Monday, June 30, 2008

Bolton changes face of DeKalb County Police

Bolton doesn’t like what he sees and is clearly changing the face of the department and accepting defeat. When Bolton took over, he made changes to the command staff through demotions, transfers and forced retirements.
He replaced two of these people with 2 Lieutenants from the Atlanta Police Department. These two have been promoted to Assistant and Deputy Chief Positions. They were described as “diamonds in the rough” that Chief Pennington had over looked in his department.
Now TeBo has admitted through actions, that our training division, and the training of The State of Georgia’s Peace Officers Standard and Training in Forsyth is inadequate. There is no competent training to be found anywhere in the state. So, he has plans to send everyone from Lieutenant and above to Houston Texas for training.
This leading edge, trend setting training will consist of shadowing their counterpart in a city that has nothing in common with DeKalb County.
Why Houston? What not anywhere but there? Could it have something to do with Lee P. Brown? Lee P. Brown is a former Chief of Police and Mayor of Houston. Mr. Brown also has ties to the Atlanta area, being Atlanta’s former chief of police.
Lee P. Brown and Associates was paid $313.319.00 on a $53,000.00 contract with DeKalb county (which Vernon Jones takes full responsibility for). Brown and Associates evaluated the police department and assisted on the search for chief of police. Although Brown was not part of the official panel formed by Vernon Jones, he had nothing but praise for Terrell Bolton.
What will be the cost to send 100 or more officers to Houston Texas for a total of 10 days? Will the travel arrangements be made through Brown and Associates or someone dear to them? Someone will profit from this misconceived adventure.
And now we are learning Bolton has found 2 more “diamonds in the rough” at APD and are bringing 2 more Lieutenants over as Majors to fill the two empty precinct commands.
At least Bolton is consistent. He consistently inept, and consistently demonstrates his incompetence, just one of the reasons he was fired from the Dallas Police Department.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

This question was asked during the June 26 CEO debates. Stan Watson did not participate.

"Police Chief Terrell Bolton has put forth a road map for success plan for the DeKalb County Police Department, which does have a $100 million price tag if implemented. Do you support the plan, and if so how do you intend to pay for it?
"

Complements of Rusty Tanton co-founder of the Georgia Podcast Network.

News from Fly on the Wall

Well I heard the news that we have two Lieutenants from Atlanta Police about to join our ranks. I understand they are going to be our new Majors to run certain precincts. So we must not have anyone internally that meets Chief Bolton qualifications.
Somehow Atlanta Chief Pennington missed these two candidates for his own department, just as he missed Chiefs Anderson and Bush.
I wonder how Chief Bolton found out about these two candidates for his Command Staff? Will there be a Deputy Chief assigned to the CEO security detail? Well he putting a temporary command staff in place there?.
The question is, are these people Bolton is bring in qualified if we have a dire situation that would require leadership and knowledge?
Don't worry , we still have qualified Captains and below to lead us . You can not blame someone from accepting a promotion after being tapped by Chief Bolton for an ACTING position, if you said NO, who knows the retaliation and where you would be assigned. I just hope Burrell Ellis and Stan Watson are concerned enough about the DeKalb Police Department. It will take years to recover from the Vernon Jones/Louis Graham/Terrell Bolton era.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Pack Your Bags!

Speaking of "Houston, we have a problem", it looks like all Lieutenants and above traveling to Houston will be doing so in style. 10 at a time will be traveling together in a 15 passenger van for the 14 hour drive.
An example of training is; our lieutenants will ride along with their lieutenant for a week to see how they do their job. Fascinating training! You know everyone is excited! What will the Captains and above do? Sit in their counterparts office and watch them do paperwork? Kinda like bring your child to work day!
Odds are they will be housed with the person they are riding with, or at the local prostitute and crack dealing infested Motel 6.
Obviously there is not enough money in the budget for such a lunatic idea. So will the money come out of seized drug funds again?
Slowly the funds are being drained. Should there be an audit?

Friday, June 27, 2008

Latest Promotions - Update

G.R. Horner has been promoted to Deputy Chief, he is no longer acting.
Acting Deputy Chief Harrell has been promoted to Assistant Chief.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

DKPD ANON WANTS TO KNOW

Have any of you given any thought to who would make a good candidate to replace current Chief of DeKalb Police Terrell "The Terrible" Bolton?

Regardless of whether you support State Representative Stan Watson or DeKalb County Commissioner Burrell Ellis in their bids for DeKalb CEO, one of these two most assuredly will be our next CEO, and as such, one of them will have the authority to replace the Chief. (Thank God Almighty, free at last!)

It would be great if some of us could identify some potential replacements for the incoming CEO to consider. Do any of you know of any highly-qualified people in other jurisdictions who would be interested in taking charge here? Do any of our current Command Staffers have the wherewithal and the necessary internal support to step into this position? (No, Keisha -- I'm afraid you are not eligible.)

I'd like to see some serious and thoughtful discussion on this issue. Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing to get a Chief installed that the DKPD rank and file could stand behind?

Someone asked why "Terrible" Terrell was sending Command Staff to Houston PD for training. It is obvious he is sucking up to someone down there in Texas -- positioning himself for his next job after he gets terminated here.

By the way -- Kudos to whoever was the mastermind behind the photo of the magic bus with the "Vote Yes on Dunwoody" bumper stickers. That was funny as hell!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Who is the best candidate poll is closed:

Stan Watson led with 57% followed by Burrell Ellis, Steen Miles and Ann Kimbrough.

Houston, we have a problem

Bolton claims there is not enough money to purchase Tasers and other equipment for the department. But yet he wants to send every lieutenant, captain, major, deputy chief and all the ICP officers, in increments of 10, to spend a week with the Houston Texas P.D. for training.

And the total cost of this would be? Maybe the equal amount it would cost to purchase Tasers for at least half the street officers?

What does Houston have that we don’t, a lower crime rate maybe?

Maybe to save cost, they would travel and sleep on the magic buses. At least get some use out of them.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Why Does the Department Hide Facts?

CLICK HERE FOR AN EXCELLENT POSTING ON DUNWOODYNORTH.ORG

Two CEO candidates clash over public safety at meeting

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker/Cross Roads news
Published: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 5:38 PM CDT

CEO candidates Burrell Ellis and Stan Watson have very different approaches to tackling public safety.

Ellis, a DeKalb County commissioner, wants to study the problem of police attrition in a year, and Watson, a 10-year state representative, wants to fix the problem within the first 100 days of his administration - if he is elected.
Both approaches collided when the two faced off at June 16 East Lake Community Forum at which they were the only invited CEO candidates.

The spirited exchange proved to be the evening's high point, after two other CEO candidates, Joe Bembry and Steen Miles, were prevented from joining the panel. The fifth candidate, Ann Kimbrough, did not attend but had representatives at the meeting.

Ellis and Watson were responding to a question about what they will do to put more officers on the street, stop the exodus of officers and to pay for them.

Ellis pointed out that as a county commissioner he has provided funding every time a police chief asked for it.

This year, he said, Police Chief Terrell Bolton asked for 200 more offices over the next four years but that CEO Vernon Jones' budget amounted to a net loss of 27 officers.

"I voted to restore that loss and then to add 127 new officers to the force," he said. "We didn't quite get to 200 but we did get a long ways to where we need to be."

Ellis said that DeKalb police officers make good starting salaries but start to lose out at the Master Officer level, which is about three years after. He said that they had implemented step increases to help mitigate the problem. To address the attrition problem, he said he has "proposed a study in a year" in his Burrell Ellis Public Safety and Great Government Efficiency Plan and that he will pay for more police officers by cutting waste in county government.

At his turn with the mike, Watson came out jabbing.

"Study what?" he said, to applause from the audience. "We tired of studying public safety in DeKalb County. All you got to do is to talk to your officers and not listen to studies."

Watson said he would look at the organization to see how police officers are being transferred around the county and who is actually running the department.

"We need to see if the chief is really in charge of the day-to-day operations," he said.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Who is the right choice?

The general election primaries are a mere 30 days from now. If the DeKalb County residents haven’t done so, it is time to seriously consider the best candidate for Chief Executive Officer.
When choosing a candidate, it is important to look beyond one single issue. The decision must be based on a broad range of issues, from public safety to responsible tax dollar spending and accountability.
Addressing public safety in particular, which candidate will be more lately to defend the citizens of this county from raising crime, wasteful spending, “buddy” hiring, revengeful demotions and transfers which has spun the police department into disarray?
Which candidate is more lately to replace Terrell Bolton with a competent chief of police? One that is without a history filled with questionable antics that cost taxpayers millions and millions of dollars. A candidate who will install a recommendation board to hire a competent chief of police and follow its decision?
The serious candidates are Stan Watson and Burrell Ellis. You must also include Ann Kimbrough because she will draw from the Vernon Jones loyalist, simply because of her Chief of Staff position and nothing more.
Today is the last day to register to vote. If you have not, go register. This is an important election for the safety and well being of the citizens of DeKalb County and the men and woman who stand behind the badge.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

DeKalb County Police In Disarry

I have many friends on the DeKalb County Police Department and I can tell you that the problems of the DeKalb police force outlined in an editorial in todays Dunwoody Crier are well documented as being true. I have included a few links to highlight the problems mentioned and some of the sources even come from the DeKalb Police Officers themselves from their "Anonymous" blog.

http://dekalbofficersspeak.blogspot.com

These officers who contribute to this site are probably risking their livelihood in doing so, but they must feel that by not speaking as they are, that they would be continuing to risk so much more then just a job.

The Dunwoody Crier, June 10, 2008

The DeKalb Police Department is in horrible disarray. Turnover is at an all-time high and morale is at an all-time low. CEO Vernon Jones appointed Chief Bolton over several more qualified candidates, who were actually recommended by the selection committee. Bolton came to DeKalb after being fired by the Dallas, Texas, police department.

Bolton did not buy a house in DeKalb when he moved here from Dallas. He was living in an RV in Stone Mountain Park until it was reported on TV news. Meanwhile, the 911 call center is under-staffed and emergency 911 calls are now routinely put on hold. At peak time, 911 hold times of up to 17 minutes have been reported.

Dunwoody is at the northern reach of the county and when shifts are under-staffed, Dunwoody suffers the most because our beats go unfilled. DeKalb police officers report to us that Dunwoody's three beats are almost never fully staffed. Veteran officers are leaving by the dozen to seek jobs in departments with better morale and management. Yet for those three understaffed beats, the Dunwoody tax digest contributes more than $11 million per year to the police budget.

While the line officers are very dedicated and professional, they are stretched far too thin. There are some facts that Dunwoody citizens should know regarding the performance of the DeKalb Police Department and how your tax dollars are spent:

DeKalb County has had four police chiefs in five years.

A grand jury is currently investigating spending on CEO Jones’ security detail; this entourage cost the taxpayers $600,000 in a recent year.

CEO Jones’ driver was recently promoted to Deputy Chief.

Poor morale has led to 43 officers leaving the DKPD since the beginning of 2008, including 19 in one month.

Chief Bolton has either forced into retirement, demoted, or reassigned 12 senior command staff since 2007. This includes one assistant chief and five deputy chiefs.

A city of Dunwoody Police Department is clearly the answer to this extraordinary mess. We can create a professional force focused exclusively on Dunwoody, a force that provides the kind of police protection and crime prevention we need as our community becomes more densely populated and subject to increased crime. We can easily provide significantly higher police coverage and establish agreements with surrounding police forces for some specialized services (like SWAT and Search and Rescue) which we rarely need.

Three days prior to your vote on cityhood, the DeKalb PD will have a huge display at the North Precinct. Specialized equipment such as the “mobile precincts” will be shown off. This is done at huge taxpayer expense in an attempt to influence your vote on July 15th. While the display will certainly be impressive, ask yourself, “when is the last time you saw a police officer in a school zone or proactively preventing crime in Dunwoody?” You know the other 364 days a year count too.

Vote "Yes" on July 15th if you ever want to improve police protection, personal safety and quality of life issues in Dunwoody. Have a local voice in how your tax dollars are spent on police services. Who do you want spending your tax dollars and managing your police department: DeKalb County or your fellow citizens?

Dunwoody North Civic Association
The Dunwoody Crier

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Dunwoody Resident Upset With North Precinct Response Time

This type of response time is helping to make the case for Dunwoody to become it's own city. Unfortunately this is not uncommon in DeKalb County. Response times of up to 3 and 4 hours are not unheard of.
Unlike Dunwoody, the rest of the residents of Dekalb County find this type of response time along with the crime rate acceptable. If it were not true, they would revolt and demand Bolton and the rest of his cronies be packed on one of those quarter million dollar campers and shipped out west.
Click Here for the article as it appears in the Dunwoody Crier.

ICP Unit to be renamed?

Have you wondered why they are asking for volunteers to drive the ICP buses? It appears the ICP unit and its buses are not catching on with the public.
As you all know, the Chief likes to use cute little catch phrases. To keep in line with his redundant “New Start, New Beginning”, “The Vision Continues” and “Road to Success”, the ICP unit will be renamed to “The Magic Bus Squad”.
When there is a rise in crime in a particular area, The Magic Bus Squad will be deployed and magically, the crime is reduced. There will be a study to determine exactly why these buses have such power. What really confuses the Command Staff is these buses lack any power unless a dedicated number of officers from the precincts are deployed along with them. Also they are finding, the buses have no power even when ICP officers are deployed with it.

DeKalb deputy says he shot man who killed his wife

CLICK HERE for the AJC story

NO TALKING IN ROLL CALL!

By LOVEMYJOB

So I hear that two officers and one Sgt from center precinct got kicked off their morning watch team to other watches for talking amongst themselves in roll call while the almighty chief major captain K Anderson was in the room. I believe that the Sgt got written up for failure to supervise and now the center roll call room has rules on the board about roll call conduct. What are we in high school?
It sure feels like it only we all carry guns! Are you kidding me?!! Go back into your forced retirement from Atlanta Anderson and stop being a company man Higdon and be your old self!!

**Editors Note: It was actually Major Waddleton. But that shouldn't' stop Deputy Chief Anderson from going back into retirement.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Even the Grand Jury has callled Bolton out on his kingdom building.

DeKalb County Officers – Officers Serving Outstanding Warrants: We strongly recommend that virtually all of the county’s law enforcement officers, currently assigned as part of the large entourage which rides with and allegedly “protects” the DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer as published in reports, on a daily basis, be immediately reassigned away from the County CEO and instead be added to the ten Sheriff’s officers which presently are trying to carry out the daunting task of serving the county’s 20,000 outstanding arrest warrants. As much as the County CEO may feel he needs the “protection” of these officers, we deem that the citizens of DeKalb County need their “protection” far more.

We urge that such resources be reallocated and that immediate action be taken to reallocate manpower to serve these outstanding warrants. Defendants should be speedily brought in for arraignment, the wheels of justice could proceed, and the streets of our communities would become safer. DeKalb County would be a better place for our families and children to live.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Bolton's Road to Success is a dead end!


CLICK HERE to visit Dunwoody North Civic Association for some very revealing videos and comments about the Grand Jury Report.

BOC Considers Grand Jury Probe Of Purchasing Practices

Click HERE for the story at GoDeKalb.com

A couple of examples of comments left by their readers:

Where is Chief Bolton on Vernon's entourage?

written by Dundevil, June 04, 2008

Chief Bolton selectively read the grand jury report. he pounced on it to support his request for Tasers. He studiously neglected the part that called for reassignment of Vernon's police protection squad to serve Sheriff's warrants.

I wonder how much the squad is still costing DK taxpayers? I remember that there was a lot of overtime. Vernon will probably insist on lifetime protection after he leaves office like the President of the US.

written by Seek the Truth, June 04, 2008

O&T - please volunteer for Grand Jury Service ASAP. Thanks for putting us on to this GJ report ever citizen should read it and then stop paying any taxes to DK.

There should be a tax revolt against this administration -- ruined our police, misspent millions, abusive, vindictive, racist, and on and on. Time for you all to go!!

City of Dunwoody Presentation, Dunwoody North Driving Club,Sunday June 8th 7:00 PM.

Click HERE for more information

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Nothing like a fresh morning cup of coffee….

There is nothing like get up in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee, pulling up the Atlanta Journal Constitution on the web to catch up on the news, and reading about yet another slain person in DeKalb County.

Think I’ll go play Grand Theft Auto 4 with the kids.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Our hearts are sadden to hear of the passing of Captain Allen Blaisdell’s son, Martin.

Funeral service for Martin Blaisdell will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 2nd at Duluth First United Methodist Church located at 3208 Duluth Highway 120, Duluth, GA 30096.

The family will receive friends Sunday, June 1st, from 2:00.- 4:00 and 6:00- 8:00 p.m. at Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home located at 5051 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross, GA 30092, (770)-448-5757.

In lieu of flowers, those desiring may send contributions to: The Brain Tumor Foundation for Children, 6065 Roswell Road, NE, Suite 505, Atlanta, GA 30328-4105, (404) 252-4107 or to Camp Sunshine, 1850 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30033, (404) 325-7979.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.crowellbrothers.com .