Sheriff of Sioux County, Iowa seeking volunteers for stand-by force?

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This item just appeared on the Gold Eagle site. I was unable to find mention of it on the Greenspun board (several logical keyword searches of thread titles). Comments? Veracity of this?

http://www.gold-eagle.com/cgi-bin/gn/get/forum.html?date=1999%3A07%3A19%3A07%3A00%3A00

Vigelante formation for protection against Millennium Menace (Y2K) Jul 19, 11:24

We just received this email, which may demonstrate the state of alert buiding in worried anticipation of the Y2K Bug.

"Sioux County, Iowa Sheriff, Jim R. Schwiesow, has sent a letter to 400 concealed weapons permit holders in his county. He is seeking volunteers for a stand-by force that could be needed in the next 6-12 months. He is concerned about "reactionary social responses" to events like the Y2K and the stock market. Read it below. This is a courageous Sheriff that needs our prayers and support. May God ready him for the task ahead and may the residents of his own county step forward to support him. (And for those who are interested please contact me for a list of real estateagents located in Sioux County, IOWA."

Here are a few excerpts from the sheriff's letter:

"These are troubling times. I personally believe that the potential exists for some very trying, perhaps even catastrophic events to come to pass during the next few years. And I strongly suspect that we may enter into this era of turbulence within the next 6 to 12 months."

"Any number of events could precipitate a series of reactionary social responses, which would almost certainly lead to times of deep unrest, hardships, and lawlessness of a magnitude unprecedented in our memory. I think the Y2K situation is far from being resolved. A stock market crash or other economic crisis could lead to a social breakdown with great and grave consequences. One would have to be totally deceived or deluded not to perceive the depravity and lawlessness present in our nation today."

"I don't know if major disruptions or catastrophes will actually occur, but if they do we will almost certainly experience the collapse of many state and federal agencies, or an inability of those who staff these agencies to respond appropriately to the crisis. Most of the state and federal law-enforcement agencies are ill-equipped by training or experience to deal with local enforcement exigencies."

"The Sioux County Sheriff's Office has a force of fifteen sworn peace officers to uphold the law and provide for the safety of 32,000 residents, roughly one officer for every 2,133 residents. No matter how well-equipped, trained, or dedicated these officers are it is plainly evident that we are simply too few to cope with a complete breakdown ofsocial order. And this is where you come into the picture.

I propose to put together a stand-by force comprised of concealed weapons permit holders. This would be strictly a volunteer pool of trustworthy people that I could summon in dire times. I further propose to issue to those who accept this invitation to volunteer for this list an identification card denoting the holders status as a stand by subject to call and deputization should an actual crisis occur. I urge you to give serious consideration to this call for volunteers. I have provided, with this letter, a short form of acceptance of this invitation. If you would be willing, during times of grave emergency, to work with the active members of the sheriff's office, please complete this form and return it to this office in care of my attention. This call for volunteers is restricted to the holders of valid Sioux County concealed weapons permits."

"P.S. A reminder that we all need to take the proper measures to protect and sustain our families and neighbors should a complete breakdown of social order come to pass."

I have NO way of knowing the veracity of this letter - as I received it email from someone unknown to me. So take it for what it is worth. However, IF true, it is indeed disturbing.



-- Alan (foo@bar.com), July 19, 1999

Answers

Last winter this sheriff sent out a letter to people in the community asking them to make preparations for Y2k. I felt it was a really gutsy thing for him to do since other sheriff's departments were making fun of him for it. He honestly believes that Y2k has the potential for serious problems and he feels it is his duty to protect people in his area by warning them of the potential problems and what they can do about it. I wouldn't be worried about this new letter if you take it in the context of his previous letter. I think he really just wants to be prepared to protect his community as best he can.

PS This is the same community that is nationally recognized for preparedness after they were able to handle the crash of United's flight 232 ten years ago today.

-- Beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), July 19, 1999.


I got the letter e-mailed to me last Friday. It is true. Don't get worked up into a lather though. This is just a Sheriff who has done his homework, decided to error on the side of safety, and is more concerned about the citizens under his care than about his ego. I admire such a person. If a bump in the road, so be it. If a major problem, don't mess with his county.

-- Daryl (rushmore@dailypost.com), July 19, 1999.

If this is accurate, I say: more power to him. I wish we had someone like that in Seattle/King County. What an eminently practical, forward thinking law enforcement professional. Around here, they react to any political breeze that wafts through, and spend most of their time either schmoozing with various special interest groups or apologizing to same because some hapless officer had the temerity to actually arrest someone. P.S., I have a 7-11 store less than two blocks away. :)

-- Greg Lawrence (greg@speakeasy.org), July 19, 1999.

Everyone, he is referring to Paul Milne's memorable observation that "If you live within 5 miles of a 7-11, you're toast".

www.y2ksafeminnesota.com

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), July 19, 1999.


Wow,

A population of 32,000 folks and 400 concealed weapon permits? Sacramento County has what, one million (?) sheeple and something like 20 CCW's (not because of lack of desire - sheriff doesn't believe ordinary folks should carry)? Power to the people.

-- Kristi (securx@succeed.net), July 19, 1999.



Hats off to the sheriff....this is the only public official that has stepped forward with a PLAN! He recognizes the possibility of a true disaster and does something tangible about it . It takes a real man to protect the citizens in this manner..at the risk of being told "I told you so" if indeed we some how sidestep this event.

-- citizen (lost@sea.com), July 20, 1999.

Daryl: "I got the letter e-mailed to me last Friday. It is true."

Would you please post it here in its entirety, and with return address? THANKS!

-- alan (foo@bar.com), July 20, 1999.


SIOUX COUNTY SHERIFF Jim R. Schwiesow Public Safety Building 119 Central Avenue S.E. Orange City, Iowa 51041 Phone (712) 737-2280

Dear Concealed Weapons Permit Holder:

These are troubling times. I personally believe that the potential exists for some very trying, perhaps even catastrophic events to come to pass during the next few years. And I strongly suspect that we may enter into this era of turbulence within the next 6 to 12 months.

Any number of events could precipitate a series of reactionary social responses, which would almost certainly lead to times of deep unrest, hardships, and lawlessness of a magnitude unprecedented in our memory. I think the Y2K situation is far from being resolved. A stock market crash or other economic crisis could lead to a social breakdown with great and grave consequences. One would have to be totally deceived or deluded not to perceive the depravity and lawlessness present in our nation today.

Recently I attended a law enforcement conference, which dealt with murder and serial killers. A number of detectives and investigators from major metropolitan areas detailed cases of such an horrendous nature that the ordinary mind boggles at the evil and malevolence of the acts committed. One of the instructors said, "If you knew how many of these psychopaths are among us you would be scared to death."

I'm sure by now you are wondering why I am telling you all of this. The fact is the sheriff's office may need your help in a time of crisis. If that time should come we must be able to rely upon people who are solid, decent of character, and law-abiding. As a holder of a permit to carry concealed weapons you have been certified, by virtue of a background investigation, as morally and psychologically fit to accept the responsibilities which accrue to the possession of these permits. If I would have had no faith in your stability, integrity, and character, I would not have given this permit to you. There are roughly 400 concealed weapons permit holders in Sioux County. And it occurred to me that our permit holders comprise a great reserve of trustworthy individuals.

I don't know if major disruptions or catastrophes will actually occur, but if they do we will almost certainly experience the collapse of many state and federal agencies, or an inability of those who staff these agencies to respond appropriately to the crisis. Most of the state and federal law-enforcement agencies are ill-equipped by training or experience to deal with local enforcement exigencies. Ironically, as you know, the major portion of your tax dollars are siphoned off to the state and federal branches of government, thereby depriving local government of the means to provide some really necessary services.

The Sioux County Sheriff's Office has a force of fifteen sworn peace officers to uphold the law and provide for the safety of 32,000 residents, roughly one officer for every 2,133 residents. No matter how well-equipped, trained, or dedicated these officers are it is plainly evident that we are simply too few to cope with a complete breakdown of social order. And this is where you come into the picture.

I propose to put together a stand-by force comprised of concealed weapons permit holders. This would be strictly a volunteer pool of trustworthy people that I could summon in dire times. I further propose to issue to those who accept this invitation to volunteer for this list an identification card denoting the holders status as a stand by subject to call and deputization should an actual crisis occur. I urge you to give serious consideration to this call for volunteers. I have provided, with this letter, a short form of acceptance of this invitation. If you would be willing, during times of grave emergency, to work with the active members of the sheriff's office, please complete this form and return it to this office in care of my attention. This call for volunteers is restricted to the holders of valid Sioux County concealed weapons permits.

I would like to close with a personal observation and opinion. Our nation was founded by mostly Christian men and any authority the federal government was allowed to possess was to derive solely from the purposely narrowly drawn tenants of the Constitution. Sadly and tragically this nation has renounced the Christian principles upon which it was founded. As a nation we have mocked the Sovereign God who blessed us, and we have denied Jesus Christ who saved us from eternal destruction. Be not deceived good friends, God will not be mocked. Whatever we sow we will reap. If God withholds His presence from this nation and leaves us to our own devices, we are indeed in deep trouble. And I do believe that time is at hand. Believe in Jesus and look to Him alone for leadership and guidance, and He will be with you even unto the end of the world.

Sincerely yours,

Jim R. Schwiesow Sheriff

P.S. A reminder that we all need to take the proper measures to protect and sustain our families and neighbors should a complete breakdown of social order come to pass.



-- Daryl (rushmore@dailypost.com), July 20, 1999.


Thanks, Daryl

-- alan (foo@bar.com), July 20, 1999.

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