.jpg)
Posted on 09/02/2009 8:43:35 AM PDT by Born Conservative
WILKES-BARRE - Luzerne Sheriff Michael A. Savokinas abruptly resigned Tuesday afternoon, ending a 20-month stint in office that often was plagued by controversy and clashes with other county officials.
"At this time, my presence seems to be a distraction for my already over-worked staff," Savokinas wrote in a three-page resignation letter to Gov. Ed Rendell.
Savokinas, 36, complained about a "witch hunt" and smear campaign "orchestrated by county officials" to drag his "reputation through the mud," and claimed drugs found in his vehicle "were planted as a possible political vendetta." Savokinas added he "can no longer do justice to my job without the cooperation of the current county commissioner leadership."
Read Savokinas' resignation letter
The Exeter Township resident said he informed Rendell on Tuesday morning that he was resigning. He wrote his resignation took effect with "a heavy heart and deep regret" at 4 p.m. Tuesday "after many weeks of soul searching."
Rendell can nominate an interim sheriff. Savokinas, a Democrat, unseated Republican Barry Stankus as sheriff in the November 2007 election and began a four-year term in January 2008.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Charles J. Guarnieri Jr. is expected to become acting sheriff. The next election for Luzerne County sheriff will be in 2011.
Just a week ago, Savokinas appeared at a government study meeting and blasted "the powers that be" for cutting his budget, denying a request for a forensic audit of his office and ignoring his proposal take over and improve courthouse security.
"I find it unbelievable Sheriff Savokinas continues to misrepresent that facts and cry persecution," Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said Aug. 27. "I think he is delusional."
On Tuesday, Petrilla said her disagreements with Savokinas were largely over budget cuts forced by the county's financial problems. Savokinas said the cuts threatened public safety and his department's ability to perform its duties.
"We had to make those cuts." Petrilla said. "He saw them one way and we saw them another."
Petrilla said Savokinas did not inform the commissioners of his intention to resign.
"He hasn't discussed it or the reasons for it with anyone here. I know it must have been a difficult decision for him. I wish him the best," she said.
Commissioner Stephen A. Urban on Tuesday said Savokinas gave no indication of his impending resignation when they spoke briefly Monday outside the sheriff's office building, while Savokinas and Guarnieri were smoking cigarettes.
"I jokingly said to him, 'stop picking on Maryanne.' He laughed. That was it," Urban recalled.
In response to the claim that county commissioners did not cooperate with the sheriff, Urban noted that Savokinas failed to submit a 2010 budget request by Monday's deadline.
"I think the question from the public is going to be, 'What's the real reason why he resigned?' I think his citing a lack of cooperation from the commissioners is a cop-out," Urban said.
In his resignation letter, Savokinas complained about commissioners and their administration questioning his ability to assist other law enforcement agencies. He said it resulted in "another 'witch hunt'" that caused the county's insurance carrier to tell him he "placed the county at risk due to inadequate coverage."
Savokinas said he researched the insurance policy and "concluded the insurance carrier was incorrect. My belief was validated when my office was requested to assist police with security at the Pittston Tomato Festival."
In July, Savokinas said he was convinced political enemies "planted" drugs in a department vehicle for the third time this year in an attempt to destroy his reputation. Two deputies discovered a bag of suspected marijuana during an inspection of a department cruiser before using the vehicle for prisoner transportation.
An alleged incident from January involved packets of heroin and hypodermic needles found in a prisoner transport vehicle, and a small packet of cocaine was allegedly found in April on the floor of the front driver's side of the sheriff's unmarked vehicle.
In June, District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll said the county commissioners' administration asked her to investigate a report about drugs found in a sheriff's vehicle, and she asked the FBI to investigate because her office works closely with the sheriff's department.
"As the story circulated, I was forced to explain to my 11-year-old son that I do not use drugs," Savokinas wrote in his resignation letter. "… To ease public concerns, I publicly challenged anyone in the local news media to pick a date and time for me to be drug tested. I am still waiting for them to contact me over this challenge."
Savokinas noted former Avoca police Chief Edward Lukowich pleaded no contest last year to criminal charges that Lukowich tried to drum up claims Savokinas sold drugs from his family's restaurant, Savo's, in Pittston.
Savokinas and Guarnieri could not be reached for further comment Tuesday.
Whether he is guilty or has been set up, someone somewhere is corrupt in this matter.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.