Chesco Sheriff Morale Issues Mean Rent-A-Cops At Courthouse — County sheriffs are typically tasked in Pennsylvania to provide courthouse protection but Chester County judges find themselves resorting to private security.
The Chesco Sheriff Department under Fredda Maddox is short 40 deputies. The problems started soon after the Democrat won election in 2019 — replacing Bunny Welsh who declined to seek re-election — and are attributed to bad morale.
Ms. Maddox is not seeking to keep the post this November, however, but is running for county judge.
She has hand-picked Kevin Dykes to be her successor.
Running against Dykes is Republican Roy Kofroth.
Former Deputy Matt Mendenhall posted the below on social media.
To all my friends, family and acquaintances in Chester County PA.
Please vote for Roy Kofroth for Sheriff.
From April of 2017 until June of 2020, I was a proud Chester County deputy sheriff working respectfully under Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh.
During that time (September of 2017) I became involved with her K-9 unit and ultimately became a handler working an EDC named “Nero”. Nero and I proved to be an excellent team and provided solid service to all of the citizens of Chester county on a daily basis.
I was promoted to the rank of Corporal of K9 and worked beside some of the best law-enforcement officers anyone would hope to be beside during the worst and best of times.
In December 2019 Sheriff Welsh decided not to run for the position she held honorably for 20+ years and with the utmost integrity and professionalism. Her deputies respected her, she supported all of us and went to war right beside us everyday as a true leader does and anyone working in that office at that time would wholeheartedly agree.
As with any job, there were always a few hiccups here and there, but nothing that we were unable to get through as a team.
Sheriff Welsh retired with the respect of the office and handed the reins over to Sheriff elect Fredda Maddox who appointed Kevin Dykes as her Chief Deputy.
Between January and March of 2020, things declined rapidly under the leadership of Maddox and Dykes, morale was awful and deputies were leaving at an alarming rate to work at other police departments, some even taking a pay cut or choosing p/t to do so.
When they realized where my loyalty fell, they both rather quickly made it a priority to completely destroy my reputation and character, not only as a corporal but also as a friend to other deputies and an award-winning K9 handler with numerous achievements under Sheriff Welsh.
Nero was taken away from me by Dykes and Maddox, there were warnings or no reasons provided to me. They both presented lies to other deputies and command staff about me not wanting him anymore and that I was no longer interested in the unit. This was an absolute distasteful lie that Maddox and Dyke’s presented to my closest co-workers. I sent numerous emails to the sheriff and the chief pleading with them to allow me to keep my position with K9 and to not take Nero away from me. I have several email copies to prove this. I had a one on one meeting with Sheriff Maddox and was still denied the request to remain with my k9 partner.
Nero was taken away from me for no reason, whisked away by another Corporal who was also unfortunately lied to and who turned against me. To this day they have never told me where Nero went, who he’s with or what he’s doing and that is what hurts the most.
My family was and is STILL devastated.
As if that wasn’t hurtful enough, I was then falsely accused of starting arguments, making threats and insulting the current Sergeant even though it was quite the opposite, I was relieved of my Corporal duties for reasons unbeknownst to anyone besides them. I was sent to the government service center (GSC) away from everybody to wand people at the entrance before finally resigning in June of 2020 in order to save my career and integrity before becoming completely smeared by Maddox, Dykes and the Sergeant.
To say this was a blow to my 20 year LEO career is an understatement, never during my entire time as a police officer was I ever treated so terribly and embarrassed to wear the uniform. I was unethically written up by incompetent, inexperienced lieutenants (Unrelated to K9) who were too afraid to do the right thing. And for the record to all, Sheriff Welsh also went through the same type of smear campaign run by those who became greedy with power, lies and falsehoods.
So if you’ve made it this far into my post, thank you for sticking with me, I ask all of you please, as someone who has worked directly under Kevin Dykes, I plead with you to not vote for him as Sheriff, whether you’re a Democrat, an Independent or a Republican, PLEASE do not cast your vote for this unethical man
Ask some of the deputies personally if you second-guess anything I’ve stated, there is a reason he was not kept and retained in his former position with the DAs office.
Vote for Roy Kofroth, I know him well, he has great intentions, knows the job and is a man of integrity. He stood beside me during one of the absolute worst times in my career and has the respect of everyone in the office to which Dykes cannot say, again, vote Roy Kofroth for Sheriff and share this with your family and friends, thank you.
Obviously, Mr. Mendenhall comments are personal and subjective, and one can reasonably either accept or reject them.
On the other hand, the Sheriff Department is down 40 deputies and the Courthouse is using private security.
Some more things to consider:
- For what is Ms. Maddox using the money in the budget for those missing 40 deputies?
- How much extra is the private security costing the Chesco taxpayer?
If Chester County residents don’t awake from wokeness, the quality of living there is going to drop to the point where one’s former lifestyle will be but a sweet memory.
Chesco Sheriff Morale Issues Mean Rent-A-Cops At Courthouse Chesco Sheriff Morale Issues Mean Rent-A-Cops At Courthouse
My God! How disgusting but I am grateful to the breath of fresh truth told by former Deputy Matt Mendenhall. I know Bunny Welsh and consider her a dear friend. She was put through literal hell, like Frm. Deputy Mendenhall, by the unscrupulous powers that were and are still in charge not only in Chesco, but throughout the Commonwealth. The evil is palpable and in full view of any who are willing to just open their eyes and look. I hope the voters not only heed the advice of Frm. Deputy Mendenhall and vote for Roy Kofroth for Chesco Sheriff, but that they think long and hard before elevating Sheriff Maddox to the bench…
P.S. As a dog owner and lover, I can’t fathom the cruelty of removing Nero from the Mendenhalls to both them and Nero. It takes a truly poisoned character to do such a thing to punish someone for their friendships. Not the conduct of someone who should be in a position where fairness and impartiality are the standards of performance.
I agree totally!
If she can not run the a Sheriffs office , how will she run a courtroom? Where is the money going if we are down that many deputies? We are also down k-9 dogs as well. What is happening at at the courthouse?