Sheriff debate dominates PYP forum

By T.S. Strickland

The air was taut in Seville Quarter’s Apple Annie’s Tuesday night as Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan squared off against John Powell, his opponent in the Aug. 14 republican primary. The two were the opening act at a candidates forum organized by the Pensacola Young Professionals.
Morgan’s million dollar smile was nowhere to be seen as he and Powell stood behind adjacent podiums and answered a series of prepared questions. Morgan clasped hands behind his back while Powell spoke. Both men seemed weary, and neither looked at the other.

Morgan was dressed in uniform. His responses to the moderators’ questions were delivered with military precision – succinct and tailored.

He talked about earning state accreditation for the Sheriff’s Office, about the “nationally recognized” medical facility in the Escambia County Jail, and about the “cultural change” in the department since he took office.

He judged the latter to be his most important accomplishment. Morgan instituted a blind, merit-based promotion system – a triumph over what he called the “good ol’ boy system” of past administrations.

“The opportunities and avenues for young people at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office are far reaching,” he told the crowd, “and I’m proud to tell you that they’re open.”

In contrast to Morgan, Powell wore slacks and a blazer and spoke in a Southern drawl – pulling out his responses like honey on a summer day.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Powell said, “the current state of Escambia County is in jeopardy.”

“The good ol’ boy system was in place. I submit to you that it’s still alive,” he said.

He went on to decry the increasing crime rate in Escambia County, noting that Escambia had more homicides than any other county in Florida under Morgan’s watch in 2010. He also called the county a “Mecca for sexual offenders in the Southeast.”

Powell promised the audience that, if elected, he would reduce crime by placing more officers on the street and would devote more resources to tackling sex crimes against children.

Morgan dismissed his opponent’s criticism. “I have an agency that is at the forefront,” he said. “The things that my opponent just mentioned a moment ago, we’re doing – we’ve been doing in Escambia County for the past three and a half years.”

He noted that violent crime was down in the county, though property crime had increased.Morgan also noted that homicide rates had decreased steadily since 2010 and that they had been much higher in previous decades. He called placing more officers on the street a “limited deterrent effect … not worth the investment that law enforcement agencies make.”

Powell told the audience that “the arrest of bad guys” had fallen by 5,000 people in the last three and a half years.

“That means there are more bad guys out on the street that are available to commit crime,” he said.

Morgan later corrected him, pointing out that it was the number of inmates, not arrests, that had decreased.

He said the Sheriff’s Office had worked to reduce the number of nonviolent offenders detained in order to save taxpayers money.

“It doesn’t mean that arrests are down,” Morgan said. “It means that we are managing the process appropriately.”

“We are statistically and analytically driven … We are merit based,” he said. “We do what works, not because it’s the way we have always done it in the past.”

“I have a clear vision and understanding of where we’re going,” he said, “and I’m asking you to assist me in keeping the momentum.”

The debate grew especially heated when Powell brought up the recent shooting of a Sheriff’s deputy. He questioned Morgan’s handling of the situation.

“When you have a deputy sheriff shot, that should scare everybody in this room,” he said, “because if an individual will attack a law enforcement officer, … what will he do to an unarmed citizen.”

Powell questioned why Morgan had not made a public statement about the incident.

“I’ll tell you where I was when the officer was shot,” Morgan shot back. “I was at the hospital with the officer and his family.”

“Anyone that would sensationalize an officer’s shooting is going far beyond the pale,” he added.

Powell seemed at great pains to stress his local roots during the forum. “I am a native of Escambia County,” he told the crowd. Morgan has attacked Powell on this issue – casting him as a political opportunist and a “job hopper.” Powell is living with his father, an Escambia County resident, during the campaign. His family still resides in the Powell’s Alabama home.

As the contenders attacked each other’s experience and facts, Uriah Matthews stood at the bar sipping a drink. He seemed amused by the whole exchange.
After the questions were finished, the two contenders left the stage without shaking hands.

“It’s interesting,” Matthews mused. “I like watching the back and forth … I don’t think much was gained from it. They both just debated each other’s facts. I don’t think anyone was the clear winner.”