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THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2006
Our View
Caught
I ra Wayne Cloniger was captured late Sunday evening. A dangerous felon, Cloniger had successfully spent a week in the woods skirting law enforcement officials from several counties. With several hundred acres at his disposal, it presented a challenge for all involved. A weary sheriff and deputies and many officers from neighboring counties plus a helicopter and K-9 units apprehended an equally weary and tick-infested criminal. Rappahannock County hasn’t seen a manhunt like this in many years and it certainly taxed the existing resources to the limit. Ironically, Sheriff Sherertz had just been before the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors requesting an additional road deputy. The question of overtime had come up as well. The situation seriously stressed everyone involved and as the word spread of Cloniger’s capture on Sunday evening, the sheriff and the residents of Rappahannock breathed a sigh of relief. Cloniger was caught and all was well with the world again. Well, not exactly. Cloniger wasn’t the only one caught. Sheriff Sherertz was also caught in a web of criticism chatter as many voices have risen demanding answers as to how he conducted or didn’t conduct Cloniger’s capture. Most of the criticism surrounds his lack of communication.
What if this happens again? What happens if there is another kind of emergency that warrants county wide notification? Is the sheriff competent? Is he overworked and under appreciated? While Cloniger remains behind bars and awaits the consequences of the legal process, Sheriff Sherertz may well have entered his own twilight zone as he will need to brace for another onslaught - this time not from a runaway felon but his own community wanting answers.
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