I wasn't planning on a formal complaint. I'm the Brazoria County LEPC chairman and as such have the means to communicate directly with Sheriff Wagner.[/quote]canvasbck wrote:That said, he was totally out of line the way he handled the situation. I would file a nice, but sternly written formal complaint with the BCSO.
canvasbck,
Firstly I applaud your willpower and refraining from escalating a very stupid decision on the LE's part. Illegal & Dangerous Seizure cannot be tolerated. The LEO community needs to be held accountable to the standard they want us to believe they hold themselves up to.
Secondly, because of this deputies brazen unsafe and illegal actions, his willful ignorance of the law as applies to his extracaricular activities I believe you have no choice here. You must file an official complaint to establish a trail to ensure compliance. Bad training and habits are taught from the top down. You can still have your polite conversation with the Sheriff, but in that needs to be a heads up about you having filed the formal complaint and why.
These are only my opinions, and cost you what you pai for them. However I have zero doubts that this ignorant deputy will try to pull the same heavy handed actions on someone else with a far more tragic result. We want to keep our relationship on a plus side with the LEO community, not bloody.