The Sheriff says he and his deputies should be making more money. He says the situation is so bad that two of his deputies are hanging up their badges and heading out to the oil fields instead. But county commissioners say they can`t spend money they don`t have.
and further into the article:
Tuhy says a number of his sergeants, captains, and lieutenant are underpaid, and he`s losing them to better jobs.
“I had one deputy resign as of the 21st because of financial reasons. And we talked about it, and he`s going to the oil field,” explains Tuhy. “My Captain just resigned as of September 31st because he got a job with an oil company as well.”
http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=43134
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I havent worked with Tuhy but he has always been respectful to me if i see him in public. He will wave and say Hi. What needs to be reevaluated is the police dept in this town. Cocky, arrogant, even dispatch. I dont care what stress you have, i have it as well. Do your job and be respectful. trust me, your sh** stinks like eveyone elses.
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22 people left the Sheriff’s office in the last 2 years because of Tuhy? That is absolutley not true! I know for a fact that some left to work in the oil fields and some had to quit due to lack of housing or a transfer in their spouse’s job. I agree with “Jesse” that people should be accurate in their information before posting opinions and damaging some one’s reputation just becuase of a grudge. Has anyone made it a point to mention how many officers have left the Dickinson Police Department in the last 2 years, the turn over rate is high there as well as anywhere in this town right now. The oil and it’s high wages has a huge impact in this town and people, with the way the economy is right now are eager take advantage of the high wages. So if 22 people had left the Sheriff’s department it is NOT becuase of Sheriff Tuhy! For the House of Manna issue, if Tuhy told the staff before hand how is this considered stealing? It isn’t stealing and that is why the charges have been dropped. For those who want to verify this information, contact Tom Henning as he has written proof of this. It angers me and many others in this community when people like you try to tarnish the good name of a well respected official. Many people feel Sheriff Tuhy has done a lot for this community and would vote for him again in a heart beat!
Hot debate. What do you think?
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