Statement of Endorsement of Crystal Cline for Sheriff of Warren County

Crystal Cline is a proven and highly respected law enforcement officer. Warren County desperately needs respected and competent law enforcement leadership in the Office of Sheriff of Warren County that exemplifies integrity, innovation, and inspiration. I have known Captain Cline professionally for more than 20 years. I have witnessed first-hand her leadership, her competence, and her integrity. My many years as a trial lawyer, a judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, and ultimately as the Circuit Court judge of Warren County has given me a unique perspective because I have participated in countless proceedings in which she was involved in a professional capacity and doing her job. Warren County needs professionalism and integrity in the Office of Sheriff. Captain Cline has a record demonstrating integrity and professionalism as her lifestyle. Amazingly, she has the courage to be honest and authentic. Therefore, I whole-heartedly endorse Captain Crystal Cline for Sheriff of Warren County.

Judge Ron Napier, Crystal Cline

Leadership and professionalism do not foster an environment which produces deputies who violate a citizen’s civil rights and break the law. Yet that environment exists and two current or former deputies are currently facing serious criminal charges for alleged police brutality. All police conduct must be above the law. The current administration has not demonstrated an adherence to that high principle.

The intersection of law enforcement professionalism and the judiciary is most evident in the courtroom. The law enforcement officer must be squeaky clean. Sheriff Butler has been found after due process to have falsified official police reports and lied about it. Under the law, this potentially exculpating evidence is Constitutionally required to be disclosed to every defendant in all proceedings in which Sheriff Butler testifies. Such evidence suggests strongly that Sheriff Butler’s sworn testimony cannot be trusted. This effectively emasculates him as a credible witness and supplies the defendant in every case with arguable reasonable doubt. This dark cloud will follow Sheriff Butler for the rest of his law enforcement life. Consequently, he simply cannot and will not be effective as a law enforcement officer.

Sitting judges are legally and ethically prohibited to comment publicly on matters deemed political. Now that I am fully retired and no longer under such constraints, I find that I have a civic duty to share with the public my unique and insightful perspective.

I have no partisan interest in this election. My interest is in addressing effectively our many problems. I simply know that our community is constantly confronted with many challenging issues (drugs, human trafficking, spousal abuse, child neglect, and the list goes on). Our community needs and deserves the highest quality leadership in local law enforcement, whether it be the Town law enforcement or County (Sheriff) law enforcement. It is from this perspective that I make this endorsement. I am confident that Captain Cline is well qualified. Most importantly, she is proven to confront and effectively address with integrity and professionalism the many tough issues as they arise.

Ronald Lewis Napier
Circuit Court Judge (Retired)        

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