By Erica Thomas, managing editor
ST. CLAIR COUNTY — St. Clair County Sheriff Billy Murray said when it comes to methods of enforcing misdemeanor crimes, including marijuana possession, people caught breaking the law in his county will go to jail.
The conversation was started after the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office announced new methods of dealing with those types of crimes. Sheriff Pettway approved the use of uniform nontraffic citations and complaint forms for certain misdemeanor offenses. In other words, offenders can be ticketed instead of arrested for certain types of non-violent misdemeanors.
Murray said nothing will change in St. Clair County.
“Without question, we will enforce the laws on the books as they’re written,” said Murray.
Murray said he will continue to honor the oath he took as sheriff to enforce all laws.
“No way under the sun…That is the sheriff’s role,” he said. “Law enforcement, maintaining the county jails and many other duties, but we will enforce the laws as they’re written.”
Murray said the legislature has the ability to create or change laws, and until it does so, he plans to arrest people for what he calls “arrestable offenses” according to state law.
“It’s that simple,” Murray said. “ If I didn’t do that, I don’t think I would uphold the dignity of the office I hold. I am not getting into the business of interpreting laws, I will simply enforce them.”
When it comes to negative comments from the public about the way non-violent, misdemeanor crimes are handled, Murray said that doesn’t impact his duty in any way.
“The job’s the same today as it was yesterday,” he said. “It’s going to be the same tomorrow as it was today and that’s just strict enforcement of the law regardless of who’s squawking the hardest.
“As an elected sheriff, I would not be doing my job for the citizens that elected me if I would just pick and choose what I want to enforce,” said Murray.
Murray said marijuana is proven to be a gateway drug. When it comes to jail population, Murray said a lot of the inmates in county jails are booked on drug charges or drug-related offenses. He said, at times, they have seen an increase in jail population but that his staff has been able to manage those issues.
Long story short, Murray believes his job is to enforce the law and not interpret it the way he sees fit.
“That’s why you have different branches of government and if every branch would stay in their lane, it would work as it was intended to work,” said Murray.
The Trussville Police Department will also continue to make arrests for possession of marijuana.