Well, not really. But the forth coming county property tax bills to be mailed out next month will include a line that shows the 5.94 mill tax, which will raise nearly $69 million for the $103 million police budget. In other words, the taxpayers see how much of their tax dollars go towards their protection.
Speaking of taxes and millage rates, the City of Dunwoody must be doing something right. 2011 DeKalb County Tax Rates shows Dunwoody with the lowest millage rate.
And some stand around scratching their head like they have lace trying figure out why Dunwoody seceded, so to speak.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Gobbledygook!
On my! Looks like Benita Ransom has done kicked the beehive.
Who is Benita Ransom? Where did she come from? Oh, that's right, she came from the City of Atlanta, she's one of Boo-Rail's girls. Look at the fine shape she left those employees.
Grab a cup, pull up a chair and enjoy!
Who is Benita Ransom? Where did she come from? Oh, that's right, she came from the City of Atlanta, she's one of Boo-Rail's girls. Look at the fine shape she left those employees.
Grab a cup, pull up a chair and enjoy!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
"It's Unfortunate Officers Are Being Pimped Out By Elected Officials For Revenue".
We continue to find support for our ticket strike.
State Senator Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) introduced legislation during the 2010 General Assembly that would have prohibited local police from enforcing speed limits on the interstates.
Unfortunately, this legislation was killed thanks to the Georgia Municipal Association and several money hungry local governments who make their budgets from such funds.
Click here to read more from Dominique Huff of the Exceptional Radio Network (www.exceptionalradio.com).
State Senator Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) introduced legislation during the 2010 General Assembly that would have prohibited local police from enforcing speed limits on the interstates.
Unfortunately, this legislation was killed thanks to the Georgia Municipal Association and several money hungry local governments who make their budgets from such funds.
Click here to read more from Dominique Huff of the Exceptional Radio Network (www.exceptionalradio.com).
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Chief Is Catching Some Heat....And So Will We
Looks like the chief is really catching some heat from the BOC. It's not the chief's fault we are in this predicament, it's the Gang of 8. But if the chief is catching heat, then you can bet we will too.
The commissioners are the ones that chose to cut our pay and our benefits. They are the ones that chose to ignore the Georgia State University study, which could save the county millions of dollars. Oh, and by the way, the commissioners, especially Boo-rail have tried to hide the study. Here it is for your reading pleasure.
Burrell Ellis is the one that chose to give his staff exorbitant pay raises and car allowances, while making us work holidays for no pay, then eventually furloughing us.
Boo-rail, and his gang, including bad check writing Sharon Sutton, are the ones that took us for fools and for good little lap dogs. They forget, like Jeff Wiggs of the F.O.P. says, we are the ones that keep the citizens of DeKalb safe. Don't take us for granted!
This is heating up. We are going to feel pressure from the command staff like never before. Remember some simple rules. Do not use county equipment, including the internet for anything other than county business. Know the manual. We can't stress harder, join the F.O.P. or P.B.A. and opt for the legal defense. The command staff will be looking to make an example out of somebody.
Some are throwing Derwin Brown's name around. For those of you who knew him and where around while he did great things for us, ask yourself; would he approve of us laying down at the feet of the commission? Or would he expect us to fight for what is right?
You know the answer. You saw how the county treated his family after he was gunned down.
This is going to be a hard struggle. Again we say; stay strong, stay united!
The commissioners are the ones that chose to cut our pay and our benefits. They are the ones that chose to ignore the Georgia State University study, which could save the county millions of dollars. Oh, and by the way, the commissioners, especially Boo-rail have tried to hide the study. Here it is for your reading pleasure.
Burrell Ellis is the one that chose to give his staff exorbitant pay raises and car allowances, while making us work holidays for no pay, then eventually furloughing us.
Boo-rail, and his gang, including bad check writing Sharon Sutton, are the ones that took us for fools and for good little lap dogs. They forget, like Jeff Wiggs of the F.O.P. says, we are the ones that keep the citizens of DeKalb safe. Don't take us for granted!
This is heating up. We are going to feel pressure from the command staff like never before. Remember some simple rules. Do not use county equipment, including the internet for anything other than county business. Know the manual. We can't stress harder, join the F.O.P. or P.B.A. and opt for the legal defense. The command staff will be looking to make an example out of somebody.
Some are throwing Derwin Brown's name around. For those of you who knew him and where around while he did great things for us, ask yourself; would he approve of us laying down at the feet of the commission? Or would he expect us to fight for what is right?
You know the answer. You saw how the county treated his family after he was gunned down.
This is going to be a hard struggle. Again we say; stay strong, stay united!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Believe it Or Not, We Agree With Richard "Dick" Stogner
We, same as Richard Stogner, agree that we should perform our duties in a professional manner. Not once have we asked officers to behave in any other manner. We would be ashamed if our officers acted any other way. We simply choose to exercise discretion when it comes to issuing citations.
Sacrifice? Stogner, you don't even know what sacrifice is. If you want to read about sacrifice, just click here, then take a look at our pay check stubs.
The more you open your mouth, the more resolve we have. You say our ticket strike may cause some parks and library to close. Are you serious? Library's and parks don't' put food on our tables! Tell us Dick, exactly how many furlough days have the commissioners and their staff taken over the last 2 years? When is the last time we, the police, received a raise in upwards of 40 percent per year, including a car allowance?
People, do you see the line of folks at Recorders Court? Lined up across the grass even. We have been writing so many tickets people have no where to stand! All those people are lined up to put cash in the county coffers. Stogner says the county can't afford a ticket strike. Well that's the commissioners fault, not our. We can't afford any more cuts to our pay and benefits!
Be prepared for the hassle from the command staff to begin. Don't let the threats of being transferred to different watches, precincts and the loss of extra jobs get to you.
Stay strong, stay united.
Sacrifice? Stogner, you don't even know what sacrifice is. If you want to read about sacrifice, just click here, then take a look at our pay check stubs.
The more you open your mouth, the more resolve we have. You say our ticket strike may cause some parks and library to close. Are you serious? Library's and parks don't' put food on our tables! Tell us Dick, exactly how many furlough days have the commissioners and their staff taken over the last 2 years? When is the last time we, the police, received a raise in upwards of 40 percent per year, including a car allowance?
People, do you see the line of folks at Recorders Court? Lined up across the grass even. We have been writing so many tickets people have no where to stand! All those people are lined up to put cash in the county coffers. Stogner says the county can't afford a ticket strike. Well that's the commissioners fault, not our. We can't afford any more cuts to our pay and benefits!
Be prepared for the hassle from the command staff to begin. Don't let the threats of being transferred to different watches, precincts and the loss of extra jobs get to you.
Stay strong, stay united.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Don't Let The Threats Scare You
This ticket strike is not about all the other employees Mr. Ellis, this is about us! You and the gang of 7 heavily rely on the police to stuff the county coffers with cash only for it to be wasted.
Officers risk life and limb when issuing traffic citations, and you take our job for granted. It is beyond sickening to know that you and the commission rely on the revenue from citations, without taking into consideration an officer may die to put a few pennies in the budget. To you Boo-rail, traffic citations are not merely a correction of poor driving habits of the public, but an open cash till with no bottom.
It is not our fault you and the Gang of 7 are fiscally irresponsible. We refuse to be your armed tax collectors.
We are tired of being used, abused, and molested. You and the commissioners have cut our pay and benefits and yet demand more from us. Well Mr. C.E.O., there is no more!
Your days of taking and taking are over. Your days of taxing the general public at gunpoint are over! These revenues should be a bonus for the county at the end of the fiscal year, not relied on to fund the general budget.
To our fellow officers: don’t let the threats scare you. Read your manual and know policy. We do not have a quota. You cannot be forced to issue citations. Citations are at our discretion.
Stay strong,stay united. Let’s show them that 2010 was just a prelude.
Click here to view WSB's Tony Thomas' news story.
Officers risk life and limb when issuing traffic citations, and you take our job for granted. It is beyond sickening to know that you and the commission rely on the revenue from citations, without taking into consideration an officer may die to put a few pennies in the budget. To you Boo-rail, traffic citations are not merely a correction of poor driving habits of the public, but an open cash till with no bottom.
It is not our fault you and the Gang of 7 are fiscally irresponsible. We refuse to be your armed tax collectors.
We are tired of being used, abused, and molested. You and the commissioners have cut our pay and benefits and yet demand more from us. Well Mr. C.E.O., there is no more!
Your days of taking and taking are over. Your days of taxing the general public at gunpoint are over! These revenues should be a bonus for the county at the end of the fiscal year, not relied on to fund the general budget.
To our fellow officers: don’t let the threats scare you. Read your manual and know policy. We do not have a quota. You cannot be forced to issue citations. Citations are at our discretion.
Stay strong,stay united. Let’s show them that 2010 was just a prelude.
Click here to view WSB's Tony Thomas' news story.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
All Out Ticket Strike, Now!
We got the attention of the commissioners and the command staff during our “ticket furlough.” The command staff made pie in the sky promises, even went as far as to dangle a take home car program in front of us, if we would go back to writing tickets.
They disguised our new guns as a reward for ending the ticket furlough. Those guns were already in the works. The timing just happened to be in favor of the command staff. We got new uniforms…thanks for nothing.
Chief O’Brien went on a very sincere tour of all the precincts and roll calls trying to get us on board, hoping that a truce with the commissioners would end in our favor.
The commissioners made threats that if we didn’t end the ticket furlough, they would have to slash our benefits and make cuts. The played us for fools!
Even though we ended the ticket furlough, the commissioners followed through with their threats anyway. For ending the ticket furlough, what did we receive in return? 5 precinct reduction in promotional pay, increase in pension contribution of 66 percent, increase in health insurance premiums, reduction in vacation time, reduction of vacation roll over to sick time, thus increasing the years of service before retirement. And now they reduced 10-hour employees (us) holiday time. We now are only paid 8 of the 10 hours. We will be forced to take vacation or comp time to make the difference.
Bottom line, overall reduction in pay.
Enough is enough! Again, the commissioners place the burden of their failed budget policy's on the backs of the police.
What more can they do to us that they haven’t done already? Some scream unionization or strike. That will never work. Georgia is a right work state, so a union is toothless and pointless. Strike? We only put the public and each other in danger, plus there’s not enough organization. Besides, the only thing we produce is revenue through the form of traffic citations. We don’t produce a “product” like a company does.
Time to hit them where it hurts! Let them share in our misery. The only way we can fight back is through a ticket strike. They heard us loud and clear last time, time for them to hear from us again.
Call it what it is, a ticket strike....and now!
They disguised our new guns as a reward for ending the ticket furlough. Those guns were already in the works. The timing just happened to be in favor of the command staff. We got new uniforms…thanks for nothing.
Chief O’Brien went on a very sincere tour of all the precincts and roll calls trying to get us on board, hoping that a truce with the commissioners would end in our favor.
The commissioners made threats that if we didn’t end the ticket furlough, they would have to slash our benefits and make cuts. The played us for fools!
Even though we ended the ticket furlough, the commissioners followed through with their threats anyway. For ending the ticket furlough, what did we receive in return? 5 precinct reduction in promotional pay, increase in pension contribution of 66 percent, increase in health insurance premiums, reduction in vacation time, reduction of vacation roll over to sick time, thus increasing the years of service before retirement. And now they reduced 10-hour employees (us) holiday time. We now are only paid 8 of the 10 hours. We will be forced to take vacation or comp time to make the difference.
Bottom line, overall reduction in pay.
Enough is enough! Again, the commissioners place the burden of their failed budget policy's on the backs of the police.
What more can they do to us that they haven’t done already? Some scream unionization or strike. That will never work. Georgia is a right work state, so a union is toothless and pointless. Strike? We only put the public and each other in danger, plus there’s not enough organization. Besides, the only thing we produce is revenue through the form of traffic citations. We don’t produce a “product” like a company does.
Time to hit them where it hurts! Let them share in our misery. The only way we can fight back is through a ticket strike. They heard us loud and clear last time, time for them to hear from us again.
Call it what it is, a ticket strike....and now!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Clayton County Deputy Shot and Killed
Arrest made.
Another reminder that this job is for real.
Click here to read more.
Memorial band protocol.
Another reminder that this job is for real.
Click here to read more.
Memorial band protocol.
So, Hows That New InterAct System Working For Ya?
Yep, frustrating we know. We just wonder whose decision it was to launch a new 911 problem without the bugs being worked out ahead of time. It's not like lives are at stake here.
Oh wait, wasn't "The Wiz" Miller named communications director?
Oh wait, wasn't "The Wiz" Miller named communications director?
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Everytime You Ask Yourself If It Can Get Any Worse, It Does
The erosion of our benefits continues. The county has announced it will no longer honor 10 hour employees (meaning the police) with 10 hour holidays.
Beginning labor day 2011 (how appropriate), if you take a holiday, you will only be paid 8 hours, even though we work 10 hour days. You will have to take an additional 2 hours vacation to cover the shortage.
Pretty convenient. We will be forced to burn our vacation time after the county has chosen to reduce the amount of vacation time we can carry over.
The question that hasn't been answered is, if you have to work on a holiday, will you be paid 8 or 10 hours? Any bets?
Beginning labor day 2011 (how appropriate), if you take a holiday, you will only be paid 8 hours, even though we work 10 hour days. You will have to take an additional 2 hours vacation to cover the shortage.
Pretty convenient. We will be forced to burn our vacation time after the county has chosen to reduce the amount of vacation time we can carry over.
The question that hasn't been answered is, if you have to work on a holiday, will you be paid 8 or 10 hours? Any bets?
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Dekalb Officer Struck By Vehicle, In Critical Conditon At Local Hospital
Our prayers go out for his speedy recovery and for his battle against the county he will be facing.
God speed brother.
Another Officer Involved Shooting
A DeKalb police sergeant was involved in a off-duty shooting tonight while working an extra job.
The predator was wounded. The sergeant is ok.
More details will be posted as they become available.
The predator was wounded. The sergeant is ok.
More details will be posted as they become available.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Can You Say "City of Brookhaven?
"Now homeowners in stable neighborhoods just south and east of Duwnoody are likely to bear some of the biggest tax hits. Their property values have mostly held steady, not dropped like much of the county."Looks like Burrell and his Gang of Four have bitten the hand that feeds them.
Click here to read more.
Dekalb Officer Hurt On The Job Fighting The County
The way this county treats us, is just shameful. Why are his medical bills not being paid? Why is he being treated like this? This was clearly an on the job injury.
Maybe some good hearted personal injury lawyer will step up to the plate and defend this officer. It's only the right thing to do.
Maybe some good hearted personal injury lawyer will step up to the plate and defend this officer. It's only the right thing to do.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Burrell Ellis Shows His Disdain For The Police, Ignores The Wishes Of The Taxpayers, Commission and State Legislation
"You have utterly failed to abide by legislation adopted by the General Assembly this year to separate out the levy for DeKalb Police Services in a Special Tax District - a fund designated to protect the most vital service this county provides its citizens."
Commissioner Boyer rips Burrell a new one. Lot of good it will do. Burrell Ellis is out of control, disregarding the wishes of the taxpayers, commissioners and state legislators."As CEO, you and your staff did not participate in any discussion about the need for a police millage. Nor did you object to this concept. That is why I am now flabbergasted at your underhanded tactics as the CEO to again co-mingle police funds with other departments –departments that the Legislature clearly did not believe had as high a priority as public safety."
Shame. He will not be held accountable.
Click here to read more.
DeKalb Raising Taxes
The commission chose to raise taxes on the homeowners, yet refuse to downsize non-critical workers.
So, with home foreclosure notices at a 30 month high, what will 2012 hold for us?
Click here to read more.
So, with home foreclosure notices at a 30 month high, what will 2012 hold for us?
Click here to read more.
Todays Commission Meeting Should Be Interesting
DeKalb not clear on tax hike. Click here to read more.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Retired Captain J.J. Anglin Dies - Services Announced
Retired Captain J.J. Anglin, the brother of retired Lieutenant Earl Anglin and uncle of Medical Examiner Investigator Mark Anglin has died.
Services will be held Tuesday July 12, 2011 1:00 PM at Lawnwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, 1215 Access Road Covington, Sunday July 10, from 2-4 PM.
In lieu of flowers , donations may be made to Special Olympics Georgia. 4000 DeKalb Technology Parkway, Suite 400 Building 400, Atlanta GA 30340.
Services will be held Tuesday July 12, 2011 1:00 PM at Lawnwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, 1215 Access Road Covington, Sunday July 10, from 2-4 PM.
In lieu of flowers , donations may be made to Special Olympics Georgia. 4000 DeKalb Technology Parkway, Suite 400 Building 400, Atlanta GA 30340.
Has The County Abandoned The New South Precinct Building Plans?
In August 2010, we exposed the money wasted leasing the current South Precinct building from the people to whom the county sold it too. We know, doesn't make sense.
Nearly a year and 200,000 dollars later, still no completion date on the new South Precinct.
Read more here.
Nearly a year and 200,000 dollars later, still no completion date on the new South Precinct.
Read more here.
"Now I'm Living In A County That Is Going Into Ghetto Mode."
This according to Joel Edwards, resident of Kings Ridge subdivision off South Hairston Road.
He is upset, claiming Commissioner Sharon Barnes, committee chairman of the County Operations and Public Safety Committee, which oversees zoning ordinances, is dragging her feet.
What Mr. Edwards is not taking into consideration in his criticism of Commish Barnes, is that she is a busy person. It takes a lot of time dodging arrest warrants, bill collectors and finding somewhere to live after being tossed out of her house.
If Mr. Edwards believes the county is going into ghetto mode from a zoning perspective, he should see it from a police perspective.
Click here to read more.
He is upset, claiming Commissioner Sharon Barnes, committee chairman of the County Operations and Public Safety Committee, which oversees zoning ordinances, is dragging her feet.
What Mr. Edwards is not taking into consideration in his criticism of Commish Barnes, is that she is a busy person. It takes a lot of time dodging arrest warrants, bill collectors and finding somewhere to live after being tossed out of her house.
If Mr. Edwards believes the county is going into ghetto mode from a zoning perspective, he should see it from a police perspective.
Click here to read more.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Ellis's Proposed Mid-Year Budget
The next Public Hearing on the CEO’s recommendations will take place, Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at the upcoming Board of Commissioners meeting. The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.
Click here to read Commissioner Lil' Larry Johnson's letter to residents of District 3.
Click here to read Burrell Ellis's mid-year budget proposal.
Click here to read Commissioner Lil' Larry Johnson's letter to residents of District 3.
Click here to read Burrell Ellis's mid-year budget proposal.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Just Glancing Over The Headlines Will Scare You To Death, No Pun Intended
No one shows up at the commission meetings to demand more police protection, better pay for our police or demand the commissioners stop reducing our benefits.
Lil' Larry Johnson held his "Enough is Enough" campaign with a meager turnout.
Then we scan the headlines, and we shudder.
Boy, 13, found shot, stabbed to death.
Teen charged in 8-year-old's shooting death.
Be careful troops, there are some nasty predators running the streets.
Lil' Larry Johnson held his "Enough is Enough" campaign with a meager turnout.
Then we scan the headlines, and we shudder.
Boy, 13, found shot, stabbed to death.
Teen charged in 8-year-old's shooting death.
Be careful troops, there are some nasty predators running the streets.
"It Is Really Becoming Hard To Justify Remaining In DeKalb."
From the blog "South DeKalb. Click here for more.
The tax man cometh, and he wants to raise your taxes. I think by now most DeKalb homeowners know they are about to see their taxes go up. We knew this was coming, and the commission knew it was coming, but I guess they wanted to play the roles of friend to the homeowner when it comes election time. CEO Elllis knew it had to be dome, but he just didn’t ask for enough of a millage increase. So here we are about to get pinged with higher property taxes. The possibility of an additional penny for transportation ( got something about that coming too) a job and housing market that is anemic at best, and county services that are just as anemic. It is really becoming hard to justify remaining in DeKalb. The grass may not be greener on the other side, but at least it ain’t brown like we have in DeKalb.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Mr. Jerry Myer Jackson Jr Has A Point
Mr Jackson ask a very good question. Where are we? Why are we not at each and every commission meeting in groups, letting the commissioners hear from us, see us?
Are we afraid of the brass? Really no reason to be as long as we are off duty. We truly believe Chief O'Brien would stand behind us. We have a sneaky suspicion that if the commissioners put pressure on him, it would leak out and be all over this blog.
Like Mr. Jackson Jr. says, we have got to do better. It's one thing to vent our frustrations on the blog, but we must be wanting to take a stand.
The sacrifice is minimal. Stay over after morning watch, get up and come in early if you are evening watch, then hit the range afterwards. Come on your off day, bring your children, use it as a teaching tool about government.
We have suggested before to the F.O.P., and we'll suggest it again. Sponsor attending the meetings. Have a van or a bus at headquarters so everyone can ride together, serve breakfast in the parking lot. Do something, don't give up.
We have to get more involved!
*As of this posting, video of the July 5th meeting was not available.
Are we afraid of the brass? Really no reason to be as long as we are off duty. We truly believe Chief O'Brien would stand behind us. We have a sneaky suspicion that if the commissioners put pressure on him, it would leak out and be all over this blog.
Like Mr. Jackson Jr. says, we have got to do better. It's one thing to vent our frustrations on the blog, but we must be wanting to take a stand.
The sacrifice is minimal. Stay over after morning watch, get up and come in early if you are evening watch, then hit the range afterwards. Come on your off day, bring your children, use it as a teaching tool about government.
We have suggested before to the F.O.P., and we'll suggest it again. Sponsor attending the meetings. Have a van or a bus at headquarters so everyone can ride together, serve breakfast in the parking lot. Do something, don't give up.
We have to get more involved!
"Gonna sue the county are you? Where were you when the Derwin Brown Family went broke in their fight with the county?
At the Board of Carpetbaggers meeting on July 5th* I saw Chief O'Brien and perhaps no more than four other officers. They all may have been security detail for BOC.
After I delivered my three minutes of medium heat and the meeting was over, several citizens asked “where the employees of DeKalb, where?”
Well you tell me! They sure as Hell was not at the meeting ! You gotta do better than that!"
Sincerely, Jerry Myer Jackson Jr.
*As of this posting, video of the July 5th meeting was not available.
Sign Ups Available For Summer Camps With Police Athletic League
Sign ups have begun for children’s summer camps with the Police Athletic League in Dekalb County.
Camps are for children between 8 and 16 and include football, cheerleading, basketball and softball. Registration is $55.
More information: 770-724-7468 or http://dekalbcountypalplus.org.
AJC
Camps are for children between 8 and 16 and include football, cheerleading, basketball and softball. Registration is $55.
More information: 770-724-7468 or http://dekalbcountypalplus.org.
AJC
Monday, July 4, 2011
Open Comments
Things are a little quiet after the county put it to us. I guess the commissioners collectively reached over to the night stand for a cigarette, enjoying the euphoria.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Public Locked Out of DeKalb Recorders Court As Government Workers Go Home Early
The sad part about this story is that no one will be held accountable. Just another heart beat in DeKalb.
We challenge WXIA to follow up on this story by reporting if Recorders Court personnel were docked leave time for leaving early. Or were they in violation of federal law by manipulating KRONOS, showing them working, when in fact they were not? This includes the deputies, the clerks and the judges. Should be easily tracked, but call us cynical.
Oh, not to turn this into a bashing of the Sheriff's Department, but come on, really? Police property? Your property? And you wonder why you are working at Recorders Court.
The Honorable Judge Nelly F. Withers, just another clown in a black robe.
We challenge WXIA to follow up on this story by reporting if Recorders Court personnel were docked leave time for leaving early. Or were they in violation of federal law by manipulating KRONOS, showing them working, when in fact they were not? This includes the deputies, the clerks and the judges. Should be easily tracked, but call us cynical.
Oh, not to turn this into a bashing of the Sheriff's Department, but come on, really? Police property? Your property? And you wonder why you are working at Recorders Court.
The Honorable Judge Nelly F. Withers, just another clown in a black robe.
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