Post by lawman on Apr 29, 2007 10:51:02 GMT -5
Published Sunday, April 29, 2007
Tony Stewart to watch out for Fayette speeders
By Katherine K. Lee
Staff Writer
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart is joining the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office as a reserve deputy.
The Associated Press
If you get caught speeding through Fayette County, think twice before arguing with the deputy over just how fast you were going.
He might know a lot more than you do about speed.
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart recently decided to join the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office as a reserve deputy.
Fayette County Sheriff Rodney Ingle won’t comment much on the irony of a man who makes a living by driving very fast pulling people over for speeding.
Far from being a distraction, he said, Stewart is an asset to his team of 11 full-time deputies and five reserve deputies.
Stewart’s interest in law enforcement is longstanding, Ingle said.
“He’s just like one of us. We’re glad to have him," Ingle said Thursday by cell phone on his way to Talladega, where he planned to hang out with Stewart during race weekend.
Stewart got to know the Fayette deputies through one of his car haulers, Jody Doles, who was previously a Fayette County deputy and is still on the list of reserves. Through Doles, Stewart met other officers in the department.
“He’s always had a passion for law enforcement and he’s good friends with law enforcement," Ingle said, adding that Stewart has purchased vests and uniforms for the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and Fayette Police Department.
Stewart didn’t return phone calls left with his publicist.
Stewart started his training last week by with the usual checklist for aspiring officers.
“He came in last night and qualified with his weapon and got Taser-certified," Ingle said.
That required Stewart to fire a weapon with a certain degree of accuracy under the supervision of a firearms instructor. Then he got shocked with a Taser.
Ingle said Stewart will have the same power as deputies to arrest people as long as he is with another full-time deputy or the sheriff.
In fact, within the first three hours of his stint Thursday night, Stewart was present at a traffic stop that ended with the arrest of a man with a previous warrant out for his arrest. Stewart, however, didn’t make the arrest himself.
Ingle said Stewart plans to return to Fayette soon to complete his training, although no set schedule has been worked out.
“He’ll be back in a week, two weeks, maybe a month," he said. “I’m not sure when he’ll be back."
Ingle said he doesn’t believe Stewart took on the job as a stunt.
“He doesn’t take this lightly," he said. “He knows when something serious is out there."
Tony Stewart to watch out for Fayette speeders
By Katherine K. Lee
Staff Writer
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart is joining the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office as a reserve deputy.
The Associated Press
If you get caught speeding through Fayette County, think twice before arguing with the deputy over just how fast you were going.
He might know a lot more than you do about speed.
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart recently decided to join the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office as a reserve deputy.
Fayette County Sheriff Rodney Ingle won’t comment much on the irony of a man who makes a living by driving very fast pulling people over for speeding.
Far from being a distraction, he said, Stewart is an asset to his team of 11 full-time deputies and five reserve deputies.
Stewart’s interest in law enforcement is longstanding, Ingle said.
“He’s just like one of us. We’re glad to have him," Ingle said Thursday by cell phone on his way to Talladega, where he planned to hang out with Stewart during race weekend.
Stewart got to know the Fayette deputies through one of his car haulers, Jody Doles, who was previously a Fayette County deputy and is still on the list of reserves. Through Doles, Stewart met other officers in the department.
“He’s always had a passion for law enforcement and he’s good friends with law enforcement," Ingle said, adding that Stewart has purchased vests and uniforms for the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and Fayette Police Department.
Stewart didn’t return phone calls left with his publicist.
Stewart started his training last week by with the usual checklist for aspiring officers.
“He came in last night and qualified with his weapon and got Taser-certified," Ingle said.
That required Stewart to fire a weapon with a certain degree of accuracy under the supervision of a firearms instructor. Then he got shocked with a Taser.
Ingle said Stewart will have the same power as deputies to arrest people as long as he is with another full-time deputy or the sheriff.
In fact, within the first three hours of his stint Thursday night, Stewart was present at a traffic stop that ended with the arrest of a man with a previous warrant out for his arrest. Stewart, however, didn’t make the arrest himself.
Ingle said Stewart plans to return to Fayette soon to complete his training, although no set schedule has been worked out.
“He’ll be back in a week, two weeks, maybe a month," he said. “I’m not sure when he’ll be back."
Ingle said he doesn’t believe Stewart took on the job as a stunt.
“He doesn’t take this lightly," he said. “He knows when something serious is out there."