Captain Jim Wilmeth: A new breed of Constitutional Law Enforcers(NM)

(Sept. 22, 2010) — Although I and many others wish that it had always been so, if Captain Jim Wilmeth is any indication of the current state of local law enforcement, We-the-People are in good hands. During a recent conversation with Captain Wilmeth, he expressed to me what he called a growing nationwide movement within many Sheriffs’ departments, a movement away from viewing citizens as merely ‘potential lawbreakers’ and back toward the original intent of peacekeeping as indicated in the US Constitution. He also identifies the problem posed by federal law enforcement agencies as their largely unconstitutional incursion into local law enforcement continues. Below is my interview with Jim. The Interview

Sher: Thanks so much for speaking with us today, Jim. You are running for Sheriff of Lea County, NM. But, I must say that it was word of your beliefs about the US Constitution that caused me to want to interview you. After talking with you, I found it refreshing and heartening to hear that you are a true Constitutionalist–something that appears to be increasingly rare with many in law enforcement today. Would you give the readers a little bit of your professional background?

Jim: Sure. I have served as a Peace Officer for the last 25 years. I started my law enforcement career as a 17-year-old, when I joined the US Air Force to be a Security Policeman. Since then, I have served as a city police officer, a Special Agent for the US Army Criminal Investigation Command, and as a jailer and deputy in two Sheriff Departments. I am presently a Captain in the Lea County Sheriff Department, having served as a Deputy, Investigator, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. I command the Internal Affairs Division as well as being recently assigned over operations, which includes patrol and investigations.

Let’s not forget the role Hollywood and the TV networks have played in propagandizing and dumbing-down the American people over the years with fictional shows lauding the FBI and the feds as the highest authority at the expense of the local law enforcement presence. Let’s face it—most of us have received our education regarding the workings of law enforcement through these programs. The roles of prosecutors, district attorneys, detectives, and street cops have all been distorted by the left in these programs to encourage “criminal’s rights”, a distorted view of the judicial process with judges and juries shown as sympathetic to criminals and minorities and illegals as well. The scripts always portray the feds as having ultimate authority over any local criminal issue including illegal alien entry and a broken border at the expense of the local law enforcement presence which is almost always portrayed as intellectually lightweight and devoid of any real authority. Reading this interview made me wonder how the average guy on the street who is not nearly as engaged in the political process as are readers and contributors to FR, will ever be able to grasp the concepts Captain Wilmeth enumerates. Much less the law enforcement community itself. The last time I had a Sheriff’s Deputy out to the house because of a graffiti attack in the subdivision, he refused to shake hands with me. I think he was afraid it was a trick to disarm him. We are on a very slippery slope regarding how law enforcement views the populace.

The idea that the County Sheriff is the ultimate law enforcement authority is one that gets put forward often here. Can you point me to any legal scholarship that backs that up?

you know what? I can't. I seem to recall learning that in civics class in grade school, and while I was working on a merit badge for Boy Scouts.

Mark

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