Monday, August 18, 2008

We can no longer wait!

We can longer wait until January 1, 2009 for Burrell Ellis to take action against the incompetent Terrell Bolton. It is time for Vernon Jones to take action now and terminate Chief Bolton, for the sake of the citizens of DeKalb County.

Chief Bolton's latest decision to require Major Crime detectives to seek approval before discussing a Murder or Armed Robbery case with the District Attorney’s office is nothing less than obstruction of justice. This mind boggling policy is so outrageous, even the District Attorney herself, Gwen Keyes, stated in a letter to Bolton that the action: “will quickly have a detrimental effect upon the prosecution of criminal defendants and clearly represents a very real and serious threat to the safety of the citizens of DeKalb County”.

If Vernon Jones fails to address the conduct of Bolton without delay, then the citizens of DeKalb County should rise up and take action with a loud voice to their commissioners and pointedly to Burrell Ellis, the C.E.O. elect.

These types of actions by Bolton have deflated morale to the point where the police department is becoming ineffective in its fight against crime. His policy making decisions and command staff appointments are infected with his ineptness. This affects the safety of every citizen of this county and every person traveling through it.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did I not read that there was an elete pannel conviened to make recommendations to the CEO of Dekalb County for Chief of Police? Surely, if they recommended Chief Bolton to Mr. Jones, he was most qualified. Please explain the problem with the selection process.

DeKalb Officers said...

Yes, there was panel to recommend a Chief of Police to Vernon Jones. However, Terrell Bolton was not on this list. It is unknown how Vernon learned of him, other than being in the same college fraternity.

Anonymous said...

There was a special panel tasked with choosing a police chief for Dekalb. This panel went to great lengths to interview candidates for the most qualified. The panel provided a list of the three most qualified candidates. Bolton WAS NOT on this list!!! (The AJC published the names of the three recommended by the board)

Even thought the panel recommend the three most qualified, Vernon Jones chose to pick Bolton (who is in the same Fraternity) and not even a recommended choice..obviously because he was fired in Dallas

Anonymous said...

Pure curiosity:

Despite the like or dislike of the current police chief, how will a change by the new CEO be received?

That will be 6 chiefs in almost as many years, with the potential of similar or new problems.

Can officers discuss the pros and cons of this situation?

Sincerely,
Concerned Citizen

DeKalb Officers said...

Dear Concerned Citizen,
Even though the county has gone through 5 chiefs in the past 6 years or so, never in the history of Dekalb County police have we had a chief waste the taxpayers money in such a fashion. (nearly 2 million dollars on campers) Never have we had a chief blatantly demote people have have given their dedication for years to the citizens of Dekalb County, only to be replaced by oursiders with no dedication to the taxpayers.
Bolton's management style is of the "have and have nots" This man has destroyed the morale and broken the backs of hard working police officers. Veteran officers have left in droves.
If you need more evidence, read from the beginning of this blog and you will witness for yourself what is going on.

Anonymous said...

Dear Officer,
My question is not necessarily a question of Bolton, as he will most certainly be replaced. Mine is more of a question of what can the CEO and the next chief do to better morale and the department in the future?

I've heard rumors of a couple of possibilities of Chief. Who would be the best candidate and why?

My questions are in hopes of a solution for the future, not just blaming the past.

CC

DeKalb Officers said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeKalb Officers said...

To concerned citizen: Who would be best? That would have to be up to a legitimate board of public safety professionals to seek out. If you recall, Vernon ignored the last recommendation and chose Bolton, who had been terminated from Dallas and was unemployable for 4 years.
How can that person increase morale? Demote and fire the outsiders Bolton brought in. The people he brought in bring nothing to the table. They do not have distinguished careers or any revolutionary ideas. They have not studied under anyone except former Atlanta Police Chief Beverly Harvard. That in itself speaks volumes.
Just recently he demoted Majors O’Brien and Gasner, two long time dedicated competent people, just so Bolton could bring on 2 Lieutenants from Atlanta Police, who by the way have no ties to this department or county. That is pure favoritism.
Officers don’t have enough cars to patrol the streets; they have to wait up to 2 hours for a car. Yet Bolton has given 50 take home cars to the ICP officers, who are not on call, and who do not respond to emergency incidents. Bolton as many as 12 cars assigned to his office. He promoted a unqualified Lieutenant to Major, who just happened to be Vernon’s driver. Instead of purchasing Tasers, he spends nearly 2 million dollars on recreation campers. Officers are wearing outdated ballistic vest……the list goes on and on.
If you ask what is positive about Bolton, all you would hear is crickets.

Anonymous said...

As a Dallas Police Officer, believe me when I say, I feel your pain. I'm just wondering if Bolton will provide another great spectacle, crying (literally) about not being able to get a job as a dog-catcher. Dallas PD officers found it ironic that he is now the chief dog-catcher in Dekalb.

I hope this ends well for all of you. Remember that your brothers/sisters in blue are your greatest resource in trying times. Rely on each other. This too shall pass.

Good luck. Stay safe.

Anonymous said...

I am in full support of the police who are distracted and disturbed by the actions of the present chief of police, Vernon Jomnes' buddy. Now that we have a new CEO, I am confident that he will righ th ship with the help of many citizens who feel as I do. There are a lot of Vernon Jones' buddies who will be leaving - hopefully the chief will be among the first.

JBS - Stone Mountan