Extremist Groups in America
The “Constitutional Sheriff” Movement: The Most Dangerous Group You Never Heard Of
Another case of white nationalists slipping tentacles into our institutions and corrupting them from within
You very likely have never heard of an organization called Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA). If you have heard some mention of them, maybe you dismissed it in the course of your busy day, just muttering to yourself something like, “Hey, isn’t that just some crazy sheriffs down in Arizona? Or was it Texas? Gee, some guys are really nutty, aren’t they?” Then you just laughed and shrugged and carried on with your busy day, right?
Let me quote from the CSPOA website and see if I can get your undivided attention:
In addition to upholding the law, the sheriff is also charged with upholding the supreme law, the Constitution. The law enforcement powers held by the sheriff supersede those of any agent, officer, elected official or employee from any level of government when in the jurisdiction of the county. Furthermore, it is this responsibility that grants a Sheriff the Constitutional authority to check and balance all levels of government within the jurisdiction of the County. (emphasis added)
Read that again if you need to in order to let it sink in — assuming it didn’t cause you to fall out of your chair.
These are sheriffs who believe that they can defy local, state, and federal government officials and legislation. They state:
“The vertical separation of powers in the Constitution makes it clear that the power of the sheriff even supersedes the powers of the President.”
As upset as many of us are with SCOTUS right now, I find it chilling, terrifying, and infuriating to know that my local county sheriff might think of himself as his own private little supreme court, convinced — having attended a “training class” sponsored by CSPOA — that he has the power and authority to single-handedly decide the constitutionality of laws and act accordingly.
It is hard to find clear numbers on exactly how many sheriffs are members of CSPOA, but the…
