by Kevin Lilly
The race for sheriff in Cass County has been reduced by one candidate.
Logansport Police Chief A.J. Rozzi announced on Monday that he is withdrawing from the 2010 race for sheriff. Rozzi, a Democrat, said he learned last week that if he stayed in the race while keeping his position as chief he would be in violation of the federal Hatch Act.
According to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, the Hatch Act “restricts the political activity of individuals principally employed by state or local executive agencies and who work in connection with programs financed in whole or in part by federal loans or grants.”
Rozzi said the Logansport Police Department has gotten federal grants to fund Operation Pullover and the DWI Task Force, as well as to buy bulletproof vests and squad cars.
At Rozzi’s request, an attorney with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in Washington, D.C., reviewed Rozzi’s case over the past three weeks. The attorney reportedly sought information from the clerk-treasurer’s office, the mayor and LPD officers in charge of handling the grants.
The findings left Rozzi with two options: quit as chief or withdraw his name from the sheriff’s race.
“Obviously, it would be silly for me to quit my job,” Rozzi said. “I’m too dedicated to law enforcement.”
The chief expressed disappointment about not having the opportunity to run for sheriff.
“There’s not much I can do about it,” Rozzi said. “I was looking forward to expanding in my career and going forward, and not serve just the citizens of Logansport but all of Cass County. Maybe one day when I retire from here, I’ll be able to think about running again.”
Rozzi, who had not officially filed, said he considered himself fortunate for having found out so early. As of Monday, he was running unopposed on the Democratic ticket.
Rozzi’s withdrawal brings the number of candidates running for sheriff to five. Sheriff’s department Maj. Mike Day, Coroner George Franklin, sheriff’s department Sgt. Tom Wallace, Indiana State Police Master Trooper Randy Pryor and sheriff’s department deputy Gary Armstrong are seeking the Republican nomination in the May primary.
• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
