Sheriff Jim Ruth's weekly column..

In my law enforcement career, I have dealt with people with many personalities and character types. Everything from the very simple minded to the very sophisticated con-man who knows how to manipulate people in subtle ways.

The con-man knows the right buttons to push as he lays the ground work to take advantage of the unsuspecting victim. He knows how to tap into the victims greed and selfishness, as he sells his investment scam. Impossible returns are promised, as the net is tightened around the new "investor."

A variation of this con-game is when the "paving man" knocks on your door and informs you that he and his crew have done a paving job down the street and they have material left over. He and his crew will coat your driveway for you for half the price.

Well, the problem is that the new coat looks good, until the next rain comes and it begins to be washed away in a gooey mess. If the victim had looked at the license plate of the contractor it would most likely have been from out of state, or out of county.

Then, there are other home-improvement con-men that use these tactics. When someone knocks on your door that appears suspicious, call the Sheriff’s Office and we will have the deputy that works your area to check it out.

Many of our small legitimate contractors are known personally by our deputies and can be vouched for by one of them. So, use contractors that are known by someone you know or are otherwise trustworthy.

Other scalawags are the people that telephone you and tell of the wonderful deal they have for you. Do not give any personal information over the telephone, unless you know the person on the other end of the line or unless you initiated the call.

Should you receive a call, where you think someone is trying to pull a scam, get as much information from the caller as you can and call the Sheriff’s Office to speak to one of our deputies.

Some of these scams sound legitimate, but are not. These scams are kind of like what Hank Williams, Jr. sang about in one of his songs, about the television preacher who said, "Send your money to the Lord," but as Hank Jr. sang, "The preacher always gave his own address."

There is always a catch to the "good deal." Experience tells you that you get what you pay for ( I would add if you are lucky ). There is another old proverb that is very applicable, "If it sound too good to be true, it is too good to be true."

As I write or otherwise communicate, I realize my worldview is filtered thru a life-time of experiences unique to me. I am one of 7 children fathered by a creative, artistic factory worker, who was industrious and who seemingly possessed an ability to look beyond the immediate. He was good at creating works of art in wood, but he, also, was a writer of poetry.

My mother taught us about love, commitment and about serving God. All of us sibling were raised up with mutual respect and love for each other and were encouraged to seek our own personal dreams.

I attended schools in Cleveland and Bradley County with teachers that labored under the belief that they were called by a higher power. Teaching and molding young lives was their life’s work. Most went about their duties with passion spurred on by a belief that they could make their corner of the world a better place to live.

As I reflect on it, our teachers have never been properly thanked or financially rewarded, as they should be, for their work.

That worldview, I mentioned, has, also, been influenced by studies at Cleveland State, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Andersonville Theological Seminary.

Then, there is the influence from my training to be a soldier/warrior in the U.S. Army, being sent to Vietnam as a 20 year old, and, then, serving, also, in the National Guard.

Finally, my worldview has been influenced by my being raised in the Baptist Church, and by my marriage to my high school sweetheart (42 years now).

We have raised two great kids of whom we are very proud of, that now have their own families. My wife Cathy and I are the proud grandparents of 4 of the prettiest granddaughters in all of Cleveland and Bradley County.

As Sheriff, I am a keeper of the rules, but having been on the receiving end of grace and mercy from God and my friends and family, I have learned to give grace, as well.

All things in life are not in distinct black and white. Other colors trickle down into this black and white picture and cause some consternation, when discerning the right thing to do.

--- Meanwhile, back at the ranch….

There have been people that have prostituted themselves for their own gain. They have sold out their character, their ethics, and their family name for a little silver and gold. In my decades of law enforcement experience, I have observed the best and worst in action.

Judges, prosecutors and other attorneys are officers of the courts. As Sheriff, I am, also, part of the courts.

We have lawyers who are very knowledgeable about the laws of the land, that believe in the law they practice and who are very diligent in their ethical commitments.

We have judges and prosecutors who really want to do "the right thing," even when it means doing it against the criticisms of the cynic and what might be popular for the moment.

To the embarrassment of the legal profession and others, we still have the bottom feeders that have been given the name "ambulance chaser." In years past these unethical types were kept under control, but, now, it seems that they run at large.

One example is when one of these unethical types seeks out supposed injuries that are actually fabricated. So, a lawsuit is filed to recover faked damages, and losses. Many of these lawsuits get dismissed by a discerning judge, as frivolous.

A real problem is that some of these frivolous suits are paid off by insurance underwriters, before the suit goes to court. This is because it is cheaper to pay out a fairly good sum of money than it is to pay a competent attorney to defend the truth.

--- Law enforcement has become an easy prey to this type of law suit. It is what one deputy has called, "Legalized extortion."

Several years ago, one of our Sheriff’s was sued for 5 million dollars. The suit dragged on in Federal Court for years. Fortunately, the insurance underwriter’s lawyer believed the Sheriff had acted in accordance with the state law. There was a jury trial and the federal jury found in favor of the Sheriff.

A deputy has a re-course, when it is found that he acted legally. He can counter sue the plaintiff. But, this is generally not done, because most deputies do not have the money to hire an attorney. Or, the attorney will not take the counter suit, because he knows the guy that filed the frivolous suit does not have money to pay any judgment rendered against him.

I suppose the lawyer that acted unethically could be taken to the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility. Or, maybe we could come together as a community and raise enough funds to hire an attorney to handle the counter suit for the innocent deputy the next time it happens.

Well, this sort of thing is why the county has to pay such high insurance premiums for liability insurance each year.

One of my responsibilities as Sheriff is to see that all the t’s are crossed and all the i’s are dotted each day by our employees.

This is just another important reason why we must hire the best, train them and keep them at the Sheriff’s Office. Those that will not or can not meet the high standard we have set will eventually be culled from the best.

--- Disclaimer: I want all to know that my criticism of the unethical conduct by certain lawyers in Southeast Tennessee is intended for only those who are guilty. This, certainly, does not cast a shadow on all those who are ethical and upstanding. --- Indeed, they are the "Keepers of the Law," which most of us patriots deem sacred in this "Nation of Laws."

As always, thanks for reading and commenting.