Posted on 09/26/2017 7:10:10 PM PDT by 11th_VA
Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand on Sept. 25 issued a notification restricting all deputy sheriffs from accepting any off-duty work at National Football League games.
He said the ongoing controversy involving professional sports players not standing for the National Anthem, and their team and league management apparently backing them, is the reason why.
"Yesterday I attended the Browns game in Indianapolis with some friends. The stadium was almost full with 70,000 fans in attendance. During the National Anthem at least 21 Browns players kneeled as the entire stadium, made up of all races, ages, sex, religion and careers stood and removed their hats," part of his notice reads.
It continues: "All the police officers working in uniform were saluting. The fact that the team owners and NFL Commissioner condone this activity very much upsets me. As far as I am concerned almost the entire league disrespected every veteran that ever fought or died for this Country. These protests are not about unity. Unity was the other 70,000 fans that stood. I truly believe this is about the Police, Law Enforcement and our government. For that reason, effective immediately any off duty details at NFL Games are prohibited."
Hildenbrand prefaced his prohibition by way of expressing how honored he was to have been chosen to accept recognition in his uncle, Charles J. Hildenbrand, during the Great Geauga County Fair because he was the first Geauga County resident who died in the Vietnam War.
He said that, although he did not serve in the military, himself, he is thankful for each and every one who has and that, as a public safety official, he feels a certain kinship with military veterans and believes they deserve everyone's respect.
Although Hildenbrand said his deputies aren't often called upon to work off-duty details at NFL-sanctioned events, he still feels strongly about the meaning behind his statement.
"I don't know what (the NFL's) stance is," he said in a Sept. 26 phone interview. "My stance is that, when the National Anthem is played, everyone should stand and remove their hats. When they don't, that's disrespectful - and they're the opening act. They're in uniform and when they don't observe (the playing of the National Anthem), that's disrespectful."
He added that he's even more upset that the team owners and league management haven't done more to intervene when the athletes and role models out on the field dishonor such a long-standing American tradition and tribute to those who have fought for freedom at home and abroad.
"They claim to be unifying people but they're really dividing them," Hildenbrand said. "Some day, that's going to get up into the stands and I don't want any of my deputies getting hurt. It's divisive and they're encouraging it."
Although Lake County deputy sheriffs don't figure into the controversy too much because they don't ever work details at NFL stadiums, Lake County Sheriff Daniel Dunlap said in a Sept. 26 phone interview said he personally stands for the National Anthem wherever he is at the time it's presented.
"I think it's important," he said. "I was always taught to stand for the National Anthem."
He said he does recall instances during which members of certain religious groups whose doctrines prohibit such displays would refrain from standing for the flag. But that's a different situation, he said.
"For example, we had Jehovah's Witnesses in my class," he said. "But when does it start to be disrespectful? I mean, I think it's terrible that it's gotten this far. I mean, we're at a point at which a professional athlete calls the President a (bum). And these guys are supposed to be role models."
Dunlap agreed with Hildenbrand that the NFL's team owners and officials don't seem to be doing enough to dissolve the situation and he feels as though their league may suffer from it.
"I don't think they understand what this is doing and I think they're underestimating the American public," Dunlap said. "The attendance is going down at games. And I think they ought to be careful. I think they underestimate how passionate people, the fans, are about our country."
Dunlap added that, with the exception of high-school football games, the Lake County Sheriff's Office doesn't work security at events like Browns games, nor anywhere alcohol is served. Rather, he said, they encourage organizers to seek out private security firms to handle those kinds of jobs.
"And we wouldn't if asked," he said.
At the end of the day, Hildenbrand said he is whole-heartily disappointed with the NFL organization and its constituents. And it was last Sunday's game in Indianapolis that moved him to make a statement about it.
"That made my mind up," he said of the Sept. 24 game, "My season ticket seats will remain empty the rest of the season."
As far as deputies being prohibited from any NFL-related, off-duty details, he said that will be the case indefinitely and, once again, made it clear he holds team owners, managers and league officials largely responsible.
"It's divisive and they're encouraging it," he said.
I just wish when this happens, wherever it happens, that all the people in the stadium would get up and WALK OUT!!
We have to keep up the pressure on the NFL and their advertisers.
We cannot compromise or give in.
The Leftists want this anti-Americanism and anti-Trump activity to take root and to increase them.
Screw them.
Every sacrifice we make now will yield large dividends in this battle in the culture war.
Thanks for posting this. I applaud this Sheriff!
I’m thoroughly disgusted that the TV media, including Fox News, keeps showing shots of the Cowboys kneeling.
That occurred BEFORE the anthem!
When it was time for the anthem they ALL stood, but the media never show that.
So what if they stood?
They refused to put their hands over their heart and respect our nation.
fvck the Dallas Cowturds and Jerry Jones too.
They were standing in unity for the anthem, not disrespecting the anthem, flag, veterans, current military personnel, first responders, etc.
If you think back to before this kneeling crap started you would see that most players on all teams did not put their hands over their hearts; they just stood silently. Same thing in the MLB and NBA.
The Cowboys unified, by giving any team members who felt some reason to protest to do so with the team before the anthem, but then to stand as a team for the anthem.
What you can and can't do to earn your keep ?
Anything else you want to mandate for us Herr Kommissar ?
If you take a fire fighting, law enforcement, or military job then you give things up for the duration.
Not sure how to explain the rudimentary concepts of honor and duty to a civilian in a culture which largely mocks honor and duty.
These are police officers, my dad was one. They represent the employer, even when off duty. In this case, wearing official uniforms, thus, yes, it is sheriff’s call. Good for him.
Grew up in Geauga County. Great area!
Well said.
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