Pa. Sheriff Stands by 'Efficiency, Integrity' of Department

Northumberland County Sheriff Chad Reiner has been involved in a number of controversies during his past term in office, but he is nonetheless "really proud of the efficiency and integrity" of his department and believes he remains the best candidate for the job.

"Have we stumbled here and there? Yes, I'm not perfect. But, you learn from your mistakes," Reiner said.

The 34-year-old Democrat from Leck Kill, seeking his third term, says his degree in criminal justice from Penn State University sets him apart from his Republican opponent, Timothy Zerbe.

"I'm the only candidate formally educated in the field of criminal justice," he said.

Reiner said his staff -- which includes him, nine other full-time employees and one part-timer, plus Clark, the narcotics dog -- is often stretched thin with duties protecting judges, transporting prisoners and serving warrants. But Reiner said in just the last two months, the department has cleared 240 criminal and domestic warrants through a stepped-up effort.

"That's bringing a lot of money into Northumberland County, clearing up a lot of cases," he said.

Reiner, still Pennsylvania's youngest sheriff after eight years in office, has worked for the department since his college graduation in 2000. It's the only job he's had other than on the family farm.

"There's no time for on-the-job training in the sheriff's office," he said.

Reiner, meanwhile, has had to work his way through some controversies, foremost the "porn-viewing scandal" that erupted two years ago.

'Not my values'

Reiner's department came under scrutiny in December 2009 when Commissioner Vinny Clausi charged that two deputies had been viewing pornography on the Internet while at work and Reiner hadn't done anything about it. At the time, the sheriff suggested it was someone from outside his department.

Two weeks later, however, Reiner fired the two deputies, and a third one, Thomas Drust, was fired in May related to the same instance. The reason for termination was violation of the county's computer usage policy.

Asked to revisit the issue, Reiner said he was getting married and on his honeymoon, for seven or eight working days, when the alleged porn-viewing occurred.

"I take full responsibility for it because I am the sheriff; however, I did not do it," he said. "These are not the values of my office; these are not the values of me, personally."

Reiner, reminded that he had initially denied anyone on his staff would be viewing pornography and that his deputies were fired for computer usage violation, was asked why he would raise the issues of morals.

"Due to pending litigation, I've been advised through all the counsel not to talk about it until the case is disposed of," he said.

Further asked to address the issue of computer usage, he said, "I'm a county sheriff. I go out, I bang heads. I arrest people and put them in jail. I'm not a computer forensics (expert). I don't own a computer."

As for the firings, he said, "I believe I made the correct decision and it'll be sorted out through the courts."

Handling Clark

Reiner said one of his proudest accomplishments is the implementation of the sheriff's K-9 unit four years ago. After other handlers left the department, Reiner himself took the reins with Clark about three years ago. In October, the sheriff was elected president of the United Police and Corrections K-9 Association Inc.

He said Clark has aided in the removal of $265,000 in illegal narcotics from county streets in the past two years, and Reiner said he was called out with Clark out 67 times last year.

"I don't get paid or compensated" for those, Reiner said, describing such work as "above and beyond" his salaried responsibilities. Such cases might involve a traffic stop where police have suspicions of drug presence; or, police may call for Clark in advance of serving a warrant to known drug users.

"The dog will catch them; he's 31-0," Reiner said about the 5-year-old German Shepherd.

While he spoke of his work with Clark as "extra," Reiner acknowledged he's covered for such activity as the sheriff.

Clark was part of a department controversy when it was reported he had fathered puppies that were sold for profit. Reiner said it wasn't a case of Clark performing stud service. Instead, "It was Thanksgiving. A friend came over. She had her dog. They were outside and mated in the middle of a cornfield," he said.

From the puppy money, $400 was donated to the department's canine fund, but the seller may have earned as much as $1,800.

Asked about the sale of the puppies, Reiner said, "I don't know what she did." Even though she is a friend? he was asked. "I'm not denying that, but this wasn't planned."

Reiner said he had no problem with the friend profiting, however, because Clark is his dog, not the county's, and the K-9 operation is based on donations and Reiner's contributions.

He acknowledged the perception is that Clark is part of the department itself, but hopes people "are willing to look past the indiscretion of Clark having mated and understand all the valuable work he's done."

Vehicles and a key

Zerbe raised the issue of a key to the courthouse annex mistakenly being left in the sheriff's vehicle when it was taken to the prison for cleaning by inmates, a practice used with all department vehicles to save money, Reiner said. The key was later found hidden in the work-release unit at the prison.

The sheriff owned up to the mistake, but said there was no breach in security from the temporarily missing key. He wondered how the key got back into the prison, and threw an accusation back at Zerbe, who is a lieutenant at the prison.

"The inmates are supposed to be searched when they go back in -- I'm guessing. I don't know; I don't run the prison, Mr. Zerbe does," Reiner said.

On another matter, Reiner was under pressure from Clausi in 2009, the commissioner claiming too many sheriff's department vehicles were being taken home by deputies. Today, the sheriff said he drives his 2009 Ford Expedition to and from work and the on-call deputy takes a vehicle home. Otherwise, a deputy will take a vehicle only if it makes sense logistically for a duty the next morning.

"He (Clausi) had legitimate concerns; we worked together to address them," Reiner said.

Proud of staff

Beyond the expected duties of his department, Reiner said his staff members educate senior citizens on avoiding scams and work with young students through the Deputy Phil and Eddie Eagle programs in schools. Also, the department used grant money to purchase and distribute $15,000 worth of gun locks.

"I'm proud of my office. I'm proud of my staff," Reiner said. "I'd put my effectiveness and efficiency with the manpower up against anybody."

He hopes to continue that work.

"I love this job. I hope I can do it until I'm old and gray," Reiner said.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service