Local (police) officers and officials federally deputized

[mountaineer]

This is from the upper Ohio Valley (Steubenville, Ohio - Wheeling, W.Va.) area. Does anyone see a potential downside to local law enforcement and local prosecuting attorneys becoming federal agents?

Updated: Tuesday, October 29 2013, 12:18 AM EDT
WTOV9

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio— During a special ceremony Monday afternoon, five local law enforcement officers and officials were federally deputized.

Richard Flanagan, Christopher Vinci, Thomas Ellis, Jason Hanlin and Timothy Starkey were all sworn in as members of the Mountain State Fugitive Task Force. Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Hanlin was also sworn in as a special assistant United States attorney for Southern Ohio.

"It's a dual threat prosecution-wise, there are times when a state prosecutor can be more effective, there are times when a federal prosecution can be more effective and what this allows is for me to prosecute offenders in either Ohio or in the federal courts depending on where we make the decision where the crime would best be prosecuted," said Hanlin.  “So, it's a wonderful asset for law enforcement, it's a wonderful tool that, quite honestly, we've never had here before so I'm thrilled."

Alex Neville, chief deputy U.S. Marshal Northern West Virginia said, "These fellows are what we're looking for. They have tenacity, they are professionals, and they are very adept already at fugitive investigations.  So, that's basically the reason that we chose them."

Officials said this is an unprecedented event that will enable law enforcement and officials in the Ohio Valley to better work together to crack down on crime.

[rangerrebew]

Doesn't it also mean they now take orders from the feds, probably DHS?  Remember the 1.7 billion rounds of ammo they bought?  Remember the armored vehicles they bought?  Legally, there can't be a national police force but now they will have one.  Now local police will be able to go across county and state borders to help put down, er, help control Americans, er terrorists.  Police state, police state!!

[GourmetDan]

Doesn't it also mean they now take orders from the feds, probably DHS?

Yeah, that's exactly what it means.

Coming soon to a county near you...

[xfreeper]

"It's a dual threat prosecution-wise, there are times when a state prosecutor can be more effective, there are times when a federal prosecution can be more effective and what this allows is for me to prosecute offenders in either Ohio or in the federal courts depending on where we make the decision where the crime would best be prosecuted," said Hanlin.  “So, it's a wonderful asset for law enforcement, it's a wonderful tool that, quite honestly, we've never had here before so I'm thrilled."

My first thought was no man can have two masters but then I realized, in the end they only have one master.

[GourmetDan]

“So, it's a wonderful asset for law enforcement, it's a wonderful tool that, quite honestly, we've never had here before so I'm thrilled."

Anytime psycho prosecutors are 'thrilled', you know that ordinary citizens are going to get screwed...

[olde north church]

Just remember the Third Reich.  The Army was a problem, questions of loyalty.  The police had no such difficulty.

[happyg]

Just remember the Third Reich.  The Army was a problem, questions of loyalty.  The police had no such difficulty.

The gestapo comes to mind...

[rangerrebew]

Anytime psycho prosecutors are 'thrilled', you know that ordinary citizens are going to get screwed...

The big question: will it send a thrill down the leg of Chris Matthews? :odrama:  If it does, we know the intent of the law is not honorable.

[mountaineer]

More from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Steubenville prosecutor given new powers to combat crime
November 1, 2013 11:19 PM
By Torsten Ove / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


The top state prosecutor in Steubenville, Ohio, has received new federal powers to combat crime in a community that has seen an influx of drugs, guns and gangs.

Jefferson County prosecutor Jane Hanlin was sworn in earlier this week as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the southern district of Ohio, based in Columbus.

State prosecutors are rarely given such authority, but the unusual move gives Ms. Hanlin the ability to prosecute crime at either the state or federal level, bringing to bear the heft of the federal government where necessary while still handling the usual state caseload.

She said the appointment, the first of its kind in Jefferson County, will make for more cooperation between state and federal law enforcement and the U.S. attorney's office in Columbus.

"This allows us to work together more closely with them," she said Wednesday. "It's always better to have as many resources as you can."

Federal prosecutors had approached her late last year about the appointment. She welcomed it because she said Steubenville and the surrounding area has a growing problem with drug dealing, much of it originating outside the region, and associated violence.

Federal prosecutors are often in a better position to be effective in gun-, drug- and gang-related cases because they have the power to marshal more resources than their state counterparts. In addition, the penalties in the federal system are much harsher and the conviction rate approaches 98 percent.

Felons in possession of guns, for example, can receive five years in federal prison, often in an institution far from home. Under Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Justice Department has made it a priority to pursue gun cases in an attempt to reduce violence, much of it fueled by the drug trade.

Similar efforts have targeted child pornography, organized drug rings and computer crime.

Rather than rely on an assistant U.S. attorney hours away in Columbus, Ms. Hanlin will now be able to decide which local cases should go federal.

Ms. Hanlin, who has worked in the county prosecutor's office since 2005, said she doesn't yet have any federal cases, but she would travel to Columbus to prosecute any that arise.

During the swearing-in ceremony Monday, Carter Stewart, U.S. attorney for southern Ohio, said the appointment is "an unprecedented event that shows the cooperation we are bringing to the Ohio Valley."

During the same ceremony, five local law officers also were deputized as members of the Mountain State Fugitive Task Force in an effort to amplify its ability to catch criminals.

Two Steubenville police officers and three sheriff's deputies from Jefferson and Belmont counties will now have authority to pursue fugitives across state lines.

Authorities said the move was necessary because many criminals move into and out of the Steubenville area from nearby West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

William Ihlenfeld, the U.S. attorney for northern West Virginia, also attended the ceremony and said he welcomed the coordinated effort to pursue crime in the Ohio Valley.

"There are problems that have spilled over into West Virginia from Ohio and problems from West Virginia have spilled over into Ohio," he said.

Still not buying it.