A deputy sheriff’s association sued in federal court claiming that the sheriff was illegally campaigning in uniform while violating the deputies’ First Amendment rights to speak out in the sheriff election. A county policy prohibits employees from identifying themselves as connected to the sheriff’s office to “endorse, support, oppose or contradict any political campaign or initiative…social issue, cause of religion.” (The Salinas Californian, September 12, 2014, by Allison Gatlin)
The association claims the sheriff has posted photos of himself in uniform on his website and Facebook page and appeared at election events in his uniform. But the sheriff’s office has warned deputies to not even wear clothing that look like uniforms in engaging in election activities. (Courthouse News Service, September 16, 2014, by Arvin Temkar)