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Few knew a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy had been selected by the U.S. Marshals for a federal task force—until a photo of him helping make an arrest in Washington, D.C., surfaced.
Mark Dobner II was chosen to join a 30-day special task force detail tied to the Freedom 250 celebrations. The photo shows Dobner with other task force officers arresting an individual alleged to have vandalized the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.
Dobner is the only Monroe County sheriff’s deputy sent to the nation’s capital. He joins officers from 44 departments and agencies across the country who were deputized on June 19 by the U.S. Marshals.
“The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office answered the call from our federal law enforcement partners by deploying an MCSO deputy to assist the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Park Police in protecting our nation’s monuments during America’s 250th birthday celebration,” says David Marcucci, MCSO public information officer.
On Monday, Rachel Barnhart, Monroe County legislator for the 17th District, released a statement questioning the deployment of the sheriff’s deputy to Washington, D.C., in the lead-up to semiquincentennial celebrations in the capital. She was informed of the deployment by constituents who questioned the political significance of county law enforcement’s presence at the controversial event.
“Monroe County sent one deputy among a limited number from agencies across the country. That means our patch is visible,” says Barnhart. “When Monroe County personnel appear in viral images tied to arrests and disputed White House claims, Monroe County has become part of the public story. That is a legitimate reason for elected officials to ask whether continued participation serves this county’s interests.”
Marcucci points to a “long tradition of mutual aid between federal, state and local law enforcement, especially at major nationwide events.”
“This is patriotism, not politics,” he says. “This assignment continues a proud tradition of our deputies supporting public-safety missions, to include: MLB All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Game, several NFL Super Bowls, Democratic and Republican national conventions, as well as presidential inaugurations. This assignment is reimbursed by the U.S. Marshals Service.”
Sean McCabe, Republican county legislator for the 6th District, echoes the sheriff’s office. “It’s not about the politics,” he says. “It’s about keeping our people and our nation safe and, you know, making sure families and visitors and even people … in D.C. for the event are safe.”
The semiquincentennial celebrations in D.C.have been controversial since their announcement. Critics of the Trump administration have accused the president of using the celebrations to project executive power.
Arrests of alleged vandals at the Reflecting Pool have been the subject of scrutiny. Earlier this month, on the president’s orders, the pool was repainted a dark “American flag blue” at a cost of $14.7 million. The president has blamed supposed vandals for a subsequent algae bloom and for peeling paint in the pool.
“Under this administration, the 250th anniversary celebrations have been mired in controversy. And you have to ask the question, do we want to be part of that, especially with an administration that has a history of misusing law enforcement?” says Barnhart.
“I just think it’s actually ridiculous because we’ve deployed Monroe County sheriff’s deputies and all the law enforcement officers to large-scale events across the country, whether it’s the Super Bowl, inaugurations, etc.” says McCabe. “If you’re tasked with federal law enforcement as part of the Marshal Service, like this deputy was, and somebody’s committing a crime, you’re supposed to do your job.”
Barnhart, who has pressed Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter in the past, says she has been unclear on his political alignment.
“Sheriff Baxter is a registered Democrat. However, Sheriff Baxter ran on the Democratic and the Conservative Party line,” she says. “The Conservative Party is extremely pro-Trump, and those two things don’t go together.”
“Sheriff Baxter has been loath to criticize Trump,” she adds. “Local media has largely given him a pass on all things related to Trump and immigration enforcement. And now we have this situation. At some point, someone needs to ask Sheriff Baxter if he supports Donald Trump.”
Dobner donated nearly $500 to the 2024 Trump campaign in the lead-up to that year’s election, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures. He donated another $600 to the Republican National Committee and Trump National Committee on Jan. 29, 2025, after the president’s inauguration. The same day, the White House announced a special task force for the Freedom 250 celebrations.
“(MCSO) canvassed for volunteers, and among those who applied, he was selected to go. I unfortunately do not have any further details I can share on the details of the selection process,” says Marcucci.
“My complaint really isn’t about the deputy,” Barnhart says. “My complaint is about Monroe County lending resources to something that now is a coverup for Donald Trump’s corruption. The reflecting pool (repainting) is a complete debacle and a national punchline. And we don’t need to be associated with that.”
David Wazana is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer and a member of the Oasis Project’s second cohort. Danik Soudakoff, a student at Rochester Institute of Technology, is a member of the Oasis Project’s third cohort.
The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. See “Leave a Reply” below to discuss on this post. Comments of a general nature may be submitted to the Letters page by emailing [email protected].
Barnhart is the epitome of hypocrisy!
I want Rachel Barnhard to possibly divert her constant Trump hatred and turn it to something very close to home….the Rochester City School District. The RCSD is thee worst school district in NYS, period. One officer going to Washington has Rachel Barnhard coming out of her office and questioning that decision. I don’t hear a peep out of her mouth when it comes to the failing (for decades) school district. I know why she doesn’t question the school failure, she is incapable of doing anything about it. Decades and the politicians are dead silent on this pathetic RCSD and the RCSB. The failure has been going on so long that no one pays attention nor seems to care. Politicians are afraid to even try to provide a solution to the RCSD failure. While hundreds, actually thousands of kids fail to get an education Rachel Barnhard is concerned about ONE, that one officer going to DC. Our politicians are pathetic. The only issue they seem to embrace is hatred. Hatred for an administration. Maybe Rachel Barnhard ought to step up and recognise the failing school system that dooms thousands to joining the generational poverty population. Then those that are introduced to the justice system. Those who are incarcerated because they are incapable of finding employment due to educational failure. I could go on but Rachel Barnhard will just tell you,….education aint my problem. Semper Fi.
A 4th of July event in the Nation’s Capital is not “controversial”, nor is Sherriff Dept personal contributing to a duly elected President and Party. It’s also establishes good relations with the Feds when grant money is being doled out for new Cop Cars etc.
I am thankful we have Rachel Barnhart asking questions about what is going on in local government. Sadly, our local media seems to be overlooking many obvious questions to ask.
No one despises Donald Trump and his activities more than I do. But even so, I have to ask Ms. Barnhart why the hell Baxter’s opinion of Trump is any business of hers? Leave the political litmus tests to the people we’re opposing.
It’s really sad that (Barnhart) spoke of the Deputy’s appointment the way she has. Its honor to have been selected and now some political ugliness has been spewed from the mouth of a crying liberal. Some things never change! Good luck to the officers of the Department. I really don’t understand why politicians throw rocks at nearly everything that doesn’t align with their agenda. Good luck to the officers of your Dept.
Thankyou for your time and service.
Left unasked and unanswered here are two questions. 1) was Baxter’s assigning of a MCSD officer to a federal task force something that should have been reported to one of the various county legislature oversight committees? And 2) who specifically selected Dobner to serve on the task force? And why Dobner and not someone else?
I grew up in Rochester, where my Dad worked for Eastman for many years. It was a very different place back then. It’s truly appalling that a Monroe County politician thinks it’s her place to question the political views of the Sheriff, who has every right to support the duly elected president of the United States, who won a resounding electoral victory. We don’t know what are the political views of the Sheriff and they are totally irrelevant to this matter and to his honorable work in law enforcement. This rep probably also wants to do away with the electoral college and pack the Supreme Court, to achieve political goals. It’s not about protecting democracy, don’t be fooled — it’s all about staying in power and expecting everyone to adopt and cower to your leftist ideology. Sheesh