Bravery is often disclaimed. I expect Cumberland County’s Sheriff Kevin Joyce would say he was just doing his job to protect our community when he recently called out how an egregious ICE detention was carried out (“bush league policing”). 

I want to offer thanks to Sheriff Joyce for his bravery as a small counter to the rapid personal and financial attack he, and we, received from the federal administration. Use by ICE of his jail was stopped even when moving some of the detainees out of state is illegal.

Sheriff Joyce was maligned by ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde as being both disloyal to law enforcement and not doing his job. (“Sheriff Joyce should clean up his own house before criticizing those who actually protect our communities.”) I’m sure that the administration doesn’t want respected law enforcement officials, local or federal, calling out illegal and unprofessional behavior. They, and we, should step aside and would best be quiet while steps toward an authoritarian state unfold.

Civil rights icon John Lewis famously spoke of causing “good trouble.” By the definitions of the this administration, it seems we need to include “good sedition” and “good domestic terrorism.”
I’ve known brave federal law enforcement officials, but where is the bravery in using excessive force to detain legal and even illegal immigrants? There are people in this country who should not be roaming free. Some are “worst of the worst” immigrants. Some are native born and wear badges, masks and suits.

Ronald Bailyn
Cape Elizabeth