One of the recipients of Pike County Sheriff Kenny Cotton’s “honorary deputy” cards has a criminal history, according to information provided to the Enterprise-Journal.
Sheriff Kenny Cotton recently said he wanted have “honorary deputies” throughout the county. The “deputies,” while not certified law enforcement officers, would serve as neighborhood watch captains and help alert lawmen to crime.
However, the Enterprise-Journal obtained information about the background of one honorary deputy, Robert Flay.
Flay, of Summit, reportedly has misdemeanor charges dating back to 1995 and has had run-ins with the law through 2007.
A copy of his rap sheet provided to the Enterprise-Journal shows arrests for possession of marijuana, assault on a police officer, assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, DUI and contempt of court.
Flay told the Enterprise-Journal last week that he had his record expunged and has not been in any trouble since his last arrest nearly a decade ago.
“I find it very disturbing that someone would tell a lie on me and discredit our law enforcement,” he said.
Flay said someone published a picture of his honorary deputy card on Facebook and went as far as to say other have been spreading rumors that he’s impersonating a law enforcement officer.
“They’re jeopardizing my position as a honorary deputy,” he said. “It says on the back on my card that I am not a deputy. I am only the eyes for the police.”
After Flay’s run-in with the cops, he became a volunteer firefighter with East Central Volunteer Fire Department.
“If I had a record, then how was I able to go to the fire academy? How was I able to get a firearm?” he said, showing his fire academy certificate.
Flay also went back to school and graduated from Southwest Mississippi Community College and said he’s a few classes short from obtaining his bachelor’s degree.
He also had documentation from East Central Volunteer Fire Department Chief Cam Sharp, who confirmed that Flay did volunteer with the department for a couple of years but does not anymore.
Sharp said he wasn’t aware of Flay’s background.
Flay said he left the department after he began to have some medical issues.
He said he takes exception to his past being an issue with the honorary deputy program, saying it could be detrimental if he ever ran for office.
Flay also had documentation that Cotton did a background check on him when the sheriff was Summit police chief.
“Something is mighty fishy about it,” he said.
Cotton said honorary deputies have no authority.
“They’re not deputies, they have no qualifications to be deputies. They’re watchful eyes, and I want them all over the county,” he said.
Before a resident receives an honorary deputy card, they give the department permission to conduct a background check on them.
The statement at the bottom of the application states: “I hereby authorize the Pike County ‘s Department to conduct a background check on me. I understand that if I have a criminal history, I may not be issued a honorary deputy card. I also understand this honorary deputy card does not give me any power or authority to perform duties as a lawful deputy”
That means there is a possibility that even if a person has a criminal history, they may still be issued a card.
Cotton approved Flay’s honorary deputy card and signed it himself.
“I don’t care about their criminal history. I care about whether or not they’re going to help us out,” he said.
Cotton said honorary deputy cards are for everyone, not just for those with spotless records.
“I’m inviting the entire community to help fight crime,” he said. “I’m not limiting my resources. If a person has a criminal record and they want to help fight crime, come on.”
He said as far as citizens who may have a problem with it, it’s their problem.
“If you’re judging, judge on,” he said.
He said he’s not like others who may distance themselves from those who have committed crimes, they live in the county, too.
“I’m the sheriff for all, not just for those who haven’t committed a crime,” he said.
He said he’s enlisting everyone’s help to make Pike County one of the safest counties in America.
“If you want to join Team Cotton, come on,” he said.
