Deputy says he believes disciplinary action was politically motivated
A Buchanan County Republican candidate for sheriff has decided to speak out about disciplinary action taken against him related to a vehicle pursuit.
Brian Carter, a road patrol supervisor at the time of the incident, pursued a man suspected of domestic violence on March 19. Mr. Carter’s police vehicle and a civilian vehicle were damaged in the chase.
The News-Press previously reported that disciplinary action had been recommended by a review board against Mr. Carter following an internal investigation. At that time, both Mr. Carter and Sheriff Mike Strong declined to elaborate on the circumstances due to personnel issues. The News-Press formally requested documents related to the pursuit but was denied access.
Mr. Carter has since chosen to comment on various aspects of the issue.
“There have been several occurrences involving personnel changes within the department that would certainly lead one to believe that this has the potential of being politically motivated,” Mr. Carter said.
Three months after the incident, Mr. Carter was transferred from the patrol division to the corrections department.
Mr. Carter questions the time and validity of the disciplinary actions. The primary election is Aug. 5. Mr. Strong is running for re-election as a Democrat against Ron Fisher, a deputy within the department. Mr. Carter is running as a Republican against Galen Higdon, who is also a deputy.
Rick Dierenfeldt, also involved in the pursuit, was recently transferred from corporal of the patrol division to deputy in the court marshal’s department — a move he was told was because of “a recent inability to perform the duties of the patrol division and for the good of the
department.”
“I wasn’t necessarily surprised at the course of events that took place,” Mr. Dierenfeldt said. “However, I will continue to serve in my current position to the best of my ability and with a positive attitude.”
Mr. Carter filed an appeal in response to the disciplinary action, which did not go in his favor.
“The attorney advised through research on the issue that he discovered Buchanan County is one of the only counties in the state of Missouri that does not have an appeals process, which gives any elected Buchanan County official, including the sheriff, absolute power and authority in personnel matters — with or without cause,” Mr. Carter said.
Mr. Strong denied any further comment on the matter, citing personnel issues. He does, however, expect sentencing for Joshua P. Vantiger, 24, of St. Joseph, who was charged in the pursuit, by the first part of August.
Megan Tilk can be reached
at megantilk@npgco.com.
This story has 26 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
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Has the N-P since received access to the documents which were previously denied? that doesn't pass the smell test, to me. it seems that the voters would want to know the issues on this matter before we choose our next sheriff.
Posted by stjoeproud on July 21, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)It makes sense that Brian Carter was disciplined - if he can't follow rules as a patrol officer, he should not be in that position. Hopefully he can behave himself as a jail guard.
Brian is being very childish - he's angry because he got in trouble. Grow up, Brian. You did something wrong, and you were punished. Get over it!
Posted by boombaladee on July 21, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)no, this sheriff has a long history of punishing people that get in his way, its not just about brian. this is strong's M.O.
try arresting a friend of his and see what happens..
Posted by joetowner on July 21, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)yeah boom, because Fisher (Strong's actual opponent at this point) and Higdon have also been demoted since filing for the position :|
Does Carter feel that keeping this alive is doing him good? I don't see how, and it's not like this is anything new than what had previously been reproted. How about a real story, like finding out why he was punished so then we can decide for ourseelves whether it was justified or not.
It's going to really disappoint me, if this story developes FOLLOWING the Aug 5 Primary election.
Posted by stjoeaccount on July 21, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)Oh dear lord, you have go to be kidding me? I wonder if Brian called the news press on this to get a story going since election primaries are so close? I am sure that he did NOTHING wrong to deserve the punishment that he got.. and the funny thing is.. he didn't even let the public know what his punishment was.
Posted by joetowner on July 21, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)I think it should also be noted that Deputy Rick Dierenfeldt is Brian Carter's campaign manager. Coincidence?
Posted by joetowner on July 21, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)So when do the records become public information? Following the sentencing and trial of the guy they were pursuing?
Posted by missouri_mule on July 21, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)OK HERE WE GO.... THE SUSPECT HAD RAMMED INTO MR. CARTER'S DURANGO, IN A THREATNING MANNER, WHICH IS CONSIDERED ASSULT ON A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. MR CARTER THEN DID THE P.I.T. MOVE WHICH IS TAUGHT, AND PRACTICED EXTENSIVLY IN THE ACADEMY, RENDERING THE SUSPECTS VEHICLE IN CAPABLE OF FURTHER FLIGHT.
THE ONLY ISSUE HERE IS THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPT DOES NOT HAVE A P.I.T. MOVE POLICY..... THATS IT, NO OTHER DIRT HERE. HE FELT THREATENED ENOUGH TO USE THE P.I.T. MOVE.. NORMAL SANE PEOPLE DON'T RAM THE COPS CARS! HAD HE FELT HIS LIFE WAS THREATNED, HE COULD HAVE USED DEADLY FORCE, AND WE WOULD HAVE READ LESS ABOUT IT THAN THIS ISSUE!
THE PURSUIT WAS NEVER TERMINATED BY THE SHERIFF, WHICH HAS THE AUTHORITY TO TELL HIS OFFICERS TO TERMINATE THE PURSUIT..... WHERE WAS THE SHERIFF???
SOUNDS LIKE THE CURRENT SHERIFF IS ACTING CHILDISH, NOT MR. CARTER. IF THIS IS THE ONLY THING HE HAS TO USE AGAINST MR. CARTER, HE NEEDS TO GROW UP!!
Posted by joetowner on July 21, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)Mr. Carter brought this information out again mule, not Sheriff Strong. That's pretty evident from the article. Besides, whats a missorui mule doing supporting a Republican candidate anyways?
Posted by Joe_Wright on July 21, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)Caps lock aggression!
Posted by boombaladee on July 21, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)not everyone's aware of the caps lock = yelling thing, i'm sure they didn't mean to holler, just wanted to get the story out.
let me ask you this...if the pursuit story is true, and you were punished WAY after the fact and you were coincidentally running against your boss, wouldn't you cry foul too? i know i would. If more people had the guts to stand up to this bully sheriff and his pal scroggins, they'd have a better sheriffs department.
Posted by missouri_mule on July 21, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)boombaladee you are so right! Thats my point exactly
Posted by stjoeproud on July 21, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)No, if I did something that was against department policy, I would accept my punishment and move on. Investigations can take some time, and being punished three months after the incident is not unrealistic. Seriously, Carter needs to get over it. You're right, "stjoeaccount," he's just bringing this up because the election is so close and he will do ANYTHING to help himself win...but trust me, nothing he does will be enough.
If Carter were not running for sheriff, he probably would have been fired. I'll be glad when this election is over, when Carter has lost, quit the department, and moved on to another town.
Posted by boombaladee on July 21, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)which is only fair, because strong is doing everything he can to win and leaving hard working deputies in his wake. sad that he steps on so many people to get ahead.
Posted by joetowner on July 21, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)I didnt think the discipline happenned that far after the fact. it happenned after the Highway patrol turned the video surveillance over to Strong for review. It wasn't until Brian Carter then decided to file that it became "politically motivated"
Posted by joetowner on July 21, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)I get tired of the fact that people act like this election is Brian Carter vs Mike Strong. Doesn't anyone realize they both need to get through their primaries before they would even face each other?
Brian Carter has a long ways to go before even making it out of the primary. From the financial disclosures that came out last week, Brian came in last place of the 4 candidates. It would appear to me, Brian Carter has the least amount of yard signs of any of the 4 candidates. If you talk to people that have worked with or around Brian Carter, you would understand there is a lot left to be desired.
I kind of get the impression that Mike Strong would love to run against Brian Carter in the general election. It appears to me, someone is just saving some of his ammo, in case Brian Carter is his opponent in the general election.
Posted by boombaladee on July 21, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)i admit, i don't know the man, but i do know the Sheriff, and do not believe he is an honest person and i don't think he had the county's best interests at heart...
Posted by Joe_Wright on July 21, 2008 at 3:15 p.m.This comment was removed by the site staff.
Posted by comment on July 21, 2008 at 3:41 p.m.This comment was removed by the site staff.
Posted by MichaelH on July 21, 2008 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)I can say firsthand that the issue here is consistency.
Under the current administration, the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department doesn't possess it.
Posted by stjoeproud on July 22, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)If you think Strong isn't honest, you'll really be in for it if you vote for Carter. I know Brian Carter, and wouldn't trust him as far as I can throw him (and if you've seen the guy, God knows most of us couldn't even pick him up). He is all about himself and doesn't care who he walks over in the process. He doesn't even know what honesty is.
I think we need to be discussing the other candidates, because they seem to be the only honest and respectable choice for sheriff.
Posted by truthfighter on July 22, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)Honesty. Hmm. Brian, ponder this one...
Since we are discussing honesty, how about Brian explains why his experience in Albany, MO is not listed on his resume? What happened there?
You didn't get in trouble there also, did you?
So, who was picking on you there?
I'm sure it wasn't your fault. It's never your fault.
Posted by azmaggie on July 23, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)Let me get this straight; He employed the p.i.t. maneuver which was not authorized, he went before a review board, disciplinary action was recommended and imposed. Please tell me how this is political??? He need to man-up and admit he was in the wrong!! What if he had killed himself or someone else?? I am sure he would make a wonderful department head(lol).
Posted by stjoeproud on July 23, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)I couldn't have said it better, azmaggie! There is nothing political here - Brian is just angry because he got in trouble. He's used to getting his way, and when he doesn't, he throws a fit like a child.
I think anyone EXCEPT Brian Carter would get my vote at this point!
Posted by deb2007 on July 23, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)so the subject that was arrested during this illegal chase or whatever took place, is now changing his plea to not guilty, and why not, with all the fighting in the press and i am sure inter-dept, so guess that is the product of politics.
Posted by joetowner on August 6, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)so will the truth begin to surface now that the election is over?
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