Letter to the Editor: Reader Questions Stan Barry's Integrity

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the article that was posted on the Washington Post’s website on Oct. 8 titled “GOP takes aim at Fairfax sheriff over pension”. 

I appreciated Fredrick Kunkle bringing to light of this issue regarding Stan Barry’s enrollment in the DROP program and read with great interest of Stan Barry’s response and justifications for enrolling in a program, which he is not qualified.  In the article, Fredrick pointed out the “arcane complexities of deferred retirement benefits” and goes on detailing the specifics of the DROP program and its complexities of compounded interest rate and so forth.  Unfortunately, I believe both Fredrick and Stan missed the fundamental points of this issue.

Setting aside the “possible savings” to the taxpayers, setting aside the complexity of this retirement program, as I am neither an accountant nor a benefits administrator, the question is whether or not Stan Barry should have been eligible to enroll in this program and once enrolled, should he also abide by its requirements to retire after three years.  This is not an issue about Republicans versus Democrats and it is not an issue of whether or not Stan Barry broke the law by enrolling in DROP but it is an issue of Stan Barry’s integrity and it is an issue of whether or not the voters of Fairfax County have the confidence of Stan Barry holding the top law enforcement position of this County. 

I believe that any one of us, in our daily lives, encounter opportunities or loopholes that we can exploit for our personal gains but I do not believe that everyone of us will take that opportunity because of integrity and honor.  For Stan Barry to see the opportunity of a loophole and seize it for his personal gain, it does speak to his character and honesty. 

The DROP program was designed for non-elected officials and with a requirement to retire after enrolling in the program for three years; so, if Stan Barry was allowed to enroll in a program which he is not eligible but was granted a waiver, should he also not retire after three years?  This is the requirement of the program that the county employees must abide so why should that be any different for Stan Barry, who should never have been allowed to enroll in this program? Are politicians exempt from rules, requirements and regulations?

So, on Nov. 8, the verdict on Stan Barry’s future as the sheriff of Fairfax County will not be based on Republican voters versus Democrat voters but it will be based on whether the voters of this County have the confidence of electing an official who has failed to exhibit the integrity necessary for the office of the sheriff.

Andrew Hsu

Annandale, Va.

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Editor's note: about the controversy over Stan Barry's participation in the DROP program on Oct. 4.