"So I do, madonna; but to read his right wits is to read thus: therefore perpend, my princess, and give ear."

Tuesday past, MOI received a visit from Sheriff Steve Durfor.  It would seem that we all were wrong in thinking that the great man had ignored us.  Steve was out of town and was 'gobsmacked' to read blog and see how horrid we all had been to.

My dears, you know it is of import when the elected Sherrif for Yuba County makes time in schedule to come out and meet with you.  So great is the demand made on the sheriff's schedule, after all his is a heavy burden, what with taking into hand the problems of both the living and the dead of Yuba County.  "Book 'em and Bag 'em" springs to mind, but I am a very wicked chap and should not think out loud...

Sheriff Durfor did a walkabout with this old geezer and was most keen to learn what troubles the Linda Villa faced.  Sheriff Durfor is not the sort to blow smoke up your arse, so his questions and answers were very personal and showed his deep concern that the community was not feeling served by his coppers.

I got the feeling that Sheriff Durfor is willing to 'think' out of the box, be creative and see if the a different slant on things can be just as legal as the 'set way of the past'.  All but told MOI that being a copper has made one realize that fixing the 'small problems' keeps the problems from becoming massive.   Steve is passionate in belief that preventing crime is as important as solving crime.

In the bright light of day, it was 11 in morn, Steve Durfor is hard to miss, his uniform is without a wrinkle, shoes highly polished and all is set off by the 4 stars that shine on collar.  You have to look closer to see what really counts in sizing up the man.  On his chest is nameplate, quite old, and some of the lettering is missing.  It goes back in time when he was not so great a personage.  Same nameplate, different title, a man who has been on a misson for years to do good in the community.

In a open manner, Sheriff Durfor allowed this old geezer to vent his anger about crime and less than perfect support of some coppers under his command.  Not all coppers are equal, but Sheriff Durfor never allowed self to sell his coppers short, they are all a 'work in progress' and he has every belief that one and all will come round to being more perfect.  If nothing else, Sheriff Durfor is keenly aware of the 'image problem' faced by not just his coppers but most in general.

I do not have a special pass with the coppers and Sheriff Durfor is not showing favour.  Each and every person has the right to contact the elected sheriff and ask questions.  One and all can ring up the coppers and have them come out to deal with concerns.  Not every visit will turn out in favour of, that is the way of it, but each call makes the coppers more aware of what is going on on road and in community.

In the end, it is the bond between coppers and community that makes change happen.  Brassed off I have been in the pass at being blown off by some coppers, and have to remind self that education on both our parts is on-going.  Truth be told, MOI can be a right arse when he gets on high horse.

With but a few days to go before block party, I am very put upon and will have to wait until the big day to have another chat with Sheriff Durfor.  With many of the community out, I will have to queue up and wait turn.  Like the thought of so many in community chatting with the coppers.  One queue worth standing in should think...