Sheriff Robert Howard's reply on policing the Cargill strike

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EDWARD R. MIKULA

ROBERT L. HOWARD

UNDERSHERIFF

1 RANG OFFICE OF
THE SHERIFF OF TOMPKINS COUNTY
125 EAST COURT STREET
ITHACA, N.Y. 14850

August 1, 1986

Mr. Tom Joyce
109 W. State Street
Ithaca, New York 14850

Dear Tom,

The Sheriff of any County has the responsiblity of
protectton of people involved in a labor strike.

Our involvement at Cargtll is for the protection of
all involved, the striking miners, staff and management of
the mine. We are not allowed to take stdes in the tssues.
We fully realize we are involved in a no win sttuatton for
us but will do our upmost to perform the duties in a fatr
and tmparttal manner as the law directs.

We can not guarantee the safety of pickets who walk out
in front of trucks, lay across hoods of moving vehicles, ete.
Loaded trueks should not be stopped coming out of the mine as
they might loose control and run away backward down the hill.
Pickets should not block the htghway regardless of thetr unton

afftiltations.

If everyone uses some common sense, we will be able to
do our job. The deputies do understand their obligations
and will arrest anyone who vtolates the law be it Cargill

people or ptckets.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Howard
Tompkins County Sheriff