What the hell is wrong with this old codger? Loyalty oath? Are you insane? Talk to a lawyer instead of old women you had sex with in the sixties for crying out loud. Call your buddy, Bill Johnston, even he has more sense than this. What an idiot.
Thu, Aug 27 at 9:13 AM
McLENNAN COUNTY TAXPAYERS — READ THIS JOB REQUIREMENT CAREFULLY.
McLennan County is advertising for an Evidence Technician in the Sheriff’s Office.
This isn’t someone mowing the grass or answering phones.
According to the county’s own job posting, this employee will:
- collect, receive, preserve and secure evidence
- respond to major crime scenes
- maintain chain of custody
- retrieve physical and digital evidence for court and open-records requests
- handle body-camera and in-car-camera recordings
- assist with criminal investigations
- conduct evidence inventories and audits
- and testify in court
And buried in the minimum requirements is this:
“MUST MAINTAIN PERSONAL LOYALTY TO THE SHERIFF.”
Excuse me?
Why does a McLennan County employee entrusted with criminal evidence owe personal loyalty to Parnell McNamara?
The loyalty of an Evidence Technician should be to the law, the evidence, the truth, the Constitution, McLennan County, and the taxpayers who pay that employee’s salary.
Period.
This isn’t the Sheriff’s private business.
These aren’t his private employees.
And the evidence room certainly isn’t his personal property.
This language would be concerning under ANY sheriff. But it deserves even greater scrutiny when the sitting Sheriff has been the subject of serious allegations and controversy himself.
That does not mean allegations are proven. It means this language raises an obvious and legitimate question:
What happens if evidence, records, an investigation, an open-records request, or testimony ever puts an employee’s duty to the truth in conflict with his or her “personal loyalty” to the Sheriff?
Which one wins?
Because McLennan County’s own job description appears to demand both.
And perhaps somebody at the county should explain exactly what “personal loyalty” means.
Does it mean don’t criticize the Sheriff?
Does it mean don’t report misconduct?
Does it mean don’t cooperate with an outside investigation without his blessing?
Does it mean an employee is expected to protect the Sheriff politically or personally?
Hopefully the answer to every one of those questions is NO.
But then why is this language in the job requirements at all?
The posting goes on to say that all employees must have the ability to “earn and keep the trust of fellow employees and the community at large.”
You know what helps earn the community’s trust?
INDEPENDENCE. INTEGRITY. TRANSPARENCY.
Not requiring the person handling criminal evidence to pledge personal loyalty to an elected politician.
A professional law-enforcement agency should demand loyalty to the law and the mission, not personal allegiance to the man sitting behind the Sheriff’s desk.
And Commissioners Court ought to be asking about this.
County HR ought to be asking about this.
The District Attorney’s Office ought to care about this.
Defense attorneys ought to pay attention to this.
And every citizen whose criminal case could someday depend upon the integrity and independence of that evidence room should care about it.
WHO WROTE THIS REQUIREMENT?
WHO APPROVED IT?
HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN COUNTY POLICY?
WHAT EXACTLY DOES “PERSONAL LOYALTY TO THE SHERIFF” MEAN?
And most importantly:
WHY IS PERSONAL LOYALTY TO PARNELL McNAMARA A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY HANDLE EVIDENCE, ASSIST IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, RESPOND TO CRIME SCENES, PROCESS RECORDS AND TESTIFY UNDER OATH?
McLennan County employees work for the PUBLIC.
Their oath should be to the law.
Their obligation should be to the truth.
Their responsibility should be to the taxpayers.
NO ELECTED OFFICIAL SHOULD REQUIRE “PERSONAL LOYALTY” FROM THE PEOPLE WHOSE PAYCHECKS COME FROM THE PUBLIC.
That sentence needs to be removed from this job posting—and McLennan County officials need to explain why it was there in the first place.
F*** pseudo-sheriff Parnell McNamara & his entire pussy posse, both male & female!!! WTF is going on in this old gomer’s obviously demented mind? A “Loyalty Oath” to some washed-up, crepey-skinned has-been whose fondest memory is riding the range with his dad, US Marshal T.P. McNamara & brother Mike, hassling illegal aliens? You’ve got to be kidding!!! The old guy and all his posse in the MCSO need to go, NOW!!!