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Demotion of Pender County sheriff's deputy

Submitted by WWAY on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 10:13am.READ MORE:

Pender County leaders plan to release information about the demotion of a sheriff's deputy. Sheriff Carson Smith demoted Sergeant Michael Lewis last month to deputy in connection with Lewis's role in helping rescue malnourished horses in the Hampstead area. Because of state laws governing personnel issues, the sheriff's office has been unable to release the details of the suspension. Sheriff Smith and the county manager are outlining their position on the matter. They are expected to release more detailed information about the demotion Monday.

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Concerning personnel

Submitted by Guest666 (not verified) on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:57am.

Concerning personnel records......I feel that any person who is paid using taxpayer money should be held accountable to those taxpayers as well as their superiors. This would certainly include keeping personnel files open to those who pay their salaries. After all, they are OUR employees.

Personnel records

Submitted by Guestwho (not verified) on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 1:01pm.

You're right. I pay my Progress Energy bill every month. I think I should have access to their records, too. And I pay the salaries of the people at Harris Teeter and Food Lion at least twice a week. I'm sure there is something in one of their files...

Demotion

Submitted by Guest555 (not verified) on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 3:12am.

HEY Sheriff enjoy YOUR demotion to civillian come election time!!!!

He violated a direct order

Submitted by Guest2222 (not verified) on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 10:44pm.

He violated a direct order from his superiors. I'm surprised he wasn't fired. In an interview with the veterinarian, the Jacksonville Daily News quoted the vet as saying the horses should be returned to their owner, as he had been addressing the situation. Wanting something you can't have does not give you the right to abuse your authority.

Returned???

Submitted by Guest??? (not verified) on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 10:11am.

Returned to the owner? So the horses could continue on their path to death? Please tell me who this vet is so I can make sure NEVER to take my animals there. I'm sorry -- I thought those were ribs and hip bones protruding through that very nasty layer of what was once a coat of fur. He was "addressing the situation?" Then how bad was it before he started taking care of the "situation?"

EXACTLY!

Submitted by Guest 12356 (not verified) on Thu, 06/11/2009 - 12:40am.

Not once in all of the news footage have I seen a vet make a comment on these horses yet. Why would a vet in Jacksonville be making comments anyway? This is a Pender situation and has to do with Pender Animal Control. Is the vet from J-ville somehow associated with Pender Animal Control?

LEWIS

Submitted by Guest2244 (not verified) on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 6:09pm.

HE DID HIS JOB AND LOOK WHAT HAPPEN.THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE COPS LIKE HIM.

HIS JOB IS TO PROTECT

Submitted by Guest111 (not verified) on Fri, 06/12/2009 - 12:40pm.

HIS JOB IS TO PROTECT CITIZENS OF PENDER COUNTY. HE WAS TOLD DIRECTLY BY HIS AUTHORITY NOT TO COMMENT OR GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SITUATION. REPORTING IT ON HIS OWN TIME IS FINE, BUT HE WENT DIRECTLY AGAINST THE RULES. IF I DID THAT AT MY JOB I WOULD BE FIRED. FIND OUT THE ENTIRE TRUE STORY BEFOR YOU MAKE ASSUMPTIONS.

There was a story on the

Submitted by Guest666 (not verified) on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 5:46pm.

There was a story on the news the other night about a problem with a Pit Bull. Seems the person in charge of Pender County Animal Control is on an extended leave of abscence. The other workers are having to pick up the slack and they are short handed. Seems like Sergeant Lewis was just doing his job and doing what he could to rescue some very sick animals. Thanks to him, they were rescued and I hope are doing fine. Seems like animal cruelty is a crime, and since Mr. Lewis is a law enforcement officer, he was only doing what he was sworn to do. I am not so sure about Sheriff Smith. Unless there is something we are not being told, I feel he was out of order for demoting Sgt. Lewis.

HIS JOB IS TO PROTECT THE

Submitted by Guest111 (not verified) on Fri, 06/12/2009 - 12:42pm.

HIS JOB IS TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS AND TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTION. YOU HAVEN'T CARED TO FIND OUT THAT THE HORSE WAS OLD AND HAD CANCER DID YOU? OF COURSE THE HORSE IS GOING TO LOOK BAD. JUST GO TO WORK, DO WHAT YOU'RE TOLD, AND EVERYTHING'S GREAT!

The fact remains

Submitted by SurfCityTom on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 4:04pm.

Personnel matters should remain sealed. Whatever transgression the Sgt. was faced with, it apparently was not serious enough to merit employment termination. The Pender County Sheriff's Department has already faced one embarrasiing situation with the wrongful termination of an employee who lived outside the bounds of wedlock with a roommate. Personnel matters are not open for review in the private sector. They should remain sealed in the public sector as well unless the affected employee files a lawsuit in which case all relevant details would come out in court.

Pender County

Submitted by Carolina Girl (not verified) on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 3:12pm.

I feel that Sgt. Lewis went beyond his call of duty. More people should be like him. If there were more people in this world who cared as Sgt. Lewis did this world wouldn't be in the shape it's in today. There are alot of people who mistreat animals and get by with it. I truly feel that Sheriff Smith was in the wrong for demoting Sgt. Lewis. He needs more people like Sgt. Lewis to stand up for what they feel needs to be done. I'm glad that Sgt. Lewis went beyond his call of duty to protect these animals.

I agree with you

Submitted by Guest45 (not verified) on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 5:18pm.

Humane Society is called HUMANE because that is we are suppose to be first HUMANS, Sgt. Lewis did exactly what a caring human will do, punishing him for what he did is non sense.

Pender County Follies

Submitted by clevenative (not verified) on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 12:03pm.

They should release the everything on this deputy. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. But watching all this unfold is a little like watching dumb and dumber argue. It really is hard for me to pick a side.

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