Sheriff Steube Warns County on Costs of Further Cuts

BRADENTON -- Sheriff W. Brad Steube gave up the lunch-break jogs that used to highlight his day, in order to get out in the community and interact with citizens. You wouldn't know it. Steube turns 56 next week and looks as though he could still run down a meth-fueled perp across a dark parking lot and quickly have him in cuffs, regretting he prompted the old man to give chase.

The sheriff stands well over six feet tall and his linebacker build, combined with a serious if affable demeanor, makes a clear impression that he takes none too much in the way of guff – from anyone.

If he seems particularly determined these days, it's with good cause. In a county full of department heads that face the daunting task of doing more with less, Steube has arguably the most challenging job, and inarguably faces the highest expectations.

With the possible exception of education, crime is the most scrutinized aspect of any community, and since education is primarily a concern of only those with school-aged children, Steube is likely to take the prize for most headaches in a walk. People want to feel safe and often have peculiar ways of grading those charged with their safekeeping.

"People's perception means everything," Steube told me, "even if it's not in line with what's really happening in the big picture."

Steube explained that neighborhoods might suffer a spat of highly publicized crimes, while the crime rate is actually going down in their community and points to last year's murder count as a case in point.

"Last year we had 22 homicides in Manatee County, which was really an inordinately high number and that's all a lot of people focused on," lamented Steube. "I was asked continually what we were doing about it. Now, at the time, crime was down significantly and violent crime was down. We obviously don't know when a murder is going to be committed by someone or we'd be on the scene preventing it. We respond and investigate and we solved 70% of those murders, but the perception was that something needed to be done on our end because they were happening."

Steube has made nearly $6 million in cuts in his last two budgets, yet still faces the same dilemma of high expectations and minimal resources. The challenge clearly doesn't intimidate him. I don't think much does. But Steube is that rare breed of warrior whose intellect trumps his bravado. A pragmatic leader, he is not given to asking of his troops unless he's provided them with the resources to be successful.

To understand Sheriff Steube, you need look no further than his unlikely rise in the MSO. Steube came of age in the pre-boom Manatee County, when local government was a prized-post because it provided stability and security that were uncommon, even if the wages were laughable.

Getting on with the sheriff's office was nearly impossible without a relative on the force, and one that was quite fond of you at that. To make matters worse, a prospective deputy couldn't even take the certification course at an academy without the sponsorship of a local law enforcement agency, a sponsorship mind you, that didn't confer employment if you graduated.

"I camped out for four days at the Bradenton Police Department, until finally they agreed to sponsor me, I think just to get rid of me," he laughs.

When Steube graduated, he found positions hard to come by. So, when a job on Long Boat Key's force was offered, he got a foot in the door. This he tells me in almost an apologetic tone and when I see the rest of his resume I understand.

In less than three years, Steube secured a spot with the MSO, and his impressive ascent through the ranks tells me that a sleepy island beat would have slowly driven him mad. Nine years in narcotics and vice, 17 1/2 as a SWAT commander; Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Major and Colonel. Steube was Charlie Wells' right hand man when the popular sheriff announced his retirement in 2006 and was appointed by the governor to replace him in April of 2007, with Wells' endorsement.

Steube made the most of his apprenticeship and was a quick study once on the job. He was soundly elected in 2008 and his impressive resume so far bodes well for him. Nonetheless, he remains in the difficult position of managing a high-crime county through the most budget-challenged period of its history.

The politically safe path might be false bravado. Tell them you can do it, before they find someone else who tells them that they can. Politics seem to have little to do with Steube's agenda though, and last month he bluntly advised the county commission on further cuts to the MSO.

When the BCC were presented with their initial budget recommendations, it once again included major cuts for law enforcement. Between the budget and changes in benefit contributions, the department stood to loose about $2 million in a budget that had already been reduced by over $4.5 million the year before.

Sheriff Steube explained in no uncertain terms that his office had already made cuts to all non-essential departments, and that further reductions would jeopardize the safety of the community. The sheriff's candor jarred the commission into considering a one-tenth mill tax increase that would raise the $2 million needed to essentially flat line next year's budget. Sheriff Steube still wants to be clear on what that means.

Though the MSO was able to achieve a 12% decrease in crime last year, even amid such deep cuts, the department's 2010-2012 strategic plan (PDF 8.4 mb) identifies a need for 50 additional deputies that he doesn't have the money to hire. He points out that 87% of his budget is for personnel and that there are no further room for cuts without losing manpower at a time when he needs to gain it.

"We are at a tipping point," says Steube. "The county has to be honest about what the impact of further reducing our resources will be. We've made progress and I do not want to take a step backwards."

Tune in tomorrow for part two in our series on the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.