Mayor critical of sheriff’s decision to withdraw deputies from Flex Team

 

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Friday, April 15, 2016, 10 p.m. — Nelson County Sheriff Ed Mattingly informed members of the law enforcement community and Nelson Fiscal Court
Friday that the sheriff’s office will end its participation in the Flex special response team.

The Flex Team is made of members of the Bardstown Police Department and the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Mattingly’s decision will end the participation of three deputies who work with the team.

In an email Friday morning, Sheriff Mattingly said he had informed Flex Team commander McKenzie Mattingly of his decision. The sheriff went on to say, “I foresee the mayor making an issue with the joint team, and that I do not want to be involved in the drama.”

Bardstown Mayor John Royalty told the Gazette Friday it was never his intent to split up the Flex Team or force the sheriff to withdraw his members. Royalty said the sheriff’s office had been asked to purchase rifles and ammunition for the deputies who participate in the team to address safety and liability concerns.

Up until now, the Flex Team members have used their personal rifles whenever the team is deployed. At its March 10 meeting, the city council’s safety committee reviewed the matter, and team commander McKenzie Mattingly said the Kentucky League of Cities believes the use of officers’ personal weapons could be a liability issue.

If the city moved forward to equip its Flex team members, then the sheriff’s office would also be required to similarly equip its members.

Given that the City of Bardstown has footed the bill for much of the training and equipment for sheriff’s deputies who participate on the Flex team, Royalty said the request for the sheriff to make the purchase was not an reasonable one.

Royalty also said the sheriff’s office was also requested to pay $6,000 for its part of the cost of a training the team members had completed.

He called Sheriff Mattingly’s decision to withdraw from the Flex Team unfortunate, and said in his opinion, the decision may put the safety of city and county officers and residents at risk.

“God help the county if there is a Columbine-type of shooting here,” he said.

Having the Flex Team here offers advantages to the community by allow for a rapid response when one is needed. The local team could respond much faster than a response team from the Kentucky State Police or other outside agency, Royalty said.

Since its formation, the Flex Team has provided security at major festivals in Nelson County, including the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, the Iron Horse Festival in New Haven, and Buttermilk Days, as well as assisted whenever high-risk warrants need to be served.

When asked if the Flex Team made of only Bardstown Police officers would respond outside the city limits, Royalty said the team will continue to support “their brothers in blue” whenever needed.

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