Dear County Executive and Council members,

I'm deeply concerned for public safety in Frederick County and your unwillingness to speak to the very serious federal charges regarding Sheriff Chuck Jenkins. He is supposed to be protecting us. Instead, he brought dangerous weapons into our community for profit and political favors. Regardless of whether he is convicted, he hid this from the voters. And, he has long said very publicly that he refuses to enforce certain Federal gun laws. We are now seeing the potential consequences. He must resign.

Saying that you have no jurisdiction over the Sheriff is a poor excuse for staying silent on such a grave matter of public safety. Saying "let the process play out" or "innocent until proven gift guilty" side-steps your responsibility to reassure us that you are committed to a community where all of us can live in peace. This most recent episode is the latest in a long list of harms that the sheriff has inflicted on Frederick residents, not to mention the shame he has brought to us with regional and national news coverage. His labeling of immigrants as gang members and worse, his association with hate groups and his participation with the Constitutional Sheriffs Association -- who empower Sheriffs to refuse to enforce state and federal laws, particularly re: gun regulations -- are further evidence that he is unfit for office.

I urge you to speak out on this matter to restore public trust, and to call for an investigation into what else he may be hiding. I join with others in saying this latest shameful episode points to the urgent need for a new approach to public safety, based in racial equity, accountability and community investment. Please assure our community that we can count on your leadership and dedication to those values.

Sincerely,