Saturday, February 5, 2011

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis Isn't Your Typical Politician

Click here to read Creative Loafing article.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm with the person in the comments section at the bottome....he/she wanted to know why the public corruption unit was disbanded.

Anonymous said...

The public corruption unit was disband because they were over worked.... it was for their own good. lol

Anonymous said...

This article smacks of Creative Loafing's typical bias. They try to paint Ellis in a nice guys finish last kind of light, but they don't go in depth on many things.
1. The GM plant. It did not fall through because Ellis was unable to close the deal, it fell through because it was a horrible idea at the time and still is. Building a multimillion dollar consumer complex in the middle of a recession makes no sense. Have you been to the malls lately? They're far less crowded than they used to be because people can't spend like they used to. The new Atlantic Station would have gone bust within almost a year and been an even bigger loss.

2. The Rural Metro Ambulance scandal. Let's not forget about how Ellis terminated the contract with Care Ambulance Service so that he could bring in Rural Metro, a company he had connections with. This was a pure example of opportunistic corruption.

3. Removing patrol officers from normal patrol to guard his own residence. Ellis removed up to two officers a shift from Tucker precinct to guard his own home after he felt "threatened" by Terrell Bolton. When we heard the soundbyte from old Tbolt, it was laughable but nowhere near threatening. Still Ellis removed officers from daily service to citizens in order to protect himself. Something such as this screams of abuse of power and privilege. Of all the people in Dekalb County who receive real threats everyday, officers included, none of them get a dedicated police guard in front of their home. And then to go along with that...

4. The furlough days and loss of holidays. At first the furloughs were basically days we came to work for free. Absolutely incorigible. Then paid holidays went away. Then we got furloughed but actually got to stay home. Honestly I'm surprised anyone is still here after this. All the while, the Sherriff's Office gets to set its own budget and accumulate unlimited overtime. Then to go along with that one...

5. Raises up to 33% and ridiculous severance packages for employees who were terminated due to misconduct. While we were losing holidays and getting to work for free, Ellis was giving secretaries raises in the area of 10-15,000 dollars. On top of that, two high profile positions that were terminated due to misconduct received enough severance pay to pay three officers' yearly salaries. Then he had the nerve to show up in Tucker precinct's roll call and say "In hindsight maybe the raises weren't such a good idea." Talk about pouring salt on a wound...

No he's not your "typical" politician, and there are other things that I've barely even scratched the surface of. These are just a few of the big ones that stick out in recent memory. He's no different than Vernon, he just hides his ego a little better, but if you look at his actions there's almost no difference. There's just as much corruption and croneyism. This kind of crap is partially what got us into this mess and more of it definitely won't be what gets us out.

Anonymous said...

Who was in charge of the Public Corruption unit of the PD? Sounds like a friendship was created and therefore no mo.

Why get rid of a good thing unless some favorite toes were being stepped on? Maybe the toes were getting very close to home, or maybe the person(s) were wearing sandals. Whatever the reason is or was, something ain't right !

stevie said...

I concur !!

Anonymous said...

I love the title LIL VERN, it fits the person so well. He just following Big Vern footsteps.

Then look at the appointed one Wiz Miller and the Chief O'Brien.

Increase their pension payouts.

Anonymous said...

Ellis is not the victim that CL tries to make him. The real victims are the taxpayers of DC.

Anonymous said...

Just talk to some of the people that used to be in the public corruption unit. They'll tell you all about the crooked stuff going on in the county. They can't and won't be fired for telling you about it. They know too much. One day, it's going to catch up to some people in very high places!

Anonymous said...

New uniforms, New guns, New cars (the new cruisers look *stunning* and quality) new buildings, part time jobs about 40 pr/hr and a new pension coming up and getting your pay back soon...

you folks need to stop complaining...you think it's bad here, try going out to clayton county or fulton and see if they'd take care of you as well as you get it here.

jmo!

Anonymous said...

To Anon 10:57

I have yet to see a new uniform... though I have tried to get one replaced recently.. a no go because they didn't plan far enough ahead for a uniform shortage.Yes the new guns are nice, but they were in the works long before the new admin was in power. New cars? They are just the cars taken away from the command staff when they got their new Impalas. They command hasn't actually bought a new vehicle for uniform yet. New buidlings? Still get water dripping on my head in roll call on rainy days and sweage backing up... no new building here. You can't give the admin cedit for our part times other than allowing us to work them... If it wasn't for my part time I would be sinking. No raise in almost 4 years, higher pension, higher insurance, and furlough days. My first paycheck of the new year was the same size as my first paycheck I recieved 7 years ago. We will NEVER see the money they have taken away from us again... which will in the end affect our final pension asuming the pension isn't bankrupt by the time I get to the point I can use it. You can't rationalize the way we are getting treated and the mismanagement of our county by saying "It's worse other places" Well it's also A LOT better other places too.

LIL VERN stop posting on our boards.

Anonymous said...

ummmm, part-time jobs at 40.00 hr? Only if you set it up then that's more time away from your family, new cars..it's only replacement cars for all of the ones that have been wrecked. Other units have 90,000 plus on them including the ones in SOD. Getting raise's back.. not a person has seen it yet and if we do do you know how long it will take to make up what we haave lost in the last 5 yrs. Your right we really have it made JMO. Oh forgot about the new uiforms.. we are only changing the shirt color same pants and the weapons because we could not get 92G's anymore. But am sure your "fine police skills" you knew all of this info already.

Anonymous said...

Be VERY careful this summer guys. There is a SICK competition developing amongst the Majors as you are seeing to constantly increase productivity (revenue) at any cost by varying threats. This is especially dangerous as fearful newer officers neglect REAL police duties such as backup in order to save their jobs. Hopefully this is obvious to everyone but with the still collapsing economy extra precaution needs to be taken as violent criminals are flocking to Dekalb County.

Anonymous said...

I agree, CEO Burrel Ellis is not your typical politician.
He's smart but ineffective. His office staff has nearly doubled in two years with no appreciable results for efficiency within DeKalb government.
Several members of his staff have resigned in disgrace for stupidity and lack of "zipper control".
CEO Ellis does not attend BOC meetings. His only duty is to provide a budget for DeKalb government that is ignored by the BOC that produces its own budget.
The CEO position is redundant and should be abolished at first opportunity.

Anonymous said...

To Anon 10:57

Are you f-drunk? or just plain stupid? I expect you to answer that honestly.

Without a doubt a tbo hire anyone hired here in 2007-2009

Anonymous said...

I just read the Executive Order signed by Dick Stoegner that did away with the second 5% bump in pay after being promoted......

Typical politician ......Ellis didn't sign it himself.... let someone else be the harbinger of bad news.