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August 4, 2012

Experience an issue in Benzie sheriff's race

BY ART BUKOWSKI abukowski@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — The Benzie County Sheriff's Department needs to be more transparent and accountable to the public, and it also needs to cover the county on a 24-hour basis.

Those are just a few positions offered by Ted Schendel, David Casey and Blair Moss, all Republicans, who will fight for the sheriff's post during Tuesday's primary election. The winner will face Custer Courville "Coury" Carland, an independent, in the November general election.

Schendel since 2007 has served as part-time administrator of the sheriff's snowmobile and marine programs. Before that, he retired after 25 years in Florida with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. His father, O. Paul Schendel, was Benzie's prosecutor from 1978 to 1996.

Casey worked for the Benzie sheriff's department from 1999-2000 and again from 2003 to 2007. He served as a road patrol deputy, court bailiff, animal control officer, corrections officer and in other positions. He also spent time with the Frankfort Police Department. He now runs a body shop.

Moss is a physical education instructor and coach for Benzie Central schools. He also has spent time as a seasonal marine officer and corrections officer with the department.

Schendel believes he's the best man for the job because he dedicated his life and career to police service. He's the only candidate with continuous police certification and employment, he said, and the only one who's held a law enforcement administrative post.

"Experience matters," he said.

Casey isn't sure it matters that much.

"Experience isn't everything. You could have a ton of experience, and not know how to deal with the general public," he said. "I know the community, and I know what the community wants."

Casey is confident his personality and knowledge of the community will carry him far if elected. The department lacks accountability and professionalism, he contends, and he hopes to fix that.

"I'm energetic, young and motivated," he said. "Benzie County is going to get what they paid for if I'm elected."

Some in the community said they heard Casey was forced to leave the Frankfort Police Department after an alleged incident with a woman in a patrol car. Frankfort Chief Keith Redder said he didn't fire Casey, but did hear the rumor and questioned Casey about it.

Casey denied the rumor, Redder said, but he resigned from the department not long after. Casey said there's no truth to it.

"At no time did anything occur with a female in the back seat of a patrol car," Casey said.

Moss said people want the sheriff's department to be more transparent, and he'll make sure transparency is at its utmost if he's elected.

"If something's happening in the department, people want to know about it," he said. "If something's happening in the community, people want to know about it."

He also believes his background — primarily an educator with some law enforcement experience — shouldn't be looked upon as a detriment.

"I think I'm bringing something different to the table," he said.

All three candidates said they want to find a way to bring road patrol back to 24-hour coverage. Budget cuts have left no deputies on the road from 3 to 6 a.m. And for long stretches, just one deputy is on the road.

"The next sheriff is going to have to think outside the box," Moss said.

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