[Stone Mountain]

Another way to look at it: cops can't, and don't, protect anyone--they wait until you're murdered, and try to figure out who did it.

True, but his intent is clear. See my post 8.

So when he says it about this scumball, he's really just grandstanding.

Well, I don't think sheriffs ought to be grandstanding either. But c'mon, are you really saying that when a sheriff says something like that, it's not a threat?

[Shalom Israel]

But c'mon, are you really saying that when a sheriff says something like that, it's not a threat?

I do say it's not a threat: the sheriff has no intention of harming the guy, and if someone kills him, the sheriff will investigate. He's merely venting his own and the community's outrage, in a statement which is harmless because it's self-evidently true--if someone wants to rub the guy out, a town full of cops won't make any difference.

I would agree that the sheriff intended to sound macho. I don't know if his job is elected--some sheriffs are--but his remarks probably resonated with the locals. Nevertheless, the guy has nothing whatever to fear from that sheriff.

He could, and maybe should, get in trouble for saying things that suggest he might be less than diligent investigating the guy's death, but that's not the same thing as an actual threat.

[subterfuge]

"c'mon, are you really saying that when a sheriff says something like that, it's not a threat?"

What I believe the Sheriff is saying is that he doesn't have enough manpower to protect the murderer.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Well, I don't think sheriffs ought to be grandstanding either. But c'mon, are you really saying that when a sheriff says something like that, it's not a threat?

Come on. This is Arkansas, Clinton country. What do you expect, civilization?