Resident urges Polk County commissioners to act after judge’s decision, questions DA office practices

Robert Ringway, a public commenter who identified himself as being with "Southeast Academy," used the Polk County Board of Commissioners’ public-comment period on Dec. 18 to urge the commissioners to take action concerning the county district attorney’s office. Ringway said he emailed commissioners about a recent Polk County judge’s decision involving another county’s district attorney and said that ruling demonstrated commissioners have enforceable rights over the DA’s office.

Ringway criticized what he described as reliance on hearsay within the DA’s office and pressed commissioners to demand documentary proof of communications. "That you can't do anything is BS," he said, adding that commissioners should ‘‘get off your butts and try to do something.’’ He questioned whether staff maintained written notes or memos of conversations and told the board there was nothing to support some of the assertions he has heard.

Unidentified Speaker 1 responded at several points, noting the transcript of the case was "blocked" for review but acknowledging a judge was involved and that a prior suit had been denied in at least one instance. The board did not take any formal action during the meeting on the issues Ringway raised; his remarks were part of the non-agenda public-comment period.

The meeting record shows no follow-up motion or directive to staff to investigate Ringway's claims, and no additional public commenters addressed the DA matter during this session. The board proceeded to routine business and adjourned without scheduling an executive session.