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Was Keith Nygren working on November 8, 7, 6, 5, 2, 1?

"Sheriff Keith Nygren announced ... (blah-blah-blah)" is how the media releases issued on those days read on the sheriff's website. They are unsigned, so who really knows who approved them? Obviously, he didn't write them. That's why the sheriff's department has a media relations deputy, which could really be a $35,000/year civilian job, freeing up a deputy for patrol duty.

Nygren should sign all media releases issued over his name or designate a subordinate to issue them. If they are issued in his name but on a subordinate's order, then that subordinate should sign Nygren's name and clearly initial doing so. Or issue the media release in his own name and sign it. Otherwise, no one is accountable for it. That's the case right now.

Where is Sheriff Nygren these days? Is he in town? Working? Strolling in about 10:30AM, leaving for lunch and not returning to the office? Doing anything to earn his $145,000/year salary and $75,000 take-home vehicle? And benefits.

Will he take his vehicle out-of-state for Thanksgiving this year? To Minocqua for the Christmas holiday again this year? That's only 300 miles outside McHenry County. Each way.

When he drives the County-owned, police-equipped, taxpayer-supported vehicle on pleasure purposes, will he obey all traffic laws? And will he pay for the fuel burned for the 600-1,200 miles on vacation?

I remember the day I sat across from him in his office and he told me that he "had to drive 20MPH over the limit in Wisconsin, just to keep up with traffic." I shouldn't have been so polite. Instead of just remembering the statement, I should have said, "What the hell? You're the top cop in the county. You ought to be obeying speed limits, not breaking them."

He proved last January that he was telling the truth (or almost). He was ticketed outside Minocqua for 70MPH in a 55MPH zone on January 5. I wonder if he "badged" the trooper and tried to talk his way out of the ticket.

Remember the story about the Wisconsin police chief a couple of years ago who realized he'd blown past a stopped school bus? He wrote himself a ticket and paid the fine. Now, that's integrity! Next summer I'm going for a motorcycle ride to meet that guy.