Frank Castiglia Jr: It’s Not About Supporting Or Not Supporting Police; It’s About The Law

by Contributor | August 14, 2020 10:02 am

At the Oswego County Legislative meeting on Thursday, August 13 I tried to present the following presentation regarding the Sheriff Hilton issue. I was cut off half way through this presentation. Saying my 5 min. had expired.

Many times, in the past when I served on the legislature there were times when during the public comment session, the speakers would go over their time. Because this was an issue showing an embarrassment to the Legislature, they held me and others that spoke about this issue not being right, to the 5 min. Well I feel it is very important that this message get out to the people. This presentation isn’t anything more than a statement of facts and my opinion.

Thank you very much honorable Chairman Weatherup for allowing the public to speak today, Good afternoon Legislators.

I have to make a little side comment here. After reading a plethora of comments on a sitting Legislator’s Facebook page. I find it laughable that many people on his site were upset that the meeting was being held in the afternoon during a time when most people work. This legislator is a big opponent of evening meetings. The Dems have been trying for years to move the meetings to an evening meeting. So all you people can thank your fine legislator Mr. Martino for afternoon meetings.

I’m going to read several publications found on the Oswego County web site.
Mission statement of the Oswego County Legislature.
Mission statement of the Oswego County Administrator.
Oath of office every elected official takes.
I have just read to you three official documents. Nowhere in any of these does it say that any elected official owes allegiance to any one person or party. Which means elected officials represent the people not the party.

What it does say is that any and all elected officials are bound by law to uphold any and all laws and uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of NY.

No one in these chambers or outside have a right to stop any one persons’ ability to support any single political candidate or party.

No one in this legislative body has the authority to be Judge, Jury and executioner.

Several years ago, there was a sitting legislator that was arrested. At that time, I was asked what my thoughts were. I told the paper that the issue was in the hands of the judicial system. Then and now you are innocent until proven guilty. There was an investigation performed and as a result the rules of the Public Officers Law determined the course of action to be taken. NOT the legislative body.
Lady Justice is blindfolded for a reason. Let Lady Justice do her job.

This issue at hand isn’t about support of the men in blue or not supporting the men in blue. It’s all about the LAW.

This issue is whether or not public property was misused and any laws were broken.

In my 6 years serving on the Public Safety Committee my disagreements were on the number of patrol cars to be purchased. One year I even made a motion to give Sheriff Todd a raise. I say this to show that I support the Sheriff in many ways.

One main issue I had with Sheriff Hilton was his recommendation to hire SRO’s that would live outside the County of Oswego.

Again, I say this to show that on many issues I support the Sheriff and the men in blue. I support Sheriff Hilton but I don’t support his actions on the day in question.

We are talking about the LAW and the LAW only right now. Nobody is above the LAW.

It is not this legislative body’s job to determine if the Sheriff broke any laws. They may determine if he has broken any Oswego County policies and only determine the course of action to be taken on those infractions.

This legislative body has an obligation to the taxpayers of Oswego County to ensure an investigation is performed by a bipartisan panel, none of which should be from Oswego County.

No one in this legislature or the public can determine the guilt or innocence of an elected official.
Because of that reason and the fact that I have been a witness to the Kangaroo Court held by this legislative body in Executive sessions, a letter should be sent to State Attorney General’s office requesting a complete investigation be performed to determine if any laws were broken by the Sheriff and his deputies on the date in question. Also a letter should be sent to the State Comptroller’s office for the main purpose to find out if there was misuse of taxpayers’ dollars and assets.

Last but not least, it’s about the LAW, it is not about support or non-support of the men in blue.

Good Day to you all and stay safe.
-Frank Castiglia Jr.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/frank-castiglia-jr-its-not-about-supporting-or-not-supporting-police-its-about-the-law/

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