GSU Study of Dekalb's Organizational and Structure Analysis

Some have asked that we post Georgia State University's study into DeKalb's organization and structure.

Click here to read it in it's entirety.

DeKalb Fraternal Order of Police President Jeff Wiggs Speaks Up For Us!

Budget Passes

The commission has passed the latest budget proposal. Some of the highlights are: No furlough days, no merit pay increases, no paid holidays and Burrell Ellis reduces his salary by 2.5 precinct.

Click here for AJC article.

Judge Dismisses Arrest Warrants Against Commissioner Sharon Sutton. GBI, Sheriff Question DeKalb Handling of Situation - We Smell Scandel In The Air!

AJC article "Judge Dismisses Warrants Against Commissioner - Click here

AJC article "GBI, Sheriff Question DeKalb Handling of Wanted Commissioner -Click here

While The BOC Is Considering Layoffs and Drastic Budget Cuts, They Approve $101,000 In Wallpaper

Why does the county need to contract out hanging of wallpaper? What does physical plant management do?

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Commissioners: No DeKalb Cop Will Lose Job

Four of the seven county commissioners said they are against the proposed cuts to the police department and want to hire more officers.

Click here for AJC article.

DeKalb Looks For Saving Through Early Retirement. Looks LIke All The Dedicated 30 Years Folks Are Geting The Screws

Click here for AJC article

Burrell Ellis To Hold Unprecedented 12 Budget Hearings Throughout The County

Pick your date, attend, inquire and give your input.

Click here for dates

Commissioner Stokes To Run For District Seat

Run Connie, run......good riddance.

Click here for CrossRoadsnews article

CEO: DeKalb Finances at "Last Resort"

Burrell Ellis is following the political play book when it comes to raising taxes: When the people resist a tax hike, police will be laid off and crime will rise. The citizenry will be robbed and raped.

Kind of like having your taxes raised anyway.

Click here for AJC article

Here's Your Chance

An open letter to all county employees from Commissioner Larry Johnson. Don't miss this opportunity to give your input.

To All DeKalb County Employees,

In this current economy, housing prices and property values are down and as a result revenue projections for DeKalb County are also down. The Board of Commissioners has been presented with a 2010 Budget recommendation from the CEO that includes a recommendation for a tax increase as well as manpower reductions. The Board has some serious decisions to make prior to adopting a budget by March 1, 2010 as it relates to this year’s budget.

The reality of the situation is that we must adopt a balanced budget by March 1, 2010 and to do this we, as a Board, have to look for ways in which to decrease the operating expenses for DeKalb County.

I am appealing to the employees of DeKalb and asking for your input on ways in which the Board can balance this budget and continue to provide service to the citizens of DeKalb. I am seeking your input on suggestions on how we may accomplish salary savings and any revenue generating ideas you may have.

Additionally, the CEO and I will be working together to hold employee focus group meetings as an additional means of gathering your valuable input on the Budget for 2010. As the dates, times and locations are finalized we will get this information out to you. In the meantime, please send your ideas and suggestions to larryjohnson@co.dekalb.ga.us as the budget must be voted on by the end of February and the Board is in the process of reviewing the document, your ideas and suggestions should be provided as soon as possible.



Larry L. Johnson, Presiding Officer
DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

New Recorders Court Judge? Not So Fast, Commissioner Says

Click here for AJC story

Thankful For What?

First the commissioners stopped paying us for unused sick time. Now they are not paying us for working Friday November 27, which is a holiday. They also are taking the holiday away from those who just happen to be on a regular off day that day. Commissioner Stokes says, "It's just one holiday". We say to Commissioner Stokes: You're an idiot.

Over all it amounts to a 10% pay reduction for everyone during that pay period. Of course the pay reduction will appear on the first check of December, just in time for your last minute holiday shopping.

It is being predicted the 2010 county budget will be in the tank even more than 2009's. Grab those ankles ladies and gents, because the county commissioners have more in store for us.

Oh, and just in case we forget to mention later; Happy Thanksgiving!

"We're Really In a State of Crisis Right Now In Terms of Ethics In DeKalb County"

Go figure!

Click here for AJC story

Accused Racist, Co-Conspirator Is Now The Board of Commissioners Chief of Staff

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has rebuked the administration of former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones. The federal appeals court has denied the county’s request to dismiss a long-running discrimination lawsuit.

So compelling is the lawsuit, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled the suit can proceed after the county filed an appeal. The court said in its ruling "DeKalb County embarked on a wholesale plan to replace its white managers with African Americans.” It also says there is “shocking” evidence of “an overt and unabashed pattern of discrimination.” The court continued by remarking "evidence shows “compellingly” that Jones “was the architect of a racially discriminatory scheme” and that “unquestionably, he spawned the claims the plaintiffs have brought against him.”

Morris Williams is a major player in the lawsuit, and was Vernon Jones' assistant county administrator. Since then, the commissioners were so impressed with his job performance; they have named him "Chief of Staff" to the Board of Commissioners.

The lawsuit is expected for trial in about 8 months. Rational reasoning would lead you to believe the county will settle out of court, less the chance of the finding of guilt resulting in such a monetary judgment, the county government will be brought to its knees.

But in the meantime, why was Morris Williams placed in such a position to continue his discriminatory practices? During his time as chief of staff, how many citizens trying to reach a commissioner have been discriminated against? The situation is perfect for him and the commissioners. Doubtfully there is a system in place documenting race of citizens and local business owners trying to reach a commissioner.

The entire board of commissioners need to explain how Williams was chosen and what are his qualifications other than being a racist.

Are the past discriminatory practices of our county government intentionally continuing as we speak?

Here is the link to the lawsuit filed.

AJC Article

The Madness Continues!

Should We Should Stop Answering Private Property Accident Calls and Alarm Calls?

Gwinnett County is facing a 225 million dollar budget cut. Charles Walters, Gwinnett Chief of Police stated the police department will re-evaluate answering private property accident and alarm calls.

Here in DeKalb, the department should also re-evaluate private property accident and alarm calls. Let’s try to keep this simple: Out of one pocket, the taxpayer pays their insurance company. Out of the other pocket they pay taxes for law enforcement. There is an accident in a mall parking lot. The police are called to write a report for the insurance company. Very rarely are citations written, so therefore no revenue to pay for the service call. In short, the police are just a report taker for the insurance company. Over all profits for insurance companies are enormous.

Continuing on, out of one pocket the taxpayer pays an alarm company for service. Out of the other pocket they pay taxes for law enforcement. There is an alarm call. Police arrive on the scene and over 60% of the time the alarm is false. No revenue generated to pay for the service call. Alarm companies make enormous profits on the backs of the police and taxpayer.

The simple solution? Stop answering private properly accident calls. There is a form online the parties can get at any precinct to complete after they have traded information, as required by law.

If an alarm is activated, the alarm company should be required to respond. If the alarm is valid or if it’s an in progress call; then the police respond. If the alarm is false, the alarm company can handle it. Why does the police department respond to a false alarm to tell the alarm company it is false? Ah you say, but people are fined after the 3rd false alarm. Are they? Last word was the county is 6 months behind in billing for false alarms.

But in reality the insurance and alarm companies have the politicians in their pockets. We wonder how much campaign money each commissioner receives from the insurance and alarm companies. We also wonder how many alarm companies are owned by friends and families of the commissioners

The madness continues.

Commissioners Want To Stick It To You Again

When the money isn't going out the back door, DeKalb County Recorders Court takes in more fine levies than any other in the state. To the commissioners, that is not enough.

Now they intend to tax you further by charging somewhere in the area of $3.00 to park if you visit Recorders and Magistrate Courts and the DeKalb County Jail.

Click here for CrossRoadsNews article.

Commissioner Larry Johnson Must Go!

It has been shown that Terrell Bolton stole thousands of taxpayers dollars when he claimed to be working, when in fact he was visiting family and friends in Texas and traveling throughout the southeast. Now it appears a friend and ally of Bolton has been caught stealing taxpayer dollars in the same fashion.

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson was paid by the taxpayers of Fulton County while conducting commission meetings in DeKalb. As you can see in WSB TV reporter Richard Belcher’s report, the evidence is pretty damming.

Johnson presides over the DeKalb County commission meetings, which can directly affect the police department, be it equipment, personnel or pay. While having his hand in the till, he fought against across the board pay raises for the police department and against equipping us with needed updated equipment.

We call upon Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard to prosecute Larry Johnson to the fullest extent. In the meantime, Johnson should immediately resign his post, or at the very least, step aside until this matter is resolved.

The entire body of the DeKalb County Commission should lead the way by censuring Commissioner Larry Johnson. Do they have the fortitude to do that?

C.E.O. Burrell Ellis has just been handed a major controversy. He appointed Larry Johnson as presiding officer of the commission. How will Ellis respond? Will he demand Johnson step aside? All eyes are upon Ellis.

The citizens of DeKalb should be lined up at the next commission meeting demanding Larry Johnson to step aside. It is time for the taxpayers to show they will hold anyone accountable who violates the trust of the citizenry.

It appears DeKalb County District Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming has no intention prosecuting Terrell Bolton, in effect letting him escape after committing theft. Will Fulton County D.A. Paul Howard seek prosecution of Commissioner Larry Johnson? Only time will tell.

We pray that the citizens of either DeKalb or Fulton will not tolerate the violation of their trust, or the violation of the law. If they remain quiet, then it will be a sad day in our history.

Permanent police chief awaits merit system change

DeKalb County won’t get a permanent police chief until the Board of Commissioners removes the job of chief from merit protection.

Ellis has asked the Board of Commissioners to change the law to remove the police chief’s job from under the county’s Merit System.

The request, which was on the Board of Commission’s May 12 Business Agenda, has not yet made it out of the Public Safety Committee.

District 4 Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton, who heads that committee, said she expects the amendment to come before the full board on June 9.

Read more at CrossRoadsNews

Sheriff Brown is sticking it to the citizens of DeKalb and the police department

In 2008, the citizens of DeKalb County paid to the Sheriff’s Department over 12 million dollars for medical services for the inmates housed at the jail. The 12 million dollars is for a state of the art medical ward and staff equipped to handle all health care short of a true emergency or surgery. In addition, the citizens of DeKalb County paid over 32 million dollars directly to Grady Hospital.

You would think for over 44 million dollars a year, the police department would not be forced to spend upwards of over 48 man hours watching over a prisoner who simply complains of a headache.

One of the most dreaded events of any police officer’s shift is arresting someone with a medical problem, be it major or minor. By minor, we mean someone simply complaining they don’t feel good. Tom Brown, the Sheriff of DeKalb County has ordered the medical staff of the jail to refuse any and all arrestees with any type of medical problems, be it obvious or simple complaints, without first being transported to Grady Hospital to be evaluated. The evaluation can take up to 48 hours or longer. That’s 48 hours a police officer has to guard the prisoner and is not on the street. If the arrestee is violent, then that is at least 2 officers off the street.

Grady Hospital has holding cells for prisoners being treated. However, Dekalb County Police are forbidden to use them, even though DeKalb citizens pay Grady Hosptial 32 million dollars a year. The officers are forced to either handcuff the person arrested to a wheelchair or gurney, whichever the case may be. The officers and person arrested must sit in the common hallways, making it extremely dangerous for the officer, hospital staff, the public and the arrestee alike.

What are the citizens of DeKalb paying Sheriff Brown for? Is Sheriff Brown taking advantage of the system by forcing the police department into doing what he is required to do? We say yes he is.

The sheriff is responsible for the housing and medical care of all prisoners in custody, He is skirting his responsibility by forcing the police department to guard prisoners in need of medical attention instead of those same officers protecting the citizens of DeKalb County.

In a time of economic crisis, the commissioners should be looking into saving the taxpayers of DeKalb County every dollar they can while insuring the citizen’s safety and property is protected.

Even though Sheriff Brown is an elected official, the commissioners control the amount of money contributed to his budget. We call for the commissioners to investigate Sheriff Brown’s policy of refusing to accept all arrestees with medical concerns, given the fact he is being paid to do so.

The police officers need to be on the streets fighting crime, saving lives, protecting property instead of being a guard at Grady Hospital.
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