OUR VERY OWN HOLE-IN-THE-WALL IS BACK
An email to Pal Mar Manager Michael McElligott from Martin County Sheriff’s Office Legal Advisor, Bernard Romero notified the district that they would no longer provide an off-duty detail, paid for by the district.
That doesn’t mean they won’t respond if called to Pal Mar it just could take several hours to do so. The district was willing to pay for the extra patrols to end the destruction of district property. The sheriff’s willingness to do so lasted only for a few short months.
The email is produced below:
From: Bernard R. Romero <brromero@mcsofl.org>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:34 PM
To: Michael McElligott <MMcElligott@sdsinc.org>
Cc: William K. Dolan <wkdolan@mcsofl.org>; John M. Budensiek <jmbudensiek@mcsofl.org>; Cynthia R. Brown <crbrown@mcsofl.org>; Peter D. Croft <pdcroft@mcsofl.org>; Bonnie M. Bouvier <bmbouvier@mcsofl.org>
Subject: Off-Duty Work details.
Good afternoon, Mr. McElligott.
I spoke with Chief John Budensiek and Lt. William K. Dolan regarding the off-duty work details that the Martin County Sheriff’s Office has been providing to residents of the Palmar area regarding the many issues that may arise there. Providing an off-duty work detail is a courtesy that is often extended to members of the public. This entails the allocation of resources and manpower, when they are available, and when there will not be an appearance of impropriety.
I have been told that these off-duty work details have become onerous to those who are providing them. Due to manpower resource issues, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office has decided not to staff these off-duty details henceforth. Perhaps FWC will provide the off-duty details for you and the property you manage.
If you have any questions regarding this issue, please contact Lt. William K. Dolan.
Sincerely,
Bernard Romero, Esq.
Legal Advisor
Martin County Sheriff’s Office
772–220–7003
For some time now the newest landowners in Pal Mar have acted as if the water control district was their very own lawless wild west. It has become reminiscent of where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid would hide out in the badlands of Wyoming where no lawman ever went. Environmentally sensitive lands are being destroyed but so too has it become dangerous for the farms, ranches, and communities surrounding Pal Mar like Trailside because of nonstop gunfire.
There was a noticeable difference recently since the patrols began in the amount of deadly fire being directed from Pal Mar to the neighboring community of Trailside. When I first became involved in this story the automatic rifle gunfire was nonstop. Farm animals had been shot and having rounds piercing Trailside buildings was common. Some residents even left their homes on the weekends because they were afraid.
The sheriff’s budget is over $100 million. There are 621 total FTEs of which 449 are in enforcement with the rest of those working at the jail or courts. It doesn’t look like our county sheriff wants to protect the residents of this part of the county from mayhem…even if they pay extra.
I am now convinced Martin County has its own area where law enforcement either fears to tread or intentionally wants to ignore the dangerous conditions that exist. The residents of Trailside deserve better. So too do those Pal Mar landowners that want to peacefully enjoy their property, including the ones that go to hunt legally.
If a Palm City, Jensen Beach, or Hobe Sound neighborhood was experiencing a crime wave would they have to pay extra to make sure they received adequate patrol services? The residents of Trailside or the board of the water control district shouldn’t either. Even if they are willing to do that as in Pal Mar’s case they shouldn’t have to.
It is time for the state to step in and investigate the deteriorating situation in this part of the county. Or are county and state officials going to wait until a resident of Trailside or a kid exploring Pal Mar is killed by gunfire? This lawlessness is being allowed to happen by the very officials that are charged with preventing it from occurring.
