Letter to the Editor

By Jessi Haney

Published: April 17, 2008

To the Editor:
The civil case against Greene County Sheriff Scott Haas and his deputy resulting from the deputy’s 2005 entry, without court process, into the C.D. and Linda Morris home, has now been settled. According to the Charlottesville Daily Progress, Sheriff Haas said that the $85,000 necessary to settle the case was paid by the Commonwealth of Virginia. He also said, according to the Progress, that “no policy changes would be made as a result” of the suit or its settlement, apparently because, as he said, “[the deputy did] what he did in good faith.” With respect, that is not the point. In a proper case the presence of “good faith” might well protect a deputy or his sheriff from having to pay money for unlawful acts, but, whether or not such acts are done in good faith, it is the duty of the Sheriff to train and control his armed men so that they do not commit unlawful acts in the first place.  Thus the Sheriff’s position that “no policy changes… [will] be made as a result” of what happened, if true, may be viewed as obstinate adherence to unlawfulness, contrary to duty.
All of us make mistakes. Only some of us learn from them.

C. Waverly Parker
Stanardsville