Call it for what it is.

When Terrell Bolton was hired here, everyone--black, white, Hispanic, male, female, dog, cow--wanted to see Bolton come in and do well. But it's slowly slipped away. It's a lost cause. The troops don't believe him. All that is heard now is, 'When is he gonna leave so we can get someone else in here?'"

The DeKalb Police Department under Terrell Bolton is burdened by terrible morale; spotty management, simmering resentments caused by mass demotions, some bizarre key hires, raising violent crime and wasteful spending, but those issues are seldom heard in public outside this blog.

We have been patient long enough now. With the forced retirement of Deputy Chief Burrows the cards are on the table. It is time to stop skating around the issue.

Bolton has forced into retirement or demoted some very qualified people with distinguished careers. Of the white males, he has replaced all with a black or a female. As of now, there are only 2 white males in his command staff, Major Higdon and Deputy Chief Horner.

Bolton did the same thing in Dallas, causing the taxpayers a minimum of $5.6 million dollars when the wrongly demoted and the one’s forced into retirement successfully sued. When will the suits be filed here? How much will the taxpayers of DeKalb County have to pay? Who will be the first to say “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!”?

The morale of the department has a direct impact on crime fighting efforts. The abuse by Bolton leaves the rank and file with hopelessness which in turn causes a lackadaisical work ethic leading to higher crime. Higher crime means less people will want to move into the county and fewer businesses will want to be based in the county. We insist the county Chamber of Commerce start applying pressure on Burrell Ellis to fire Bolton in 2009 as soon as possible. The business leaders within the DeKalb Police Alliance need to fall in line.

Vernon will soon be walking away leaving the citizens of DeKalb County holding the (empty) bag. It is up to Ellis to pressure Vernon and Bolton about the legality of all the demotions, hiring and promotions. Ellis faces a rough start as C.E.O. unless he can get the police department under control.

Vernon and Bolton will leave this county and the department in ruins from which it may never recover.