Blast From The Past

Wow, Wow, Wow, Now Wait Just a Minute! Are We Being Hoodwinked?

Ms. Benita Ransom, can you explain something? According to your Buzz report, (the title alone speaks volumes) "Employees scheduled to work the holiday (but take the day off), will not get paid for holiday. Example: Employee regularly works four 10-hour days, one day is on the actual holiday, but worked 30 hours instead of 40."

So lets say an officer is lucky enough to take the day off (holiday, vacation), or becomes ill and takes a sick day. According to you, that officer only works 30 hours, so they will not be paid. Meaning, their check will be short 10 hours.

Continuing along the same line, are you are saying the entire command staff and their aides are only going to be paid 30 hours? Because you know as well as we do, there is no way in hell the command staff will work a holiday. So, they will only work 30 hours?

There you have it guys and girls. It may not effect all, but it's going to effect some. So while you are enjoying your day at the park or in the backyard with your family, mentally thanking your C.O. for letting you take the day off, remember, it's gonna cost you a days pay.

Of course none of this applies to the commissioners because hey, they get paid regardless.

Richard Elliott Of WSB Reports On Our Lost Hoidays, We're Not Sure Why

Richard Elliott, whom we don't have a beef with, did a miserable job of questioning Burrell Ellis about our lost holiday pay. Of course Burrell gives the excuse that it is a balanced approach to solving the county's budget woes, and get this; it's fair!

Huh? Fair? Burrell Ellis and all the commissioners, each and every one, will still get paid holidays. Fair? Richard, how could you let Ellis slither away without asking him how he and the entire BOC can look the public in the eye while they take money from our pocket and put it in theirs?

Jeff Wiggs, the F.O.P. president says he wants a lot more information before he is willing to sign off on the lost holidays. What more information do you need Jeff? We are losing 3 paid holidays and the commissioners will still get their holiday pay.

Balanced approach? Fairness? We can't seem to find our citation book, we'll just have to write more warnings.

This is maddening!

The BOC Would Like To Thank Each and Every One of You For Your Dedication And Hard Work. Now, Go Write Tickets.

Notice how this is directed at "10 Hour" employees. Who works 10 hour shifts? You got it, we do. Guess ol Bonita is playing "pay back."

Also "Contract employees/employees whose salaries are established legislatively in accordance with State law, salaries will remain unchanged", meaning Burrell and all the commissioners GET paid holidays.

So, where's our cake? More Kool-Aid anyone?

Who loves ya baby?!

HR BUZZ - Unfunded Holiday

Cop Shooter Arrested

Michael Hughey, 37, was captured at the America's Best Value Inn and Suites hotel in Stockbridge about 3 a.m this morning.

Too bad he didn't have a gun in his hand.

Read more here.

Officer Shot During Traffic Stop

An example of what can go very wrong when generating revenue for the likes of Sharon Sutton and the rest of the commissioners.

This time, we got lucky.
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Officer LaCoste Going Home

Magic Bus Up For Auction

A very sad and corrupt chapter in our department's history.

Services Announced For Retired Officer Norman Walker

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday August 26, at 1:00 PM at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East Chapel, 4355 Lexington Road Athens, GA 30605.

Visitation will be from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM prior to the service.

Go in peace brother.

Sharon Barnes Sutton Failed To Disclose More Than $101,000 In Contributions To Her Campaigns In 2006 and 2008.

For that, she agreed Friday to pay a $2,500 fine. We hope they don't accept checks.

Seriously, how much longer can she go without getting the attention of the State Attorney's office, or even the U.S. Justice Department. Oh wait, we take back the part of the Justice Department. Hell, the ATF is killing their own. But that's another story.

Click here to read Atlanta Unfiltered.

Open Comments

Cash Cow

Even-though the two words, cash and cow, are synonymous for Commissioner Sutton, it's actually how the commissioners view the taxpayers.

The commissioners want to borrow 125 million dollars. Not sure if it's to help cover the cost of Commissioner Sutton's eating and lodging habits, or the consulting fees for her friends, but regardless, the fix is in.

The person to over see this monstrosity was recommended by Burrell Ellis, who of course wants to skirt the bidding process. You already know the remaining commissioners will cave and allow the corruption to continue.

It's just down right laughable. It's just a matter of time and this county will financially implode.

Also see "Surprisingly low property values create questions in DeKalb."

Detroit Police To Cut Back On Alarm Response

Not that the city of Detroit is the idea vacation destination, at least their chief of police has a forward thinking thought every once in a while.

Click here to read more.

Warren Mosbey's Facebook Page

We requested to be Warren Mosbey's Facebook friend here.

Maybe you should too.

Warren Mosbey Is Our District Attorney's Campaign Manager Too

Thanks to LoFlyer, we learn that Warren Mosbey and District Attorney Robert James are in on the fix.

This county is toast. It has evolved to third world politics beginning with the assassination of Derwin Brown. What else lays under the carpet?

How can our command staff look at us with a straight face and tell us "if you'll write more tickets. we'll get your 20 hours back."

Step up to the plate Wiz Miller and Bill O'Brien. Announce to the media that you have opened a criminal investigation of Sutton. Dare D.A. James to turn you away.

It is your job. You took an oath just like the rest of us.

Click here to read further

Cronyism, Nepotism, Take Your Pick, Either Are Corrupt

Odds on, our District Attorney turns his head. More odds that our esteemed commission turn their head too.

How can they leave this despicable person on any committee, much less the public safety committee? She should be stripped of all committees. If need be, the governor needs to step in.

How can we, the police department, who swore an oath to uphold the laws, hold our heads up high when we work for such a corrupt commission?

This is out of control!

Commission Meetings, Agendas and Minutes

2 separate links have be added to the left hand column so anyone can find the dates, agendas and minutes of each commission meeting.

Stay strong, stay united.

They're Doing It Again!

Here we go again. While the commissioners are cutting our benefits and raising our pension contributions by 100, they create a job for one of their own, and then give them a yearly pay raise over 13 percent, RETROACTIVE!

The disgust!

The two cowards, Burrell Ellis and Dick Stogner refuse to comment on this hideous decision. One reason is because they are in on the fix, and the other is Morris Williams' argument doesn’t hold water.

For once in this woman’s life, Sharon Barnes needs to step up and do the right thing. She needs to tell her "aide" she made a mistake, and for the good of the county and the police department, she should resend the job offer. But then again, some people, especially Sharon Barnes, just don't know how to do the right thing. To her, thievery is the right thing.

The board of commissioners as a whole need to speak out against this and stop it now! Don't they see how this effects the morale of the very ones that keep them safe at night?

With this kind of action, this type of immoral act, the commissioners expect us to swallow the return of our 20 hours of holiday pay that was taken away, and be grateful. Why don't the commissioners just attend each roll call and just spit in our faces? Same differance.

The command staff is delusional if they think that giving our 20 hours of holiday pay would make us all just dandy.

You know, sometimes you just gotta step up and take one for the team.

Stay strong, stay united.

Sorry Folks, But 20 Hours Of Paid Holiday Time Just Doesn’t Get It

Over the past couple of years, the commission has chosen to substantially reduce our pay, benefits and pension. They went as far as to force us to work for no pay.

Our choice of health insurance carriers was reduce to two, yet our premiums increased 15 percent. Our retirees health insurance was increased by 40 percent! This in the name of saving money for the taxpayers. But, the county over spent 5 million dollars on health insurance anyway.

We had a very good pension that we paid into. At the time, after 30 years of service, we could retire at 82.5 percent of our salary. Now the commission has changed it to 62 percent of our salary, and we can't draw it until we are 62. Now they are going to increase our monthly contributions by 66 100 percent! They are in hopes, with a preconceived plan, that paying into the pension fund will be too costly for the average police officer working the streets, and will choose to drop out of the pension plan.

In addition, the commissioners yelled “the sky is falling”, that the citizens would be left with no police or fire protection if property taxes were not raised. They also claimed the county credit rating would be worsened because the county had no cash reserves. So the commission passed a 26 percent hike in property taxes. Now we learn Burrell Ellis flat out lied. He wants to dip into the replenished cash reserve for spending, and fill 644 open positions throughout the county. A Georgia State study from last year showed DeKalb has twice as many workers as similar-size counties and called for cutting at least 900 jobs. Burrell's mental stability has to be called into question.

Burrell Ellis and the commissioners take us for fools. We have to admit, so far they are right. Last year we crippled the county to the tune of 5 million dollars because of Ellis and his antics of handing out huge pay raises to his staff, while we were being forced to work for no pay. So they furloughed us and we went back to work.

To show their gratitude, they take away 20 hours of our holiday pay. Can you say suckers!? We threatened to strike again. Knowing how powerful our strike can be, and the potential for loss revenues, the county seems poised to give our 20 hours back. And we are supposed to be grateful?! According to Chief O'Brien and F.O.P President Jeff Wages, yes.

Well, thanks for nothing!

Do the commissioners and the chief of police really want to put and an end to this? They can. It's really simple. Stop using the backs, blood and lives of police officers as a revenue generating source. The police are persons empowered to enforce the law, protect property and reduce civil disorder, not tax the citizenry! Has our entire command staff loss sight of this?

First and foremost, stop the corruption within our county government. What happened to the 60 million dollars in uncollected fines? What happened to the 50 million dollars missing from Recorders Court? Where is the uncollected business license fees between 5-7 million dollars? That’s nearly 120 million dollars that is missing!

Chief O'Brien, we have a question: Are you neglect in your duties for not opening a criminal investigation into all this missing money? No one has explained what happened to all this money. So, where is it? At the bottom of a ticket book?

Worthy Cause, Hope To See You There!

Commissioner Boyer would like to invite you to the DeKalb Fire Rescue & Police fundraiser at the Blue Ribbon Grill next Monday, 8/8/11 from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM.  15% of the proceeds from all meals served will be donated to a memorial for the front of the Public Safety Headquarters.  The memorial will house a piece of steel from the World Trade Center.

The memorial will be unveiled as a part of the 10^th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony being held:

Date: Sunday, September 11, 2011

Time: 8AM

Location: DeKalb County Public Safety Complex

West Exchange Place, Tucker, GA
;text-align:left">View Larger Map

If you are unable to attend but would like to donate to the fund, please visit: www.dekalb911memorial.wordpress.com.

Please circulate to any neighborhood email lists that you may have. Additional information on both events is attached.

Thank you so much for your support of DeKalb’s Fire & Police Departments. Hope to see you next Monday!

Courtney Townsend

Commissioner Elaine Boyer, District One

Senior Policy Advisor/Constituent Services

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

404-371-2844

ctownsend@dekalbcountyga.gov

Retired 911 Operator David Brittion Dies

Retired 911 Operator David Britton died early today. He will be cremated and a graveside memorial service will be held in Columbus, Georgia at a future date.

Go in peace brother.

How The Threat Of A Traffic Ticket Slowdown Has Gotten The Attention Of The Powers That Be!

We'll see.

(Post title compliments of Loflyer)

Reitred Officer Greg Taylor Dies

Retired Master Patrol Officer Greg Taylor has died from a long time illness.

Go in peace brother.

CID Personnel Order 2011-13

Click here to read.

Promotions

Click here for Personnel Order 2011-29

Doraville Counsil Members To Cut Pay

These people seem to get it. Faced with across-the-board budget cuts, including furlough days and police staff reductions, Doraville City Council members are leading the way by slicing their own compensation.

The council will soon be voting on an amendment to the city charter to cut council members’ pay from $1,200 per month to $700 per month. That is a $6,000 drop from their current annual compensation of $14,400.

While we were being forced to work holidays for no pay and eventually furloughed, our scumbag commissioners refused to to cut their pay, hiding behind "it's the law, we can't take a pay cut". While at the same time handing out pay raises upwards of 40 percent per year and car allowances for their staff.

The commissioners are hoping we will fall for their supposed ignorance of our holiday pay cut. Are they serious? For 9 years they were unaware we work 10 hour shifts? B.S.!

Stay strong, stay united and put that ticket book away!

Read more here.