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Sheriff recalls deputies in response to players kneeling during the national anthem
By Justin Wier
YOUNGSTOWN
Deputies with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office will not provide security at future Cleveland Browns home games.
Sheriff Jerry Greene said the decision to send 10-15 deputies to assist with security at the games predates his tenure as sheriff, and he’s been uneasy about the arrangement.
“When they made the decision to kneel, that made my decision very easy,” Greene said. “This isn’t about race. This isn’t about law enforcement. This is about people that died for this country and represent us.”
Twelve Cleveland Browns players knelt during the national anthem before a preseason game Aug. 21.
Greene made the decision the following day, but it recently attracted media attention.
The sheriff added the following three games were away, which gave the local police time to replace the deputies. The Browns’ next home game is Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I didn’t want to leave the police up there hanging,” he said. “I would have never allowed the personal security of the people to be an issue.”
Greene said he can’t speak for all his deputies, but he’s received positive feedback for the decision.
“One officer in particular told me he stands a little taller in his shoes now,” he said.
Greene said he supports the First Amendment right to protest, but he believes strongly in his decision.
“I personally don’t have any use for them [protesting] during the national anthem anywhere,” he said. “People have given too much for this country, and they should be honored.”
Green had the luxury of removing his deputies from the Browns games knowing they would be replaced, he said. If something happened in Mahoning County, it would be a different situation.
“I would never compromise the security of the citizens of Mahoning County to make a point,” he said.