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Army's Handling of Deserters Dismays Sheriff
Army's handling of deserters dismays sheriff
March 21, 2007
MASON - In August, the Army had local deserter Elrico Hurley right where it wanted him: in the Ingham County Jail.
Somebody from the sheriff's department notified Army officials they were holding Hurley on a desertion warrant. And what did the Army do?
It faxed Hurley a voucher for a bus ticket and an invitation back to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Hurley declined. He walked out of jail, but never got on the bus. Now, he's back in jail - nabbed again on the desertion warrant - and Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth wonders what kind of game the Army is playing.
"Buy a bus ticket for somebody who's AWOL? That's absurd," the sheriff said. "If the Army is not serious about deserters, it should take them out of the system and quit cluttering up our jails."
Wriggelsworth may be particularly sensitive to the issue because he's forced to release inmates each week because of overcrowding.
Wriggelsworth expected to spring 55-60 Tuesday night.
According to the Pentagon, about 5,500 service members have deserted since the start of the Iraq war.
Revolving door
Sgt. Todd Jenkins, who got the job of wrestling with Hurley's paperwork, said this is actually the third time Hurley's status as a deserter has put him in the hands of local authorities.
Jenkins said the Army has displayed the same ambivalence toward at least one other Army deserter who landed in his jail.
The Marines, on the other hand, retrieve their deserters quickly - and in person.
Hurley, 28, went to high school in Kalamazoo, but calls Lansing home. In a telephone interview from jail this week, Hurley said he ran from the Army about a year ago before completing basic training. Hurley said he went AWOL because of "family issues."
Hurley said he was not surprised by the Army's nonchalance because he has been in touch with military officials in an attempt to arrange his separation from the Army.
He does, however, expect to be court-martialed.
Fair treatment
In an e-mail response to my inquiry Army spokeswoman Maj. Anne Edgecomb quoted Army policy:
"Military police will generally not be committed to proactive efforts to apprehend AWOL soldiers or deserters except when the provost marshal determines that such efforts are warranted by specific circumstances (such as) additional, more serious charges ..."
She added: "When apprehended, or when they return on their own, these soldiers are treated fairly, with dignity and respect, and in accordance with the rights afforded them under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Army Regulations.
"Our primary course of action is to attempt to rehabilitate the soldier and reintegrate him/her back into their unit.
"Not all deserters are tried by court martial. Each case is evaluated on its own merits."
Edgecomb confirmed execution is the maximum penalty for desertion in time of war, but said "we don't do hangings anymore."
What do you think? Call John Schneider at 377-1175, send a fax to 377-1298 or e-mail jschneid@lsj.com.
Include your name, phone number, city, town or township.
LSJ blog
The new Army
That's something I never thought I'd hear an Army major say - that deserters would be treated with "dignity and respect."
Submitted by George L.
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