Friday, May 11, 2012

We Have Hit Bottom

It looks like we, as a police department, have hit rock bottom. Can it get any worse? Who do we blame this on? We blame it on the past and current C.E.O., Vernon Jones and Burrell Ellis.

Vernon Jones brought in the corrupt Terrell Bolton, who previously was fired for being corrupt while chief of police of Dallas Texas P.D. In an effort to win over public confidence and the confidence of the rank and file, saying he was going to beef up the police department, he demanded the standards for hiring be lowered to the level where convicted criminals could become sworn police officers. To ensure the standards were lowered, he used threats, intimidation and placed incompetent people in key places.

Burrell Ellis came on the scene with promises to clean up after Vernon Jones and Terrell Bolton. Knowing he was about to have a revolt on his hands, he fooled us all my naming one of our own as chief of police, Bill O'Brien, then promptly handcuffed him.

The incompetent Wiz (burn 'em if you got 'em) Miller was named Director of Public Safety to control Bill O'Brien. Burrell, thru Wiz, envisioned the police department to be nothing more then a jobs program for the unemployable rather then protecting the safety of the citizens of DeKalb and enforcing the law.

Now the citizens are reaping what has been sown. There is distrust within the ranks. There is distrust by the public. Once upon a time, law abiding citizens could trust us.

Travarrius Williams described us as a gang. It is rumored District Attorney Robert James described the police department as a criminal enterprise but when pressed, said he meant this case would fall under the RICO ACT.

We have to question our promotion process. How can persons like Anthony Robinson and Eric Adkison be promoted?

We are disgusted and ashamed.

63 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm tellin' ya....... SMH

Anonymous said...

I'm disappointed and embarrassed .....that being said, there are still some fine, ethical and hard working officers at DKPD....even on evening watch at South. The actions of a few will not and do not define me, my team or the department.

Anonymous said...

What the hell. Again in the news. Ok WSB time to air the story about Holmes and wiz

Anonymous said...

Daaaaaaaaaamn! I enjoyed working with AR back in the day. Cooler than a fan, but I guess he made some bad decisions and he has to deal with the consequences....

Anonymous said...

For every officer who truly cares you have one that lacks courtesy and common sense. A school bus came into my lane and side swiped my car. For lack of anything else to "save" this driver the officer charged me with failure to yield from a private drive and the private drive was two long blocks from the scene of the accident. No damage to either vehicle but a huge fine for me on fixed income so the driver wouldn't lose her job. Wouldn't take statement from my 14 year old but took statements from two 12 and 13 year olds who had been coached by school bus driver. To all of you who really are honest, true and fair, a huge thank you. Sadly these bad ones make it hard on the rest of you.

Anonymous said...

It figures the DA will make a concerted effort to prosecute the officers to the fullest.. While cop killers and other murders, and rapists languish in jail for years..

Anonymous said...

I LOVE this place.....where else can you work and get this kind of media attention.....since we be gang bangers....hell...let's jack a bank so we can get our raise......we already smoking in the lot....they don't care...what's next....hey Wiz..quit hoggin all that thing...pass it this way!!!!....

Hell....I'm ready for round 2 and 3....what's next????

Anonymous said...

I'm shocked, but I recall most officers bragging about " SHOWING PERPS LOVE" now a few of our own are in a situation and you cowards do what you do best! WHY AM I NOT SURPRISED!

HOLD ON CAUSE EVERYONE HAS A DAY OF JUDGEMENT

Anonymous said...

It is a shame that the good officers get blended in with the misfits and the misfits get promoted. Someone back in IA didn't finish their homework on these misfits, and "boom"....they got hired.

Now this isn't always the case. There a majority of good officers out there who take their jobs very seriously. Some of this misfits get their egos pumped up when they put the badge on for the first time, Their egos get bigger and bigger.

Then, when these misfits get promoted by taking a a simple exam and get placed on the "list", next procedure is to promote. "Boom" again.

No matter what department gets in the news for stupid various reasons such as DCPD, this problem is worldwide and unfortunately, will contine to go on and on. This is why the other arm of IA wa created.

All any department can do is educate those who are good officers, hope and pray that the misfits don't cause any real serious injury and distrust. These misfits will ultimately hang themselves and leave or get fired.

Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Anonymous said...

When is the last time a DA or a Solicitor actually prosecuted someone for Obstruction? It's pointless to take out the warrants because they aren't going to do anything to them. These thugs can do whatever to us and get away with it.

Anonymous said...

Well thank GOD and all that is true and right in the world. If we have really hit rock bottom then there is no where to go from here but UP! Its about time. It took what, 20 years. Im still not convinced we have bottomed out. Until the election is held and a true leader with honesty and integrity and a passion for the people in DeKalb over and above his/her own desires is elected, then we wont know for sure if the experiment has killed the patient or not.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:43am, there is a support group for people who feel they were wrongly given a citation and blamed for causing an accident. It's called "Everyone Who Ever Received a Citation and Was Blamed For Causing an Accident." The local chapter welcomes new members at the DeKaln County Recorders Court.

Anonymous said...

Hey folks, rumor has it that Robert James and Clay Nix at the DA's office have declared open season on DKPD. Watch your backs when dealing with the DA's office and if Inv. Nix ever tries to speak with you "off the record" know that does not exist. He will do whatever he can to get us. I am not trying to condone what is alleged in this particular case at south, but I got a bad feeling there are more to come not because they were criminal acts, but because the DA's office is going to try and show how it "cleaned house" at DKPD. Elections are coming up after all. I urge all of my fellow officers to use common sense when dealing with citizens especially in use of force encounters and realize that some supervisors (NOT ALL) may not be doing things that are in the best interest of you or the department. Remember, you do not have to follow an unlawful order. Watch out for yourselves and eachother brothers and sisters, things are probably going to get worse than this in the near future.

Anonymous said...

I will say it again. The Sgt's in this department are the most critical and important job at DKPD. It is also the hardest job at DKPD and any other large agency. It is harder now than ever before. We have hired criminals and some who are here for just the paycheck. They have no connection to this county or could care a less about the citizens. The Sgt's must supervise some of the largest group of misfits ever to don the badge. Good luck, hang in there and just do your part to remain true to your duty. If you are a Sgt, put paper on them if they need it. Cover your ass. Get these slugs out of our department before they destroy it completely.

BeSafe said...

Question for my well versed law people out there. What does it take for a Sheriff's Department to take over police services? This situation seems as if it's going to get worse before it gets better.

Anonymous said...

To Anon 10:02 a.m. I was told if I went to Recorder's Court to expect to spend all day which was not an option as I have to be here when my grandson gets home from school. I was also told I had no chance to win as it was a DeKalb County vehicle involved and that the bus driver would win as she could lose her job if she lost. Not very encouraging is it? Would you fight a losing battle?

Anonymous said...

I can understand how this happened. Personally I would rather be beat than go to jail, I do my best to make sure I never get into the situation of being handcuffed. It's not that difficult. Citizens just have to obey some basic laws or rules.
DeKalb employee and DKPD standards have dropped drastically over the last decade. While superficially they increased with the need for a collage degree the pay did not increase and I am beginning to suspect a college degree does not include the job skills needed and instills a false sense of entitlement that combined with the low salaries result in increased employee crime and fraud.
As this blog states. You reap what you sow. DeKalb has been screwing the employees with low salaries, low benefits and extremely poor leadership for over a decade.
Vernon Jones, Joe Stone, Burrel Ellis, Richard Stognar and others brought the county to this mess.
It gives me little pleasure to watch this unfold.
I have done my best to warn management of the pitfalls of low salaries and lowered job performance.
I expect a lot more of this same stuff in the future because DeKalb government is too stupid to understand they are spending money on the wrong things and fail to understand that quality employees is the building block of am efficient organization.
Instead the county is paying a bunch of lawyers to defend the county in untenable situations. The lawyers always lose as they have no case and their competence is suspect.
If anyone doubts me look at the Federal case against Vernon Jones, Joe Stone and Richard Stognar. County attornies performance was a total joke in the case.
I suggest the county up their standards for employees and start offering a fair salary for the jobs.
You can pay now or pay a lot more later. DeKalb leadership created this mess. Unfortunately none of them understand how to get out of it.
Best of luck guys and gals.
You deserve better than this.
KenC

Anonymous said...

Rumors or not, we're all under the microscope because a few lost what little trust and respect that we had left. That being said, if you are not 110% sure of something, don't do it.

Going forward, I'm guessing mistakes made in error with good intentions may result jail time instead of counseling and additional training. I'm guessing "benefit of the doubt" is not something you'll see any time soon.

Be safe.

Anonymous said...

WTF!!!! To blame vj and TeeBO for stuff going on now is like blaming George Bush for things happening now. I know you don't like that comparison, hell that's kind of a true statement, SMH. It appears Mr. Peanut Head, aka Robert James is trying to prove a point. At some point Peanut will be coming up for re-election. The problem here is 95 percent of you can't vote. So what's the plan BOYS. My advice is Do The Right Thing. And if you have to ask yourself. Will I get in trouble for this? You might want to reevaluate what you are about todo. Remember Peanut is out for votes and it appears to be at our expense. Be safe and be Blessed

Anonymous said...

@1007
Add John Melvin to your list with Clay "I know everything" Nix (just how did he get his job). In their zeal to get the dirty cops off the street - which is what we all want - if you good cops sneeze in the wrong direction and they think they can get a camera to roll in their boss' direction....you will be pushed right under the bus.

Anonymous said...

Someone should do some NEWS on the news. It burns me up when they sensationalize a story about the police. It is unfortunate that a couple of our own made a costly career-ending decision, but that is reason berate us all over TV. I've personally witnessed one of the most well-known reporters from channel 2 news sig.26 on an extra job grabbing his crotch like he was holding a sewer pipe howling at J2 like he has never seen a woman before. He left the club still drunk with two friends and one of the ugliest women there. Too bad he wasn't driving; that would have been a good traffic stop. And as for Travarrius Williams, the DA, the upper echelon of the department, his lawyers, and the media have either forgotten or down playing what "HE" did that caused these officers to even have to come into contact with him. Burglary is crime and criminals go to jail. All of this bullcrap about being black and afraid of the police and using it as a crutch to run from us, I have never known a law-abiding citizen to be afraid of the police, but criminals like this thief will always be afraid of us when they get caught doing something that they KNOW is wrong. And they should be. Finally, for general public, media, and lawyers who would agree with this subject that we are nothing but "GANGSTERS IN UNIFORM," I have only one thing to say to you. Try to survive in this community without us....

Anonymous said...

Hell doesn't have a bottom.

Anonymous said...

Hey KenC please get your facts together. Under the watch of Vernon Jones and Joe Stone we got raises we even got step adjustments. As far as the Federal case they have a record room for you to go get a copy of the judgment and read for your self, I think you have been corrected on this before. We thank you for your support and your opinions, but its just that your opinions.

Anonymous said...

Be Safe. Wont happen. You see this is another bump in the road. It sucks sure enough, but for every bad one we have, there are so many good ones. There are un sung heros on the beat every day and I know many of them. We handle the business, don't forget it.

Anonymous said...

You cited the wrong law. It's the Georgia RICO Act 16-14-1. It's in your code book. Short version is two or more persons commit two or more felonies in an ongoing pattern of criminal activity. The three officers involved, so far, are all that's needed to constitute an "organization."

Anonymous said...

To DeKalb officers, please keep your head high and do a good job. The citizens of Dekalb county needs you. Thanks for all that you do.I appreciate what you do...from a 25 year resident of DeKalb

Anonymous said...

What the department has tuned into is:

(A) Baby sitters
(B) Social workers
(C) In target suits

And the DA doesn't give you a rats ass about you

Anonymous said...

753: ideally, a sewer pipe should be 10" in diameter i think. Many old Dekalb pipes are only 4, but even at that, that musta been some delusional trip the little fratboy was on. I'm sure he felt good the next morning.

Bob Doty said...

As a teenager/young adult, I worked in a 24 hour pharmacy in the 1970's in Dekalb (many oldtimers will know exactly where this was). We were the second "34", especially for the morning watch. Back then, DKPD was one of best police departments in the US. Great leadership, great rank and file police officers. Many years have past, and I have moved on. But I look back on those years with very fond memories. I learned so much from those officers, and have passed on my great respect to my children as well. It breaks my heart reading this blog; how could such a fine group of individuals fall so far?

Anonymous said...

Not that I condone what these officers are accused of.....but can you blame them!!! The frustration it is to arrest these little thugs over and over again for the burglaries, only for them to be released before the j2 can even be finished. The courts do nothing to them and there are no consequences for their actions. Now, these little thugs will get a payday from the county and laugh their way to the bank. And now to make an obstruction charge against someone......WTF!!!

Bob Doty said...

Yes, I can blame them. Honor, integrity and knowing right from wrong is the only thing that differentiates "them" from "us". When you blur that line you eliminate any difference between the good guys and the bad guys.

Anonymous said...

So when do the mass transfers begin at South?

Anonymous said...

I wonder what will happen to the first officer who beats someone with his asp baton for an entire minute? Isnt that what they are teaching us with this red man training? Do it and see what happens to you!

Anonymous said...

This is an unfortunate situation, I personally know all officers involved. This problem actually starts at the top. Until we start getting raises and better pay we will continue to attract these kind of officers. All the "veterans" always talk about the good ole days when they showed perps love, and then come on this blog and be hypocritical! I don't condone what was done I'm just saying sweep around your own rug! This is just the beginning of our public embarrassment I gurantee it will get worse before it gets better because again the problem is at the top!

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:41
You don't won't Sheriff to take over PD, that's not the answer.
Sheriff department is no better.

Anonymous said...

I agree! The red man training will have an officer on the carpet soon. I struck him at least 30 times when I went through the training. We'll see what happens when I do this on the streets.

Anonymous said...

Vernon Jones and Terrill Bolton have not been handing out Hamburgers and french fries for DeKalb Officers to look the other way while there are 30-40 Video Poker Machines around them as they eat.

First DeKalb Officers turn their back on gambling,

Then before long it's OK for some of the hookers n whores to operate in the neighborhood cause they ain't so bad. Maybe you get a free BJ.

And why spend time on drug dealers, cause the DA n Judge just gonna put them back on the streets anyway. After all you can take some of those drugs and make your new whore happy.

And DeKalb Officers working shady bars with no oversight.

And you think Brookhaven is hiring out of DeKalb's ranks, we'll see.

Your job is to "Protect and Serve" not "look the other way".

Anonymous said...

Everyone that DeKalb fires -somehow end up at the DeKalb Sheriff Department. Look at who he has hired from us and why would he do that?
Baptiste -K K Jones- Thomas-

What kind of message does that send to anyone about losing a paycheck?

Now he sending poor Carl back to the police department ,I wonder why?

I guess he dumping the CEO Security detail to the police.

The sheriff can supervise his people.
The police cannot because CEO run the department.

Anonymous said...

So hey caught one Sgt on one shift....everyone knows there are plenty more like these scum bags.

Dekalb PD is starting to look like Miami PD in the 1980's.

This is what happens when you let democrat politicians run a police department into the ground.

Dekalb PD is a joke, just look at all of the brain dead idiots they have hired over the years and promoted.

I would gladly take a pay cut to work for a professional police force like Cobb or Gwinnett.....o wait, I DID!!!

Anonymous said...

If the DA or FBI wants to do some real work how about look at the officers and supervisors running protection at the bars where multi kilo coke dealers meet, deal, and use. How about the officers running protection and guarding the clubs owned and operated by the Sinaloa Drug Cartel right here in Dekalb.

There is no oversight of off duty jobs or what or where the money comes from.

Anonymous said...

Bob Doty,

The DeKalb Police Department of the 1970s and 1980s, and even the 1990s, was notorious for being tough as nails, and for giving a lot of "love" to perps. If you didn't know that, your head was buried deep in the sand. It sounds like the line was real blurry back then. In fact, when a lot of veterans reminisce about the "good old days," they talk about all the crazy stuff they used to get away with. Nothing has changed, the only difference now is that people are getting caught.

Anonymous said...

Hitting on this guarding the clubs for J2 is something that has bothered me for sometime. Walk in anyone of these clubs and see the crimes taking place. Prostitution, gaming, drug sales and use and somehow the man at the door has no knowledge of this. We are sworn officers and that means on duty or at a part-time. Many of these places are not even supposed to be open at certain hours and yet still serving at 3 and 4 am. The loyalty is to the club owner not to the laws of the state and county. When is the last time you saw someone write a ticket to their part-time? The department needs to take a strong stance on this, sorry guys but when we become indebted to the criminals we are in trouble. Sad to see a county take home guarding a cartel owned club.

Anonymous said...

Sinaloa cartel running clubs in DeKalb? Please, take up knitting or something. You really don't have a clue what you're talking about.

Anonymous said...

Poor Ken C. Is not hindered by facts or knowledge. Acquiring a GED does not require one to learn how to do research.

Officers received raises, no furloughs, MPO's received a $5,000 bonus, annual leave was not cut, benefits were not reduced, annual leave payout was not reduced, pension was not cut under VJ.

Read the facts Ken C. Improve your IQ. OH, that means intelligence quotient.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:18 PM, remember what the crime rate was like back when DKPD kicked ass and the perps knew it? Now if a perp skins his knee running from you, you end up in IA and on the evening news.

Bob Doty said...

Oh, I was aware. From everything from the Presidental Inn to the motel at Chamblee-Tucker Road. I was also aware of the "Choir Pactices". And yes, sometimes the cars with screens ended up with cracks in them. I hate to say it was a different time and place, but it was. The old guys instinctively knew where that line was, and very, very rarely crossed it. There were exceptions, of course, but most knew when to stop. I prefer to remember and honor those I have/had enormous respect for, even on that dreadful night in June 1980 when Tommy Gober was killed. Again, that DKPD is what I remember, not what I am reading here....

Anonymous said...

May 13 - 1042 am
Hopefully Brookhaven WON'T hire anyone who calls women 'hookers n whores'. You are a downright dirty pig, no doubt with a double standard attitude. Bet you've had your fair share, so what does that make YOU? I hope you're one of Bolton's hires, so i can take comfort in knowing you won't be around long. Pig. Ima Citizen.

Anonymous said...

"Hopefully Brookhaven WON'T hire anyone who calls women 'hookers n whores'. You are a downright dirty pig, no doubt with a double standard attitude. Bet you've had your fair share, so what does that make YOU? I hope you're one of Bolton's hires, so i can take comfort in knowing you won't be around long. Pig. Ima Citizen."

The original poster was actually talking about prostitutes, not women in general. Do you condone or approve of prostitution?

Anonymous said...

6:02 pm - of course VJ threw money around to further his political agenda, when the money was there to use. If he were CEO NOW, what do you think he would do?? Nothing. So stop giving that criminal credit. He doesn't deserve it.

Anonymous said...

7:48 am - no shit Sherlock. What a stupid question. Prostitution isn't good for anyone. It's just disgusting that no one ever calls the men who keep these women in business nasty names. Do you honestly think those women would be doing that if they knew how to support themselves otherwise? That post betrayed a general disrespect for women, and THAT is what I reacted to.

Anonymous said...

Hey anon 10;42.. after several years of pay cuts some of us have to work j2 to make ends meet. Not all of us are connected to work traffic at Perimeter Mall or to fall asleep in the parking deck at the CDC.. Solve the issue.. I challenge you.. across the board 10% pay hikes with a freeze for two years on pension increases and Health increases.. and ELIMINATE ALL J2 work.. Put up or shut up.. See how many of the brass put in their papers..

Anonymous said...

"Hookers and Whores" debaters

The Anonymous 10:42 AM post was made by a disgruntled citizen, who, based on their post, appears to live in the area of Southern Comfort. THAT POSTER WAS NOT AN OFFICER. Read these posts before you start flaming officers.

To solve this debate: the disgruntled citizen who doesn't like the DKPD and poker machines will presumably NOT be working for the Brookhaven Police department.

Anonymous said...

k k jones did not get fired from nowhere clown get your facts straight.

Anonymous said...

KK wasn't fired by MARTA because he quit before they got the chance to fire him. He wrecked his MARTA take home car off duty, he smelled like alcohol and refused field sobriety tests. Let's also not forget his late night shredding session at Dekalb IA. Don't act like KK is an angel.

Anonymous said...

KK quit before they could fire him, clown! Get your facts straight! That guy has been hated everywhere he works!

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:05 keep your biased opinion at the trailer park. To this day VJ has not been charged with one crime, that's a fact. We never lost money when he was in office, that's another fact. Yes you have a right to dislike a person, just don't base it on trailer park talk. Base it on personal facts, stuff you can prove to be true.

Anonymous said...

No money lost under Vernon? I guess that $90 million Judge Walker, who he appointed, "lost" in Recorders Court doesn't count.

Anonymous said...

OR the conviction for creating a hostile work environment? Just because no one has been able to convict him for all his other criminal acts doesn't make him any less of a criminal. YOU are the trailer park resident if you support that delusional moron. HE knows what he's done, so I'll just leave it at that.

Anonymous said...

Dear Anon 5:16,

http://crossroadsnews.com/bookmark/1460012-Jones-Kimbrough-s-campaign-office-exempt-from-taxes-County-could-have-collected-16-000-in-taxes



This was discovered in Ellis' term, but it goes back to Vernon's years.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/60-million-in-dekalb-revenue-uncollected/nJcY4/

How many of Vernon's inner circle have been indicted or committed suicide? How much money did Vernon waste on his extravagant security detail headed by DON FRANK, who has plead guilty in federal court to being a DIRTY COP after being protected and promoted by Vernon for years?? He was Vernon's right hand man, his go to guy!! What a great judge of character that Vernon Jones is!! Is it any surprise he brought in crazy Bolton, who was fired as Chief of his last job?? How much money was wasted on those magic buses?? How much money was wasted on his 10 cars assigned to Bolton?? How much money was wasted on the 80 uniforms turned in when he was fired?? 80 uniforms for a guy who didn't show up to work 80 days in a single a year??

Anonymous said...

The truth of the matter is that KK Jones made you clowns walk a straight line and demanded respect for the public and the agencies he served. Check the records cause he was never accuse of drinking and driving or asked to take a sobriety test and refused in any state in the United States. I would just have to question which one of you or your close friends had a run in with him and lost. Because those are the only folks in this profession that have a problem with him. Get a life like I said before you clowns. The man is very intelligent and your kind, meaning ignorant people always hate and fear the kind of man he is.

Anonymous said...

KK. you can stop defending yourself in the above post. HHHaaaaa.

Anonymous said...

KK that you? Just a reminder.... they periodically change the alarm code at IA.

Anonymous said...

Give it a rest, KK, you're not fooling anyone. Everyone in Dekalb hated you, everyone at Marta hated you. Why did you leave IA?? Why did you leave Dekalb? Why did you leave Marta as soon as you trashed your work car off duty?

Don't take my word for it. Ask anyone at Dkpd or Marta. If they knew KK, they hated KK.