Dear Grant,
In my opinion, The Silver World has made a mistake by publishing the email from the former Undersheriff Jim Hunsicker without first talking with our current Sheriff or researching any of the allegations brought against him. The email is nothing more than a smear against the current Elected Sheriff, Denim Starnes.This published email and the “Restoring the office of Sheriff” paper, written and circulated by the former Undersheriff are nothing more than the delusional ravings of, to use his own words, a “distressed and distraught” and “personally, emotionally and mentally distressed” employee.After reading the “Restoring the Office of Sheriff” and the email published in the paper I went to Sheriff Starnes to see if he had been approached by the newspaper about the article. He told me that he had not. He also told me he would not make a public reply to these outrageous accusations. The sheriff’s office has more important, real police work to do.In his writings, Mr. Hunsicker makes a flippant mention of the distress and expense of relocating and how his “life is ruined.” Mr. Hunsicker has apparently been to Lake City before, having owned a business called Alpine Loop Technological Consulting. The fact that he laid blame on the current Sheriff for his moving distress is laughable as he was hired by the former interim Sheriff Bruce. Seems that any anguish or discomfort he may have endured is of his own making.Mr. Hunsicker states that Sheriff Starnes has character traits that make him unsuitable to serve as sheriff. This is a typical case of the pot calling the kettle black. Mr. Hunsicker has shown such poor character and lack of devotion to the job during his 107 days of “mental distress,” and in his recent scribblings, the irony is overwhelming.Every leader has their own form of leadership and Mr. Hunsicker, having served at least 20 years in the USMC and USMCR, should know this. He could have found a way to communicate and get the mission accomplished. However, he instead chose not to comply, he chose to leave his post. To quit, when he was needed the most. As if that is not bad enough, he has also decided to disparage his former employer and spread erroneous allegations of wrongdoing, for which he has not provided any proof. He claims to have a “long and detailed list of times and dates’’ that our Sheriff has not upheld his oath of office. Perhaps he should have spent that list making time doing the work of a Deputy. This leads me to believe that he may have come here with the full intention of creating havoc. Listing things he did not agree with, and rather than expressing his concern or trying to solve these supposed issues with his sheriff, he created a spectacle and started his own Coup d’état to remove our elected Sheriff and replace Starnes with himself. This is further implicated by his mention that Sheriff Starnes could be subject of a recall in July, and his recent Facebook page denouncing Sheriff Starnes and projecting his own vanity as well as his desire to be Sheriff.Mr. Hunsicker mentions a “disastrous experience working in another county.” Perhaps this is a common occurrence for Mr. Hunsicker; how many other employers did he have disastrous relationships with? Perhaps some investigation is in order before we take the word of a man who seems to be perfectly comfortable with lamenting his assumed grievances, in public, against his previous employer.This whole tale is nothing more than a case of Aesop’s “sour grapes.” It is not an attempt to improve the system. It is a disgraceful undertaking to bring further disruption into a Sheriff’s department that finally has a Sheriff with grit enough to call out the wrong doers and abide by the rule of law with integrity and courage. Using his discretion as an experienced lawman and not favoritism, as we have seen so many times before.Sheriff Starnes rates as one of the most honest people I have ever known. He is dedicated to his elected position as Sheriff and wants nothing more than to serve this community as his position requires. I fully support Sheriff Starnes as do the majority of Hinsdale County voters that elected him. Sheriff Starnes has done nothing illegal or worthy of dishonor.It seems now that some individuals, who see themselves as relatively important in the community, have turned on Sheriff Starnes. Could it be that he has poked the bear? Has he stirred some water that was meant to be left undisturbed? Time will tell. We can only hope that in the end true justice will prevail. It is never easy to “stand alone and guard against the night.”I stand by these words and support of Sheriff Starnes. Citizen, Patriot, Believer in truth and justice,William S. Bowling
