Corruption of Dekalb County Continues

DeKalb judge Barbara Mobley quits amid probe of allegations that she and others improperly accessed the Georgia Crime Information Center, which includes criminal histories, arrests, fingerprints, driving records and other information.

Mobley was elected to State Court in 2005. State Bar of Georgia records show was admitted to practice law in 1985 and remains in good standing.

Last year, Mobley was under fire when a joint investigation between the AJC and Channel 2 Action News found that she had spent nearly $25,000 in taxpayers’ money traveling to conferences in Jamaica, Panama and the Virgin Islands over three years. The investigation found she spent 84 days in a three-year period -- 2007 to 2009 -- out of the office at training and conferences. This did not include sick and vacation time.

Mobley also was scrutinized in 2009 when she racked up more than $3,800 in cell phone charges in 2008. This included $220 in roaming fees for the 83 calls she made during the trip to the Virgin Islands.

Mobley can practice law if she wants but she plans to do international judicial consulting. Mobley made about $150,000 a year and will be able to receive a pension.

Just think, if she had been working for Burrell, she would also would have received a car allowance and separation pay.

As long as these public officials are allowed to get away with breaking the law and not prosecuted, this county is doomed.

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November 2010 Pension Board Meeting Minutes

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Jail Medical Contract To Cost DeKalb $8 Million A Year

According to the AJC who quoted a sheriff's department spokesman, the cost of the jail's infirmary and clinic will cost the taxpayers 40 million dollars over the next 5 years, or 8 million dollars per year.

The county jail was built to house 3700 inmates. At 8 million dollars a year, that is roughly $2,162 per inmate a year for medical cost.

The proposed contributions to Grady Hospital operations in 2011 by Burrell Ellis is 13 million dollars. The population of DeKalb County is roughly 740,000. So, that would be about $17.50 per citizen a year for medical cost. A difference of $2144 per year.

This does not include the cost when the jail medical staff refuses someone who has been arrested, and the police department has to transport them to Grady hospital, and guard them until they are medically cleared. If the medical condition is something minor, it can take up to 24 hours or longer for them to be released by Grady medical staff.

If there ever needed to be an outside investigation into corruption of our elected officials, from the sheriff to each and every commissioner, the time is now.

Like they say, "follow the money".

GBI Looks At DeKalb Judge, Ex-Investigator

The days of Vernon past.

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Officer Investigated For Releasing Suspected Drunk Solicitor

We don't have the facts why the solicitor was released. But, could it he complained of some medical condition at the jail and was refused? If this is true, would the department admit it? Even if it embarrasses the sheriff?

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We Have A Dedicated Fire Tax And A E911 Tax. So Why Not A Dedicated Police Tax?

Authorities Fear Cops Being Targeted After at Least 11 Officers Shot in 24 Hours Read

With the state of our society and the lack of meaningful punishment in our justice system, this was bound to happen.

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According To County Spokesman Burke Brennan, We Still Have Insurance Despite Glitch

Believe it, or not.

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Got Insurance?

Pension Board Election Rescheduled For February 1, 2011. - Vote For Joe Hardy

The election to fill two vacancies on the Pension Board has been rescheduled for February 1, 2011. Voting will take place between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, at the following locations:

742 Camp Drive – Risk Management Field Office
2315 Chamblee-Tucker Road – Sanitation North Lot
Clark Harrison Building – Conference Room B
Pole Bridge – Watershed Management
Roadhaven – Watershed Management
Voters Registration & Elections (Memorial Drive)
Warren Road – Fleet Maintenance
West Exchange Place, Tucker – Police/Fire

Television Show "The First 48" Comes To Dekalb

Burrell Ellis, Wiz Miller and others welcome the television show "The First 48" to DeKalb County. We don't.

This nauseating television program is making monetary profits from the blood and death of human beings and the sorrow of the families of the dead. DeKalb County was chosen because of the odds of someone being murdered, not because of the odds of someone not being murdered.

DeKalb County is receiving money from the A&E Television Network. We wonder how it's paid out. Per body or the most gory? Some street thug shot in the street, or a innocent girl walking to school. Keep those fingers crossed.

Think of the poor ole Wells Fargo armored car guard that was just gunned down. We can only imagine the number of people pulling for him to die.

The citizens of DeKalb can seek comfort in knowing in the corner of some governmental office in Decatur or at police headquarters, someone is wringing their hands in anticipation of someone being murdered, for profit.

This is our county government's idea of exposing Dekalb County's name in hopes of bringing in legitimate businesses and getting outsiders to come in and purchase homes.

Burrell Ellis and Wiz Miller should be seeking remedies to reduce crime instead of profiting from it.

It's Called Testical Fortitude

Sheriff Brown means business and knows the meaning of public safety and service to the citizens of DeKalb and co-workers. He is not rewarding his people who claim they couldn't make it to work during the winter storm, he is suspending them without pay for being A.W.O.L. 127 of them!

Burrell Ellis instead rewards those in the police department who refused to come in or had some type of excuse. And the reward for those who did manage to make it to work, even those who paid for a hotel room at their own expense? Reward for those who were away from their family? YOU GET NOTHING!

It's just not right!

We support Sheriff Brown and hope he suspends every last one of them!

Take lessions, Wiz Miller.

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Former Deputy Chief Don Frank Case Update

Former Deputy Chief Don Frank's federal bribery case moves on...ever so slowly.

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It's Offical, The County Is Broke

Forced to use its remaining reserve funds for 2010 bills, DeKalb County started the year without any money. Wonder how they are going to pay the folks who didn't show up for work during the winter storm?

Speaking of the winter storm, we are calling B.S! What do the dedicated public safety employees who made it to work get for risking life, limb, automobile and leaving their families at home? We get the same pay as the ones who claimed they couldn't make it in, while they cuddled by the fire watching the news saying "it sucks to be them!" Again, B.S.!

According to Richard Stogner; "Employees whose work-sites were not officially closed, but could not make it to work, will be credited with their normal shift on Monday January 10th, and Tuesday January 11. Thereafter, they should be charged with annual leave."

We understand the county is broke, and we don't mind coming into work, that is our job. But to pay people who are sitting at home and wondering where to build the snowman? And the county is broke? Get real, please!

Wait until the next storm or natural disaster and see how many make it in. Nice touch Burrell.

DeKalb budget mess drains county reserve funds.

DeKalb's bond rating lowered again

Chief O'Brien To Hold Round-Table Discussion With Sergeants and Lieutenants

Chief O'Brien is holding a round-table discussion with all sergeants and lieutenants today at 15:00 and tomorrow at 09:00. Both meetings will be held at the Fire Building, 1950 West Exchange Pl, 5th Floor - Peer Auditorium.

Sorry for the late word. The chief's office sent out an email last week, but with the winter storm, it slipped by us.

This is your chance to talk to the man. Hope all can make it.

Once Again, Risk Managemet Drops The Ball

Just as they dropped the ball when we were forced to change health insurance carriers, Risk Management has done it again. While increased premiums are being deducted from our pay checks, the premiums are not being forwarded to the insurance companies, resulting in some having their coverage dropped.

County Spent $1,000 On Food and Lodging For Essential Administrative Staff.

The cost of the storm is estimated at $662,000 and climbing. The county paid at least $1000 on food and lodging for "essential administrative staff".

Word at the pumps is some officers who braved the storm and came to work anyway, were not able to get home and stayed at area hotels at their own expense, not only so they would be able to report to work their following shift, but to take the burden off the precincts so they wouldn't tie up a police car/officer ferrying them home and back to work.

Odds are, the same "essential administrative staff" have take home cars and don't live in the county. And odds are the officers who were working in the cold snow and ice, don't have take home cars and risked being involved in a wreck coming to and from work.

Do you think they will be reimbursed? Doubt it.

Death Warrant Signed For Emmanuel Hammond's Execution

Lethal injection is too good for this animal. He was convicted of murdering Julie Love in 1988. Too bad the AJC doesn't go into detail about the murder.

Just to give you an idea of what happened; Love's remains were found in a northwest Atlanta roadside trash dump a year after she went missing. She had been raped, bound with coat hangers and shot in the head. Love, 27, a preschool exercise instructor, was pulled inside Hammond's car after she ran out of gas one night in Buckhead.

Should have never taken 23 years to send this piece of garbage to his judgment that really matters.

Job Well Done!

Now that the worst is over, a job well done goes out to all! 99% of you showed your true dedication to the badge and made it to work and handled business without any excuses.

During the worst of it, Tucker Precinct responded to a business armed robbery in progress. One of the idiot predators took a hostage that almost turned out fatal for him. The brave officers didn't back down and shot the predator before he could inflect anymore violence on innocent people. Chief O'Brien was on the scene within minutes. When's the last time you've seen or heard that? Especially during a winter storm.

Thanks to all for your dedication and your service to the citizens of DeKalb.

DeKalb Has a Total of Two Snow Plows, Eight Sand Trucks

"DeKalb County crews will come in at 6 p.m. too, said Burke Brennan, county spokesman, and the county has affixed plow attachments to two trucks . Four of its eight trucks that spread sand and salt will also have equipment needed to cut trees. Once the storm starts, the crews will start working 12-hour shifts, on a 24-hour cycle, until the roads are OK, Brennan said."

So, if you were wondering whether your street will be plowed or sanded during this snow storm, the answer is “probably not.” Hunker down kiddos!

From Decatur-Metro

Pension Board Election Has Been Postponed Unit Further Notice

Winter Storm 2011 - State of Emergency

In all seriousness, if you are not in public safety or a health-care worker, please stay home. By venturing out on the roadways, you make all of our jobs harder.

Be safe!

$19.85 An Hour For Picking Up Trash?

Are we to assume the likes of recreation center employees and trash collectors make $19.85 an hour? Over $38,000 a year? That's more than starting pay of a police officer.

If the average hourly wage for all county employees is $19.85, then no wonder the county is broke.

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Burrell, Commissioners To Hold Last Minute "Listening Session"

Burrell and his band of merry men are having a listening session concerning the 2011 budget, tomorrow January 7 at 5:00 PM in the Maloof Building.

Ellis' letter to all employees is dated December 20, 2010. This is the first we have seen of it.

We hope there is a large turn out!

Click here for emergency toilet paper.

DeKalb Officers Speak Support Joseph Hardy For Pension Representative

Not only is Joe one of us, he has the qualifications. And here they are:

Education:

Georgia State (Finance Degree) (originally attended Georgia Tech but transferred to GA State because of a superior business program)

Work History (Financial):

1).Registered Representative (Stockbroker) with Paradigm Capital Management (Series 3 certified – commodity options and futures)

2).Registered Representative (Stockbroker) with Interstate Johnson Lane (bought out by Wachovia Securities) (Series 7 and 63 certified – Stocks, Bonds, options, etc.)- Managed personal investment accounts.- Assisted in setting up retirement accounts for individuals and businesses.

3). Registered Rep (Stockbroker) with E-trade Securities - Completed investment trades for customers (retirement accounts and trading accounts)

Work History (Public Safety):

Law Enforcement Since 09/10/2001(Patrol, S.R.T, I.C.P., CID)

Family:

Father of 3 and married to their stay at home mother.

A word from Joe:

It is my understanding that questions have been raised as to how the pension funds are invested. I have an extensive background in understanding various types of investment models. I have participated in the setting up and implementation of retirement accounts and trading accounts, and I understand the differences between the two. I would like to have a hand in the preservation of our current pension and the implementation of plans to invest those funds more wisely, so those who have given the blood, sweat, and tears can count on their retirement for a happy life after public service.

Commissioners Renew Contract With Racist Morris Williams

The proven racist, Morris Williams will remain as chief of staff for the DeKalb County Commission according to the AJC. His salary will be $137,000. per year.

At a critical time when the budget is being discussed, when the commissioners need on our support, they continue to make bonehead moves, thinking we have forgotten.

With the re-signing of Morris Williams, they have laid it all on the table. The commissioners supported racist tactics then, and they support them now.

This County Would Implode If This Happened....

Gwinnett dispute stops use of radar guns to bust speeders.

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Pension Board Election January 10, 2011..List Of Candidates

Here is a link to all the candidates seeking a seat on the pension board.

Right now we are not supporting either candidate. But we do suggest not voting for DeKalb Sheriff Tom Brown. He is too embedded with the current political machine.

‘Officer Down’ A Chilling Refrain

In 2010, 10 law enforcement officers in Georgia died from injuries suffered in the line of duty, more than double the number in 2009, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

We can only hope the commissioners keep this in mind during the budget process.

AJC article

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

The 2011 budget fight begins in just a few short days and things are looking bleak. To begin the new year, our first pay check will be less than 2010. Our pension contribution is increasing 100 percent along with an increase in health insurance premiums.

Studying over Burrell Ellis' budget proposal and listening to the comments of the commissioners, be prepared to be nothing more than pawns. Burrell wants to raise property taxes in order to pay for our holiday pay and avoid furloughs. The commissioners, so far, are saying they will not raises taxes, period.

Not once does Burrell us the word "cut", "eliminate", or "cut services" in his 2011 budget proposal. You will find "budget increase of 1.02%", and "change in the current pension plan." He does use code words such as; "The implantation of the paperless ticketing initiative should substantially reduce the amount of time that officers spend filling out paper forms". Meaning there will be great demand to issue more tickets to generate more revenue to make up the increase.

Of course he is a politician, which means he has his bags of tricks, including smoke and mirrors. Burrell is hoping everyone will fall for $5 million dollars to cover the cost of "absorbing" the officers of North Precinct. Sorry folks, we just don't understand this.

Oh, but his proposal gets even better. How's "the continued suspension of across the board merit increases"? A one time payment of $500 to all making less than $35,000 per year? But what about the long time employee? What do they get for there dedication and advancement through the ranks in hopes of making a difference? What do they get? A one time payment of $250 bonus to all topped out Master Patrol Officers. How many are there? Less than 100 officers out of 1400?

We better pay attention to what is being said in these meetings, because our families financial well-being and our way of life depends on it.

Burrell's nonsensical budget recommendation is in the left hand column for your reading enjoyment.

Happy New Year!