Friday, July 27, 2012

Suzanne Kaulbach Fired

Suzanne Kaulbach's employment has been terminated by the department, DeKalb police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said in a statement Friday.

Kaulbach was arrested by Clayton County authorities July 16 for allegedly having stolen property at her home, including a boat, two ATVs and a dirt bike, Channel 2 Action News reported. She was charged with theft by receiving stolen property.

She testified during a warrant application hearing that she didn't know the items were stolen. Investigators believe her partner's son and two other teenagers were responsible for the thefts, Channel 2 said.

Following the arrest, "an internal affairs investigation deemed Kaulbach violated departmental policies of Conduct Unbecoming and Violation of Law," Parish said.

AJC

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

She should have done a better job of keeping a watch at her home. Let her kick rocks with the rest of the thugs

Anonymous said...

Had she resigned (which she didn't) it would be a done deal. A firing is likely to be appealed and won (with back pay) in this case.

RSC said...

I guess I would have to see the evidence, there is just no way I believe she did anything wrong.
Im at a loss for words.

Anonymous said...

I like Kaulbach a lot, but all the IA Det. have to show in the Appeals Hearing is that the investigation was not based on technicality or any outside interferences. The conduct in question is serious misconduct, which is deemed as a serious misrepresentation (blackeye) of the Dept. So, the termination will be justified without a doubt. Even if they dismiss or reduce the charge in Clayton, she will not be hired back because her actions were serious misconduct and shed such negative light on the Dept. It's unfortunate because she was top notch, but we live and learn.....She is in my prayers.

Anonymous said...

Its an election year and the CEO doesn't want any additional baggage against him. Chief OB probably could have given the "extra mile", but because he is supposed to be retiring soon, he didn't want to have any red flags haunting him.

There have been officers who were in worse case scenerios than this captain regarding the oath of office dismissals, so what was the rush? There were officers who had indictments against them who were still employed up to the day they got convicted, so what was the rush?

I have heard from many subornbinates that this Captain was a good supervisor and was well respected by many.

Regarding stupidity at home, well....thats a different story. Love has always been thicker than water, and sometimes love is the problem. Love has always created a thorn in many relationships, with a majority ending for the worse.

Hopefully, something will be learned from all of this, but only time will tell.

Anonymous said...

This is a sad situation at best. Anyone that knows her knows that she just recently got promoted and she just recently bought that house. She also had just recently started dating her partner so a 27 year career is now over because of her partner's kid. After only being with someone for a few months it is likely that you do not really know their kids or what they are capable of. It seems to me that there must be more to the evidence in order for it to have gone this far. A four hour warrant hearing is pretty unheard of and again there must have been something that came out that we have not heard. I would not now or ever classify Suzanne as a "thug" as a previous poster stated. I do hope this kid realizes one day the strife that he has likely caused.

Anonymous said...

I find it very hard to believe that she was aware that the items were stolen. She may have been stupid in this instance but knowing her, I seriously doubt that that she would allow stolen items on her property.How about her partner, the mother of the brats,why wasn't she arrested? or was she, I never heard...Were the brats arrested? If not it seems like "selective" justice to me. I think she can win the criminal case against her and and sue and get her job and back pay back after being aquited in Clayton Co....from a smart ass conservative white boy with a sense of fair play in his character.

Anonymous said...

Next

Anonymous said...

Suzanne, I hate it for you. You've been a trusted co-worker and good friend over the years. Best of luck to you in the criminal case. I will be praying for you.

Anonymous said...

blinded by love or whatever...she refused to see the forest for the trees......but everyone saw her do the perp walk on TV...and her career is OVER...TOO BAD ..she SCREWED UP ..she made the county look bad.

Anonymous said...

Being charged with a crime and CONVICTED of that crime are two totally different things. Remember your first day of academy training (innocent until proven guilty).

Anonymous said...

RSC....
If someone brings items of value such as a boat or an ATV and puts them in your yard... and you know that this person does not have the funds to pay for the items... Would you not look into where these items came from???
ANY reasonable person would!!!
Do not let your judgement be clouded by warm and fuzzy feelings for Suzanne.... She put herself in this situation. I have no sympathy for her!!!!!

Anonymous said...

@3:26

Since when is being charged with a crime is a violation of law? Firstly, I thought being charged with a crime is when you are SUSPECTED of violating the law? Secondly, when was she charged with anything? Since when does a magistrate court file an official charging document? Why are you under the impression that the police or anyone other than the DA or Solicitor have the authority to charge anything? There is PC to believe that she knew or should have known the stuff was stolen and that's it. Why wasn't the captain suspended pending the outcome of the criminal/internal investigation? The whole conduct unbecoming thing is bullshit and is be willing to bet that THAT is why she chose to be fired and didn't resign. ANYONE can make an accusation and thats all it takes to get you fired???? Showing that you "weren't charged with it" is tantamount to you trying to show you're not an idiot....it's not necessary because it's self-evident. Thanks for the attempt at an intelligent comment, maybe next time?

Anonymous said...

Love is blind is not a defense in this case...I wish her luck!!! It is a shame her years of service, reputation and records are tarnished by her partner and her perp kids. She is my prayers that she makes it through this whole ordeal she is facing.

Anonymous said...

Getting rid of the good officers and keeping the slugs and perps.... Way to go DKPD...

Anonymous said...

It is what it is. If the shoe fits ,wear it. Next topic!! What is up with this cid blue order. I heard top notch officers and sgts wasn't picked. There are over 15 positions open in cid and only 5 unproductive MPOs are chosen hahahaha!!! What a joke. Also what about Center admin officer who never worked a full year on the road is transferred . this place is joked out

Anonymous said...

It's funny how for some people we need to wait and see the evidence before we pass judgement, but for other officers we say they are thugs. People like RSC really show your mental make up.
TB

Anonymous said...

Hate this happened...Good officer...good friend.....proves one thing and one thing only.....remember when you were in the academy????...what they drilled in your head...
"YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACTION....ON & OFF DUTY!!!!" SO WATCH YOUR ASS!!!.

Words to remember...words to live by.

340Caliber said...

She's taking fall like anybody else the fact that she's a Capt doesn't matter you know right from wrong no matter what rank or color you are.

Anonymous said...

Ok, to clarify for some, seems our policy says violation of law is when"you're charged with a crime" not convicted of one. A warrant was issued for her and there for, a charge was filed. End of story. Policy doesn't say if you're convicted. As for the firing, Dkpd probably fired her so as to not risk any negligent retention issues.

RSC said...

Maybe my judgement is cloud'ed a little, but I still would like to know the whole story before I pass judgement on an old friend, just that simple with this case.

Anonymous said...

There is no dispute, she was a great supervisor and a great officer. But what happened to her judgment at home?? This was a 17 year old punk with no job bringing home boats, atv's, and other stuff. He has no source of income, so where was this stuff coming from? That's the question any reasonably intelligent person should have been asking. Why wasn't she asking those questions? He's 17!! He had no job!! Do the math!! Suzanne, you're well respected and loved, but you let your J2 blind you! Get rid of her! No J2 is worth your career!

Anonymous said...

Good luck Capt. Captain I heard the Sheriff Office is hiring any officer who is fired from the police department. Apply over there and keep your pension. Best of luck to you.

Anonymous said...

when you lay down with dogs you get up with fleas....the partner was charged as well so she has some level of involvement....a long and respected career flushed right down the toilet over someone you just met....

Anonymous said...

There is no doubt this is case of temporary insanity! You can make all the excuses you want but as officers we know when sh#t is in the sugar. She knew the character of the company she kept. She simply overlooked what was going on and it bit her in the ass. This is more of a character issue as a captain she knew better, there is a much higher standard expected. A lot of these comments are sooooooooooooooooo hypocritical because given the same circumstances with anyone else, we enforce the law! Officers assume the person knew or should have known!!! That’s the statue basic 101 theft by receiving. She was well liked, stop making excuses for her behavior because she knew or should have known.

Anonymous said...

@6:33

when I initially read Ur post, I was on the fence..."maybe the guy is pretty sharp and he just didn't think it out" I thought. Then you follow up with this. Now I am convinced Ur just full of shit. Is the suggestion here that the policy maunual somehow supercedes law (regardless of the policies definition of being CHARGED, she hasn't been)? The manual determines that the mere issuance of a warrant deems that person guilty of violating the law? You realize you're saying, in essence, that anyone can trump up a charge and sign a warrant (we all know how hard THAT is to do) and you have officially been charged? Kind of seems illegal to me. So what is the bottom line here? What if she's aquitted? What if the charges were "trumped" up? You feel like theres no recourse here? If you got fired for something it was ultimately proven u didn't do.....u really believe its not likely to get Ur job back? Don't get on here trying to scare the young guys by overstating the "power" of a policy manual. You can put whatever u want in that thing, it doesn't make it legal.
If what u say is true, why don't we all get together, take a vote, and we can start cleaning house and getting some folks outta here.....kinda like an episode of survivor! If u said that the CONDUCT (or something found during the internal investigation) got her fired, that's much different. Ur saying that being CHARGED got her fired...if so, that's a leap of Faith my friend. I never had the opportunity to work with the good Captain, but if shes found guilty, then so be it. If she's aquitted and was fired without cause based on a policy manual with mis-stated information, I would expect that she will be reinstated and/or compensated.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately Zero Tolerance is Zero Tolerance. We have beat up on many who were arrested and demanded their immediate termination. Of course, many of them were already disliked. In this case, we could sum it up as bad things happen to good people. However, I would like to see all of the facts. On the surface, we are not talking about small items like a TV, laptop, appliance but RV's and boats. Surely that would have raised a red flag. Theft is theft and as an officer who would make arrests on such cases, the department can't afford to have that right now.

Anonymous said...

Ashamed that so many officers here are blinded by friendship. We understand that she was a great supervisor, friend, and blah blah blah. That doesnt change the facts. The fact is that she was charged with the crime and was fired. Whether she did it or not. Those are facts. Get over it. There is no conspiracy with the chief or the CEO or Clayton County because as y'all put it she was a great supervisor, friend, officer, etc. Let us remember that one of our job as police officers are to investigate crimes. Well Clayton investigated and charges were filed. Nuff said.

I think the bigger tragedy here and which got no BLOG time from what I've seen is That Officer Cooper was fired for his 41. He was a good officer and a perp JAYWALKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! across the street, (distracted by his earphones)and gets hit. Why isn't the county trying to save his bacon. I haven't seen something that messed up since the Montreal Screw Job of 97. We miss you Coop. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh and ANON @2:56 sounds like you got boned buddy.

Anonymous said...

Interesting comments, yes. Has everyone got ALL the facts, NO. There is a lot more to this entire senario. She had been given a warning that the goods (the boat especially) were more than likely stolen. She dropped the ball big time. It wasn't just the stuff that her partners kids took. She lost her job for conduct unbecoming in other areas. Very sad. Hopefully her pension will remain in tact as she obviously was a well respected office of the law. Just was blinded somehow. She won't be the last one on the totem pole that lets herself or himself be blinded. It's stupid cause it was in her face! Can't fix stupid.

Anonymous said...

Regardless what DKPD did or was going to do that sound some of you didn't hear was Ga POST getting the paperwork done to pull her certification! Very few time does a story with an officer that has been on the news get to keep their certification. Court outcomes mean little to Ga Post. You can rest assured that they have already started the process even with their staffing problems. It gets them excited to be able to do this it is an easy pull for them. Hell they been known to act on half ass lies from our IA over the years so this is just too damn easy for them to pass up. I am hoping SK can survive this. Very sorry to see this.

Anonymous said...

"It is what it is. If the shoe fits ,wear it. Next topic!! What is up with this cid blue order. I heard top notch officers and sgts wasn't picked. There are over 15 positions open in cid and only 5 unproductive MPOs are chosen hahahaha!!! What a joke. Also what about Center admin officer who never worked a full year on the road is transferred . this place is joked out"

However "productive" you are you probably got rejected from your writing sample alone.

Anonymous said...

A lot of good comments. It is obvious the captain was well liked and regarded by her fellow officers. As others have said, when you are command staff rank you are held to much higher standards unless you are a political appointee like Terrel Bolton.
This issue comes under the heading of "mental hygine". Relationships are difficult but part of the "game" of life. It is extremely important that guys and gals in position of authority to look realistically at their relationships including their "partners" off-spring. They are held to a higher standard and responsibility that comes with the rank and the salary.
I feel sorry for the Captain and hope she gets to retain her pension. Most of the time, management allows a good employee to resign under the circumstances. This issue was just too high-profile and emberassing to the county. I can almost guarantee Burrel Ellis made the decision to terminate the Captain and gave the word to the "Wiz".
Let this be a lesson to all.
Best of luck guys and gals!
KenC

Anonymous said...

Officers & Detectives --- leaving behind your personal feelings, consider these facts.
1. Thousands of $ worth of boats, atv's, motorcycles are deposited on your property.
2. You know that the person putting them there is your domestic partner's 17 yoa son with NO JOB or income.
3. The neighbors bring the matter to your attention but you throw them off the property so they go to the police.
4. The police say to you something to the effect of "the law requires a hull number on that boat --- it might be stolen" and you, an experienced street cop & detective do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about it and don't cooperate with them.
5. You buy a set of tires for one of the vehicles.


How many of you think that an average civilian, much less a highly experienced and well trained officer (and former detective) would be excused by the "Gee officer, I didn't know this stuff was stolen" excuse?
SK is NOT A THIEF! But she sure as heck let her affections for this "partner" and her pride affect her thinking.


I challenge anyone reading this to make their best defense of SK based on the facts of the case and not on their emotional bias. In other words, how would you defend yourself in court if you were in her shoes?

Anonymous said...

I thought the saying was "there's no honor among thieves." We're judging her as if shes thief. She dedicates 27 years not only to this county, but to this profession and that's the honor she receives! You guys some real jerk-offs. If shes found with sin, she shall and will be held accountable. You pharisees need to put them stones down! cuz if you live in a glass house yourself, DONT THROW THEM!!!


@ Anon 1:30 AM

Let me guess, your one of the "productive" officers that interviewed and wasn't selected?, so your mad you're still here with the rest of us stuck chucking 911 calls?
"you need to check your blood pressure buddy because your awfully salty. HAHAHAHAHA

Anonymous said...

Some of youse guys are real colo-rectal spelunkers.

Read the code section below and then think about this **** Clayton Co. cop says "that boat might be stolen cuz it aint got no hull number" and then you still do nuuuuuthin about it and retain it on your property, in your posession, under your control. You don't look for an ID number, you don't call the 17 yoa perp front and center and pistol whip him until he tells you where he got it. You DO NOTHING!!!

Clayton Co. had no choice but to pursue a warrant... and DKPD had no choice but to terminate based on the nature of the charges.

This whole episode sucks but stop looking for conspiracies where they don't exist.

O.C.G.A. 16-8-7 (2010)
16-8-7. Theft by receiving stolen property

(a) A person commits the offense of theft by receiving stolen property when he receives, disposes of, or retains stolen property which he knows or should know was stolen unless the property is received, disposed of, or retained with intent to restore it to the owner. "Receiving" means acquiring possession or control or lending on the security of the property.

(b) In any prosecution under this Code section it shall not be necessary to show a conviction of the principal thief.

much luv to all da pimps behind da badge
signed,
PimpOnPatrol