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By Barbara Evans

On Dec. 12, Lowndes County Sheriff Chris West is scheduled for trial at the Hayneville Town Hall at 9 a.m.  

West has been accused of two crimes: harassment, which has already been dismissed by the judge and interfering with a government operation — in this case a meeting of the Lowndes County Commission. Two motion hearings have already been held in Hayneville and it was a big mess because the person who signed the warrant against West is Lowndes County Commissioner Robert Harris.  

Harris took the legal action not as a commissioner, but as a citizen. The warrant resulted in West being arrested by Hayneville Police Chief Kelvin “Scooter” Mitchell, who was a failed candidate for Sheriff in the last election that West won handily.   

Gossip is out there full blast and is almost never correct. West’s enemies are using this ridiculous charge to destroy West’s reputation. They are used to controlling the county, and West has shown he does not sit well with being controlled. He is a well-educated man with long years of experience in law enforcement, and he will do what he thinks is right when it comes to the Sheriff Department’s and the important role of that department in the county.  

When West was elected, he got votes from Blacks and whites alike. It was, in my 34 years in the county, the first time the well-known “political machine” did not win an election. It was refreshing to see our people voting on character, issues, integrity and intelligence rather than the usual popularity contest.

In the last two motion hearings, friends and supporters of Harris, including the Hayneville Police Chief, seemed not to understand that the hearings were not a place for testimony. Things got out of hand as some onlookers and participants demanded that Harris be given time for testimony. The only people who were supposed to speak were the lawyers and Judge Fred Bell, but Bell did not explain the hearing’s rules and purpose. Mitchell and others seemed out of control, and the police chief actually argued with the judge and West’s attorney in a show that was, in my opinion, clearly a contempt of court violation as well as an obstruction of governmental operations, the same charge West faces in the upcoming trial.  

Recently some Lowndes County commissioners used a tactic against West, cutting the budget for the Sheriff’s Department. The cut was huge, and could only result in officers being laid off and other impediments to public safety.  Of course, it is we, the people, who will suffer from this move, but nobody has mentioned that it would be a true crisis in Lowndes County.   

I want to thank The Lowndes Signal for their coverage of the Commission meetings and the motion hearings. When folks aren’t told the facts it makes it easier to add drama and make errors when talking to friends and neighbors. This is also an excellent example of why our local government must be much more transparent and clear about what’s going on, and the reasons why they make the decisions they make.  

The people deserve to know the truth. Commission meetings are for the public to be clear about the public information which we have a right to know. I encourage citizens to attend the Lowndes County Commission meetings held on the second Monday of each month at 10 a.m. and the fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m.

I also hope to see you on Dec. 12 in Hayneville because Sheriff West is an excellent Sheriff, and he does not deserve what is happening to him. The majority voted for West to be our Sheriff, and we deserve a well-funded Sheriff’s Department that can protect and serve us. Please support our Sheriff by 1) expressing your views on these charges to Commissioner Robert Harris and the Lowndes County Commission and 2) attending his trial on Dec. 12.

Barbara Evans is a freelance writer and resident of Burkeville. The views expressed in “Esther’s Trumpet — Black Belt News and Views” are those of Barbara Evans writing in her individual capacity only and do not represent the opinions of The Lowndes Signal. Evans accepts full responsibility for the accuracy, completeness and validity of statements expressed in her column.