By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn is helping the president-elect’s team plan policies for the Donald Trump presidency.
Wasylyshyn, who was sworn in Tuesday evening as president of the Buckeye State Sheriffs Association, has been acting as a liaison between the National Sheriff’s Association and the Trump team.
The sheriff hopes to have input on issues involving jails, surplus military equipment, and presidential responses to shootings by law enforcement officers.
“I’ve always been very outspoken and not afraid to ask the difficult questions,” Wasylyshyn said this morning. “I’m very honored and humbled that I’ve been asked to be involved. It’s great for Wood County.”
The sheriff, who recently won a fourth term, has been told to be prepared to go to Washington, D.C., on short notice. One of the initial items the sheriff’s association is being consulted on is the appointment of officials by the Trump team.
“The Trump transition team has contacted us and they want input on appointments,” such as federal prosecutors, the attorney general, Homeland Security and U.S. marshals, he said.
Wasylyshyn wants to make the Trump team aware of problems at jails, which is one of the “hottest issues” for law enforcement. According to the sheriff, 85 percent of all jails in the nation are run by sheriffs, and they are being overwhelmed by drug and mental health problems.
“We need a serious discussion,” he said. “Jails are becoming detox facilities for people coming off heroin and other opioids. That is a drain on us.”
Wasylyshyn also hopes to have input on decisions on mental health issues. “So many of the shootings” in the country involve people with mental health problems, he said. “We need to get help for these people before they go over the edge.”
The sheriff wants to help convince the Trump administration to reverse the decision by President Barack Obama to limit the use of surplus military equipment by local law enforcement. That decision was made after police departments responded to protests across the nation in more of a military fashion than a community policing strategy.
But Wasylyshyn said that military equipment is sometimes necessary for local law enforcement. He referred to the armored vehicle the Wood County Sheriff’s Office secured from the military, that has been used when dealing with armed suspects or as a barricade to protect the public.
“When we’re sending a special response team in, I want them going in the safest vehicle,” he said.
Wasylyshyn is also hoping to see a different philosophy toward police-involved shootings from the Trump administration. He faulted the Obama administration and media for creating a non-supportive environment for law enforcement.
“We don’t want a president to immediately come to the conclusion that police are at fault,” he said. “It’s causing a lot of turmoil in society.” He is hoping the Trump administration will “wait for evidence and look at both sides.”
Throughout Trump’s presidency, Wasylyshyn is hopeful that liaisons with law enforcement will be consulted.
“We want the Trump people to call us and say, ‘What’s law enforcement’s side on this?’ We have not had that with the Obama administration.”
Wasylyshyn added that he believes it’s Obama’s responsibility to quiet the current protests around the nation over Trump’s election.
“I respect people’s right to protest,” he said. “Where the problem is, is where they do damage. We have to be firm when people start getting hurt.”
“I think the president needs to be more firm,” he added. “Being violent is not going to change anything.”
