Remember Those Who Gave All

Off Duty APD Officer Shot Stopping Robbery, Will Recover

Click here for more.

They Call This A Weapons Stash?

Typical liberal AJC. Hope nobody sees the weapons in our house, they may not have words to describe it.

Click here for AJC article

Hey Wiz, Hey Burrell, Where's The Uniform Protection In Our Neighborhood?

(From January 2010)

May 26, 2010 Pension Board Meeting Minutes

Two new pension board members took the oath of office, Gale Walldorff and Ms Simons.

Minutes of the March, 4 2010 were approved.

Amended minutes of the May 8, 2009 were approved.

Ratification of payment of 17 invoices was approved.

Callan Associates reviewed 1^st quarter of 2010 investments. Returns for 1^st quarter ending March 31, 2010 were 4.44%. Last year returns were 39.09%.

Securities litigation law firm Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, LLP was hired.

Two lawyers were interviewed to represent the DeKalb County Pension Fund. Patricia Keesler, P.C. of the Benefits Law Group was hired.

Review of the early retirement incentive results by The Segal Company were discussed.

Request from 4 employees to repay contributions withdrawn from the pension plan were approved.

Request from 1 employee to pay contributions for employment on leave without pay was approved.

Request from 2 employees for disability pensions were approved.

Pension Board annual 2010 budget was discussed.

The new “Pension Estimator” was viewed and will be on the county website soon. This is a tool for employees to use to input there information and receive a estimate of the future pension payout.

Pension Board had a discussion of early retirement incentive retirees who might be rehired on a part time basis without benefits. This will have no impact of the pension fund!

International money manager T Row Price was hired.

I want to thank all of the employees who have supported me while on the Pension Board. This is my last day of employment with DeKalb County and I have resigned form the Pension Board. Thank you for the opportunity to service you. I wish all the employees of DeKalb County a great future and much prosperity.

James Butler

Another One Indicted On Federal Charges

Bolton's legacy is the gift that keeps on giving.

Click here for "DeKalb cop passed counterfit bills, feds say.

Finally, A Psychic For Director of Public Safety

William "The Wizard" Miller "sensed" CEO Ellis was in danger.

Wiz also said: “There has never been a lack of police presence anywhere due to the security around the CEO’s home,” Miller said. But where does he get the extra body from?

We guess math was not on Burrell's Director of Public Safety application.

Click here for "The Champion" article.

The Governmental Corruption Is Nauseating

Within the past decade, we've had a commission chairman accused of rape. During the investigation, he claims it was nothing more than a Ménage à trois.

We've had a legally elected Sheriff gunned down in his driveway on the orders of his losing opponent.

The police department suffered through the public firing of a police chief, Terrell Bolton for incompetence.

One of Bolton's minions, Don Frank, who was appointed the rank of deputy chief and placed in charge of Homeland Security in the police department, has been indicated on federal bribery charges and subsequently terminated.

And now, Crawford Lewis, the superintendent of DeKalb County schools has been indicted along with three others for racketeering.

Makes you wonder what Burrell Ellis means by "Knowing that we need one another is the bedrock of our New Politics".

Welcome to DeKalb County.

State Court Judge Mobley Spent $25,000.00 Of Taxpayer Money On Travel

While the county is trying to make ends meet, and the county justice system says it needs more money to operate, Judge Barbara Mobley spent 25 thousands dollars on travel, including travel outside the country.

All the while, her court leads all others in backlog of cases.

Click here for AJC article

Director Miller's Female Driver Suddenly Transfered To Uniform Division

Lieutenant V.S. Logan has suddenly been transferred to the Uniform Division, East Precinct.

Sgt. D.M. Bentley has been chosen to replace Logan.

The only question that comes to mind is, What's up with that?

Layoffs Are Coming!

The commission proposes layoffs to meet budget shortfall. Even with the more than expected early retirements, the county is short 8.7 million dollars.

Would you expect any less? When Burrell took office nearly two years ago, he said he would trim the fat including selling the 5 worthless magic buses purchased under Terrell Bolton's regime for 2.5 million dollars.

Yet today, three (3) of the buses are sitting at fleet maintenance on Memorial Drive at Rays Road, rotting away. North precinct wrecked one and now it's being repaired costing the taxpayers untold amounts of money. The 5th one is sitting at Center Precinct.

Looks like Burrell "misspoke" or as some call it, lied.

Click here for AJC article

City of Dunwoody & Dekalb 911. Wiz Miller Stands Behind Our Horrendous System

Owner of Conoco Truck Stop, 3000 Moreland Ave Indicted Along With Don Frank

Amin Budhwani was indicted and arrested for two counts of Bribery back in March. Budhwani was detained without bond pending trial because the court ruled there is a serious risk that he will not appear for court.

According to court records, Budhwani is in the United States illegally. A superseding indictment was returned last week which added Don Frank as a defendant to two counts of Bribery.

Budhwani is the CEO of Trend Stitchers International which apparently owns the Conoco Truck Stop at 3000 Moreland Avenue.

Several civil suits have been filed in DeKalb County against Budhwani and his company. Most of the plaintiff's are banks.

Bolton Claims Burrell Ellis Was Paid By Enemy For His Termination

Click here for The Dallas Morning News article

Freaky Friday --- You Are Threatening In My Ear!

Enjoy!

Sounds Like A T.P.O. May Be In Order

.....isn't that what we tell women who have their eyes closed by the fist of their baby's daddy?

United States of America vs Donald E. Frank

Click here to read the indictment against Don Frank.

The Perp Walk

Will The Dominoe's Fall?

Vernon's boy, Don Frank who reached the heights of Deputy Chief before being busted down to lieutenant, has been indicated by federal authorities for bribery and theft charges.

Stay tuned. This is going to get fun!

In the meantime catch up on some reading: click here for the AJC, here WSB TV, here for WXIA

Reason To Be Scared?

Cop Oversight Panel Seeking Subpoena Power — And More

Seems the folks in Atlanta are having a problem with officers showing up to hearings with attorneys.

Most police departments have Internal Affairs and all county's have a grand jury, making citizen review boards useless, but dangerous.

Click here for Atlanta Unfiltered

Keisha William's Frivolous Lawsuit

Click here to read the frivolous lawsuit. Drill down one page past "Exhibit A" to get to the contents.

Burrell Ellis Now Has P.D. Watching His Home

When Terrell Bolton's smell came back to town, it caused Mr. C.E.O. to become concerned for his safety.

Tucker Precinct is now having to take two officers off the beat to guard his house. If Burrell has in fact been threaten, then Bolton needs to be in jail.

If Mr. Ellis is just worried that something may happen, then maybe he should arm himself.

Sheriff Tom Brown already provides a security detail for Burrell, can't they watch his house too?

Oh, and Mr. C.E.O; on more than one occasion when we have made arrest, we and our families were directly threatened with body arm and death. Can we get some protection too?

Is anybody tallying up the cost of his highness security? Will there be an overtime scandal like Vernon had?

Yep, we have to say it: The Madness Continues!

Yikes! Two In A Week

What type of knee jerk reaction will the department have now that two people have subsequently died after being tased? North Precinct had one a few days ago and Tucker Precinct had one last night.

We are not saying the Taser is the cause of death , after all both of the deceased were well over 350 lbs each, and one probably high on cocaine. But this is the type of situations where past leadership displayed non-sensible reaction.

Looks like our folks who were taken off the streets for refusing to be tased because of medical reasons just might have a case.

Let's see how the Wiz handles this.

DeKalb Didn't Realize The Number Of Unhappy Employees

Now the county wants to refill the positions opened by the early retirement stampede.

Is Keith Barker insane?

Click here for AJC article

Could this be the sidewalk leading to headquarters? Is the county so broke it can't even get the grass cut?

Good lord, it's not safe to walk around the building, there could be varmints in there. No, not the 4th floor, in the grass. It won't be much longer before we can swing from the P.D. building to the F.D. building using the vines growing up the side of the building.

Has S.W.A.T. been training all week by just laying in the grass to see if anybody will see them?

What a disgrace! We hear the brass is going to start breaking balls over uniform appearance, and they are worried about dirty cars. Hell, the cars are libel to be overtaken by the kudzu at night.

What a joke.

Again?

It looks like with time, the failed computer programs and equipment, and even maybe some personnel issues in our 911 dispatch system is coming to light.

5 fireman were fired when a woman burned to death in her home. The fireman claim they did not receive enough information. So far, 2 fireman have been reinstated.

A 90 year old woman calls 911 for a heart problem and has to wait 25 minutes for a ambulance.

Now, a high school soccer player suffering from a head injury has to wait over 20 minutes for an ambulance.

An external investigation into our 911 system needs to be conducted immediately before more people, including one of our own dies.

Click here for "DeKalb investigating ambulance delays"

Fired Chief Says He Was "Fearful Of His Life"

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Decatur police are investigating allegations that DeKalb County officials illegally detained former DeKalb Chief Terrell Bolton and stole his diabetes testing kit.

According to a police report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bolton asked officers to issue arrest warrants for CEO Burrell Ellis, Sheriff Thomas Brown and county chief operating officer Keith Barker on charges of false imprisonment, theft by taking and criminal trespass.

Decatur Police Chief Mike Booker said Tuesday that the investigation is in the preliminary stages.

“We will work it like any other case,” he told the AJC. “We’re working with the district attorney to see if there is enough evidence to issue warrants.”

District Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming said she provided legal advice, but is not conducting an investigation.

Bolton’s allegations are the latest news in his attempt to get his job back. Ellis fired Bolton last year, accusing the chief of insubordination, misuse of county property and acts unbecoming of an officer.

“Last year, CEO Ellis clearly articulated with supporting facts the reason for Mr. Bolton's termination as DeKalb County's Police Chief,” Ellis’ spokeswoman Shelia Edwards said Tuesday. “His [Bolton’s] current allegations are completely false.”

Brown and Barker both declined to comment Tuesday.

According to the police report, Bolton said he arrived to a meeting with the CEO in February 2009 and was led to a fenced-in area in the courthouse by several undercover deputies.

“Bolton stated he felt intimidated and thought he was being taken into the courthouse the same way a prisoner was taken into the building,” the report states.

The former chief said the sheriff then led him into a private room, where Ellis and Baker were waiting. Bolton told officers the room was like a “bunker” and appeared to be set up for “an interrogation room.”

Throughout the meeting, Ellis and Barker continued to threaten to fire Bolton if he didn’t resign, the report states.

Bolton said he was detained in the room for about six and a half hours. During that time, he said he had to be escorted to the bathroom by a deputy and was denied food for about an hour.

At Bolton's request, a deputy retrieved his diabetes medicine from his car. However, during this time his car was illegally searched, the chief said. Bolton told officers his cellphone and checkbook were tampered with, and his blood sugar level testing kit – valued at $50 -- was missing, according to the report.

“He felt intimidated and was fearful of his life,” the report states.

Last year, Bolton filed a lawsuit against the county, alleging he was wrongly terminated. However, he did not complain he was a victim of a crime until Monday.

Bolton’s attorney Nakata Fitch, who was hired last week, said that was because the former chief was too embarrassed to come forward.

The alleged incident occurred at the courthouse, which is in the City of Decatur.

Terrell Bolton Seeks To Have Burrell Ellis and Sheriff Tom Brown Arrested

Former police chief Terrell Bolton is seeking to arrest Burrell Ellis and Sheriff Tom Brown for False Imprisonmet.

Stay tuned, this could get fun!

Funeral Arrangements Investigator Brian Mahaffey

Visitation will held at the First Baptist Church of Conyers on Tuesday May 11th 2:00PM - 8:00PM. Directions to the church can be found here.

The funeral will be held at the First Baptist Church of Conyers on Wednesday May 12th at 2:00PM. Directions to the church can be found here.

There will be no procession. Law enforcement attending should plan on arriving at the church no later than 1:00PM For more details go to http://www.rockdalesheriff.com/

DeKalb Ask Judge To Dismiss Former Chief's Suit

You can read the AJC article here, but we like our inside reporter's view better;

As usual with Bolton this was not without last minute attempts to foil the efforts of DeKalb.

The hearing was over the motion to dismiss (filed in March). Bolton's attorney Fitch handed Indermark and Judge Castellani a last minute amendment to Bolton's petition as they walked into the courtroom. Judge Castellani has given Indermark 48 hours to review the appeal and respond.

Bolton argues he was not given a fair hearing (Merit hearing) due to reasons including his termination due to "conduct unbecoming" is Constitutionally vague". Fitch also argued that testimony and evidence was excluded when Ms. Williams weighed her decision. Fitch voiced concerns that Ms. William decision was politically motivated because she was running for office and used Bolton's merit hearing decision as part of her advertising.

Indermark argued that Bolton's petition to the Motion to Dismiss does not plainly set forth the errors. He indicated you can't say a hearing officer ignored this or that, you must be very specific. He said Bolton's amended petition does not support OCJA 5-4-3. Indermark also cited circuit rulings (most from the 1920's because the law has not changed...but did not have state authority when asked by Castellani) using "conduct unbecoming" as grounds for termination and that there was copious evidence/reasons for termination.

Judge Castellani is a no nonsense man. He kept both sides on track and is ready to wrap this up as this case has been pending for a long time.

More on Slain Deputy Brian Lamar Mahaffey

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. -- Authorities have identified a sheriff's deputy who was shot and killed in Rockdale County Saturday afternoon during an exchange of gunfire.

The shooting happened in the 3400 block of Sand Hill Lane, south of Conyers, the Conyers police chief said. Authorities said deputy Brian Lamar Mahaffey was part of the Narcotics and Vice unit and was attempting to serve a warrant at a residence at the time of the shooting.

Investigators said when deputies entered the residence and announced their presence, the suspect, identified as Terry Brown, was in the closet of a back bedroom and opened fire as deputies approached the closet door.

Mahaffey suffered gunshot wounds and was taken to Rockdale County Medical Center. A sheriff's office spokesperson confirmed that he later died. Officials said Mahaffey was an experienced undercover deputy and was wearing a bullet-proof vest when the shooting happened. He was struck somewhere beneath the vest, investigators said. Another deputy sustained shrapnel injuries, officials said.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Pam Martin also learned that the suspect was killed.

Martin spoke with Brown's wife, Mary, about the shooting. Mary Brown told Martin that she received a call from Terry Brown at about 1 p.m. Mary said Terry Brown told her that he loved her and asked her to take care of his mother.

Mary Brown said when she arrived at the house, she saw police cars everywhere. Brown told Martin that she was not living at the house and that she and Terry had been separated.

The sheriff's office said Mahaffey was not alone when he attempted to serve the warrant. There were other deputies inside and outside the residence, officials said. The warrant was related to rape, aggravated assault and kidnapping charges, officials said.

Mchaffey had just celebrated his 30th birthday Friday. He leaves behind a wife and two small children, including a baby. He attended Heritage High School.

Breaking News: Rockdale County Deputy Shot And Killed

A sheriff's deputy has been shot and killed in Rockdale County, according to WSB-TV.The deputy was shot near the intersection of Ga. 20 and Honey Creek Road, SE Saturday afternoon, authorities told WSB-TV.

Calls to the Rockdale Sheriff’s department were not immediately returned.

The deputy was taken to an area hospital where he died.

The AJC

Disgraced Former Police Chief Terrell Bolton Hires New Attorney, Denied Continuance

The pitiful Terrell Bolton who was fired as police chief for total incompetence, has hired attorney Nakata Fitch to replace attorney William "Bill" Mckenney who jumped the sinking ship.

On May 7, Bolton's new attorney, Nakata Fitch filed a motion for a continuance before Superior Court Judge Castellani, which was promptly denied.

Bolton's appeal hearing for his alleged wrongful termination is scheduled for Monday, May 10 at 1:30 PM before Judge Castellani, court room 7C

One word comes to mind: Loser

DeKalb To Honor Fallen Officers

DeKalb County officials will honor fallen officers Thursday May 6, 2010 at a memorial ceremony of at the old courthouse in Decatur.

The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. at One West Court Square.

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis and the DeKalb Police will recognize officers who lost their lives while serving the residents of DeKalb, police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said.

AJC

The public is invited to attend.

N. Ga. Judge Faces Public Reprimand For Cussing Out Cops

Yeah, well, we have a few choice words for her too. But our mother's may be reading this, so we'll just keep them to ourselves.

Click here for Atlanta Unfiltered story.

Haven't We Been Down This Road Before?

WSB channel 2's Jodie Fleischer followed in the foot steps of CBS Atlanta's Adam Murphy, gigging the folks illegally parking around the Fulton County courthouse.

Looks like the Atlanta police administration got the point across to their officers who were violating the no parking law in Adam Murphy's story, because Jodie walked around 3 blocks looking for one.

Hate to say it, but Jodie's story was lame. She would have better served the viewers and the officers attending court in Fulton County if she had done a story about how there is no parking available to the officers attending court. If the officers can find parking, they will pay up to $25.00 or more a day out of their pocket, which is not reimbursed.

But hey, at least she didn't stand in street with a box of donuts calling out for the police like a beer vendor at Turner Field.

Report: Second Fired DeKalb Fire Fghter Wins Back Job

The County is 0 for 2 in the two merit appeal hearings. Seems a pattern is being set.

By Staff

For the AJC

A second DeKalb County firefighter dismissed after a fatal Dunwoody fire has won back his job, WSB-TV is reporting.

A hearing officer ruled for William Jeffrey Greene when he appealed his termination last week, according to reports.

Greene was one of the five firefighters fired when a blaze killed 74-year-old Ann Bartlett, hours after the firemen responded to a 911 call and left because they saw no signs of a fire.

The county intends to appeal the ruling, as it has when fired fire Capt. Tony Motes was reinstated last month, according to reports.

The Kool Aid Fountain Continues To Flow

Stupid Question Of The Week: Too Much Staff In DeKalb County?

With Burrell Ellis having 29 staff positions in his office, the county just may be over staffed just a bit.

The only thing changed from Vernon Jones and Burrell Ellis is the C.E.O. office address.

Click here for AJC article.