" Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither, and lose both "

- Benjamin Franklin? -

 

 

Bill of rights is a document that describes the fundamental liberties of the people. It also forbids the government to violate these rights. The constitutions of many democratic countries have bills of rights that guarantee everyone the freedoms of speech, of religion, and of the press, and the right of assembly.

In Loving Memory of My Heroes, Those Who made a Difference :

U.S Marine SSGT.Craig T. Fuller  ( www.craigtfuller.com  ), " It is the Solider that has giving us the Freedom of Speech..." ( 10/30/75 -04/25/09 )

Philadelphia Police Officer Albert Valentino," To Protect and Serve: With Dignity, Honor and Integrity ..." ( EOW 10/23/89 )

Philadelphia Mayor Frank L. Rizzo Sr., " The streets are safe in Philadelphia, it's only the people who make them unsafe..."  ( 10/23/20 - 07/16/91 )

Nicholas Christie , A 62-yr-old retiree strapped to a chair and died, Murdered by the LCSO guards at the Lee County Jail  (10/06/46 - 03/31/09)

Joseph A. Scirrotto Jr., " Never to Stand Down,When the Truth is Told... "  ( 09/20/34 - 01/20/03 ) 

For all who Protect and Serve : Heaven must of needed a Hero, Just Click the picture for   The most Absolute Beautiful Video ( A MUST SEE )

        Community News:

PHOTO BY: Gina Cohen

12/7/11

           " Craig's Dream , Mission Accomplished ! "

   

           

Cape Coral's Iwo Jima Statue stands proud and fully restored

POSTED Thu, 12/08/2011 - 2:05am | POSTED BY CapeCoral.com

After eight long months, Cape Coral’s Iwo Jima Memorial Statue stood fully restored to its original glory in the Veterans Memorial Area of Cape Coral's Four Mile Eco Park

The statue, which has been located in Cape coral since the 1960's, was officially returned to the city during a ceremony commemorating Pearl Harbor Day, by George Colom, D.J. Wilkins, and Don Meek, the three individuals who oversaw the restoration of the statue.

Standing in the Veterans Memorial Area of Cape Coral's Four Mile Eco Park, the statue, had fallen to a state of near disrepair in recent years, fingers on the soldiers holding the American Flag were missing; cracks lined the foundation and soldiers to the point that cable ties had to be used to keep the statue together.

In 2010, a small group known as the Craig T. Fuller Foundation, began working on collecting donations to fund the restoration of the statue. The foundation is named after Craig Fuller, a Cape Coral resident who spent eight years in the Marine Corps. Fuller, was killed in Afghanistan in April of 2009, while serving as a civilian security personnel. It was Fuller’s dream to see the statue restored to its former glory.

A group of Fuller’s family and friends decided to work at making Fuller’s dream come true and spent countless hours, days, weeks, and months collecting donations for the statue’s restoration. Their journey brought them before the city council in December of 2010, where they petitioned the city to cover the difference in the money they had raised and the money it cost to repair the statue. In what some call the shortest vote in council history, the city council voted unanimously to make up the difference in restoring the statue. By the end, the total cost for the statue’s restoration was $103,000. The foundation had raised $65,000, with the city providing the remaining $38,000.

On Wednesday, the group was in attendance to see the final restoration, “It feels like the end, but almost feels like the beginning, as well. We finally finished the project. We kept saying it was his dream and our mission. Today we get to say mission accomplished, that is the end. Now we get to enjoy it, that is the beginning,” said foundation member Lisa Cohen, who along with sister Gina Cohen, mother Marian Scirrotta, Joe Sabella, and Craig's parents, put in countless hours raising money to help restore the statue.

See photos from the ceremony

While the restoration of the statue had a happy ending, there were times in the beginning where that outcome did not seem possible. Cape Coral’s Parks & Recreation Director Steve Pohlman recalled a meeting with Meek and Wilkins early in the process. Pohlman says during the meeting Meek told him the statue was unsalvageable and handed him a piece of paper stating that, “I told him we could not say that because the statue is an icon in our city. I also told him to keep the piece of paper because if he would have given it to me that makes it public record, and people would have thought we were going to destroy the statue. I told them to do what it takes to fix the statue. In a week, they came back with a solution.”

While the duo had the solution, it would have to be the first of many, “In the very beginning, Don and I spent days putting together the perfect playbook on how to handle the restoration. We started on Monday and by threw the playbook out by that Wednesday,” recalled Wilkins. “We decided it was like building an airplane and flying it at the same time. Don recommended the solutions as we discovered the problems.”

Wilkins, who is a sculptor by trade and Meeks, who spent his career as a concrete restoration specialist, worked alongside Marine Corps League Commandant George Colom almost daily for over eight months to restore the statue. Colom quickly became a fixture at the restoration site, showing up daily with his camera and a smile overseeing all that was going on, “It was George’s positive attitude that kept the project going,” said Wilkins. “It is amazing how many hours George spent on this project. If I put in 350 hours, George had 3,000 hours,” added Meek.

Despite the long hours, Colom said it was a labor of love, “I felt I had something that I had to do. First I am a retired Marine. This statue means something to us,” said Colom. “This whole process has been a joy. We started something, and we finished. In our hearts, we know we did the job right.”

Colom says the working relationship between he, Meek, and Wilkins is what made the restoration possible, “We barely had an argument. We were able to talk things out and normally within an hour we had a solution. It was a great working dynamic we had, not just with us three, but all of those who worked so hard restoring the statue.”

A sentiment Pohlman whole heartedly agreed with, “Their work on this statue will be invaluable for years to come.”

During the ceremony, Wilkins, hoisted by crane, attached the American Flag back to its rightful place on top of the pole held by the soldiers. There ceremony also saw a canister of sand from the actual Iwo Jima Beach placed in the base of the statue.

On February 23, 2012, the city will hold the official unveiling of the statue to coincide with the 67th anniversary of the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.

After eight long months, Cape Coral’s Iwo Jima Memorial Statue stood fully restored to its original glory in the Veterans Memorial Area of Cape Coral's Four Mile Eco Park

For today, those who attended and were a part of the restoration can take pride that the statue will live in Cape Coral for years to come and for all to see, “This was a culmination of a lot of people working together to save an icon of our country that sits in Cape Coral. We can all be very proud of this statue. It serves as a gateway to our community. I believe it recognizes how proud Cape Coral is of its military and those who have served,” said an elated Steve Pohlman.

09/30/11

Thank You !

Watch a video of the restoration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_xZ5nQDGqI


From all of us who wanted to make Craig's Dream come true, we would like to Thank the City of Cape Coral and everyone who help us in our Mission.

Marian / Craig T. Fuller Project Iwo Jima Restoration

Cape Coral Firefighters Union donates to help restore Iwo Jima statue

Saturday morning Cape Coral’s 2424 Firefighters Union President Mark Muerth and Vice-president Brendan Fonack gathered with representatives from the Craig T. Fuller Foundation at the foot of the Iwo Jima statue to donate $5,000 to aid in restoration of the statue.

The statue, which has been in Cape Coral since the 1960’s has been in dire need of repairs due to years of deterioration. The foundation was established in honor of Craig T. Fuller, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. It was Fuller’s dream that the statue be restored to its previous glory. A small group of Fuller’s family and friends began working on raising funds to restore the statue shortly after his death. To date the foundation has risen close to $58,000 with Saturday’s donation. Total cost to repair the statue has been estimated to be $85,000. In December of 2010, the Cape Coral City Council agreed to make up the difference in what was raised to what it would cost to repair the statue. Workers began the restoration project in March and expect to be completed sometime this summer.

The project was a dream for Cape Coral Marine Craig T. Fuller, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009.  He wanted to see the statue completely restored.

Cape Coral Professional Firefighter's Union donated $5,000 to the restoration fund in memory of Fuller, waiting until Armed Forces Day to show how much they appreciate him.

"It's very important to make sure that we remember what they have done for us and we want to see this statue taken care of," said union member Mark Muerth.

With the addition of the donation, nearly $58,000 has been raised. However, supporters of the project say they're still $27,000 away from reaching their goal.

"We're not exactly where we want to be. We still have a ways to go, but it's a great step in that direction," said Lee Bushong from the Craig T. Fuller Foundation.

“This is a huge monument honoring all veterans in the city of Cape Coral,” Fonock said, noting many firefighters have served in the armed forces.

Other groups and individuals are planning on making donations on Saturday as well, he said.

Celebrating Armed Forces Day at Jaycee Park this Saturday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Admission is free to the public. For more information you can call (239) 945-1229.

The one-third scale replica of the original Marine Corps War Memorial, created by Felix W. DeWeldon is only one of three in the world. Due to weather and time, the statue had deteriorated to the point that cracks and breaks were beginning to threaten the integrity of the statue.

For almost two years, the Craig T. Fuller Foundation has been raising funds to restore the statue and along with the Marine Corps League, went in front of the city council in December of last year and was able to secure help in funding to restore the statue. Over the last three months, the city has been taking bids for the project and cost for restoring the statue is expected to be near $80,000.

On Wednesday crews laid down a plywood system to protect the bricks around the statue and began removing the granite from around the base of the statue. The next step will be removing the lava rock from around the base of the soldiers and installing scaffolding around the statue itself.

George Colom, a Commandant with the Marine Corps League says they won’t know how long the project will take until they start getting into the interior of the statue to see the extent of work that needs to be done, but they are hopeful to have the statue restored sometime this summer.

http://www.capecoral.com/content/work-begins-iwo-jima-statue-restoration

http://www.capecoral.com/category/image-galleries/iwo-jima-statue-restoration

Watch the photo gallery for updated pictures as the projects progresses: www.capecoral.com 

About CapeCoral.com

CapeCoral.com is a joint venture between CapeCoral.com, LLC and Alliance Digital Solutions, LLC to create the most comprehensive website about Cape Coral, Florida on the internet. Our mission is to be a one stop website for People to SEE, Places to GO and Things to DO in Cape Coral. CapeCoral.com provides those who live in Cape Coral, those who are looking to relocate to Cape Coral and those looking to visit Cape Coral all the information they need including a comprehensive events calendar with hundreds of different activities for people to enjoy. The most comprehensive business directory that has every business in Cape Coral included, whether you are looking for a place to eat, a place to shop or just a place to go for a relaxing evening out you will find it on CapeCoral.com. Included in the business directories are special offers that are available to users of CapeCoral.com to save money when visiting these local establishments. We also provide users with in depth information regarding local neighborhoods as well as local clubs and organizations. All of this is done in an easy to navigate format so you can find what you are looking for quickly and easily.

What also makes CapeCoral.com unique is we want to hear from YOU. Our goal at CapeCoral.com is to be an important part of the community; with that in mind we have built this site to be YOUR site by making it completely interactive with the residents of Cape Coral. You have the opportunity for your opinions to be heard through our blogs and forums. You also have the opportunity to be seen through our photo galleries, which we encourage everyone to post their photos so they can be shared with the rest of the community.

If there is something going on in Cape Coral rest assured you will be able to find it on CapeCoral.com.

Taste, Tunes & More Rocks Cape Coral

The festivities, held at Tarpon Point Marina, began with a presentation by the Military Color Guard and the National Anthem, from there live music by nationally known bands the New York Front and Deb & the Dynamics and local bands; HeadCount and Low Rent kept the crowd on their feet.

Along with the great music there was food from such restaurants as Hooters, Boar’s Head and Gourmet on the Way. The crowd also had the chance to go back in history as they walked through the Invest In America’s Veterans Foundation museum. Classic cars, motorcycles and yachts were also on display.

The event was held to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida and the Craig T. Fuller Iwo Jima Memorial Restoration Fund.

Fund for Cape Iwo Jima statue restoration tops $50K

“We have about $53,000 and are awaiting word on another $1,000 grant,” said Beth Sanger, executive director of the Cape Coral Community Foundation, which manages the fund.

"This is not only just a statue to us but the embodiment of the Marine Corps' spirit and American way," said Lee Bushong with the Craig T. Fuller Foundation.

Council Agrees To Aid In Iwo Jima Statue Restoration

As the crowd of veterans left the chambers after the vote you could see the overwhelming joy on their face, “This statue needs to be maintained and preserved. Now we can get this done,” said former mayor Kempe.

Standing together in the chamber hall was a small group of friends. Friends of Craig T. Fuller, the fallen soldier whose dream it was to see the statue be restored. This small group has spent countless hours, days, weeks and months raising funds, including fundraisers, passing out fliers, and soliciting donations one by one, whatever they need to do to raise money to restore the statue. With all of the hard work it was no surprise that emotions were running high for them and you could see that when Foundation member, Gina Cohen immediately called Fuller’s parents, who live in Tennessee to tell them the good news. Tonight this small group was able to see their hard work and dedication pay off and within the near future they will see Craig Fuller’s dream of a restored Iwo Jima Statue in Cape Coral come to reality as well.

This has been a long road and we have met so many great people. Lets continue this mission until the day we can sit under a restored statue, hold our heads up high and not see damage but more so honor and pride. I set out for this mission in honor of Craig but came out of this learning more about the men and woman in our own community that hold great links to history. Thank you all for all your help .

Thank you, Gina

The City of Cape Coral is working with the Cape Coral Community Foundation and the Marine Corps League to raise the necessary funds required to restore the Iwo Jima Statue near the Midpoint Bridge.  The Foundation has more than $48,000 in the Craig T. Fuller Fund, which was established specifically for the restoration of the statue. The City is soliciting proposals for the restoration work and will help bridge the funding gap should additional dollars be necessary. 

“The statue has been deteriorating to the point that the cracks and breaks threaten the integrity of the structure,” said Mayor John Sullivan.  “We want to work together to ensure that this community treasure is preserved and maintained for our citizens, visitors and all veterans.”

The Iwo Jima Statue- A History In Preservation

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100518/NEWS0101/100518011/1003/ACC/Event-Saturday-to-raise-funds-for-Cape-Iwo-Jima-statue



      

For the Love of Our Soldiers ~ in Honor of SSGT. Craig T. Fuller ~ Restoration of the Iwo Jima Statue

Fallen Marine, Civilian Contractor,

Craig T. Fuller to be honored

It’s cracked in more than 150 places. Elements and time have driven the symbolic piece of history into disrepair.

All Craig Fuller wanted was to see it shine again.

“When he was here he just couldn’t do enough to try to get this going,” said Fuller’s father, Jerry Fuller.

For him, the loss is still raw.  This week marks one year since the death of the former Marine, a Cape Coral native.

“He means the world to me and I know how much this statue meant to him. I mean it’s always been his dream to fix it. So now, it’s become our mission,” said Fuller’s friend, Joe Sabella.

Fuller’s loved ones have launched a fund-raising effort in his memory.

With the help of several community and veterans groups, they’re trying to raise $85,000 to restore Cape Coral’s Iwo Jima Memorial.

“We want to get it back to as original a condition as we can,” said George Colom, with the Marine Corps League.

Fuller’s family and friends say he felt so strongly about this statue because of the message it reflects.

“It’s just a symbol of freedom,” Jerry said.

“It’s all about what the Marines really are about. Put them on the map. So that’s what made him so proud of it, having the values of a Marine,” Joe Sabella added.

The historical meaning makes it even more special.

It is one of three Iwo Jima statues created by the same sculptor who erected the original memorial near Arlington Cemetery.

Fuller’s father says he knows his son is watching, and is grateful for the group’s efforts.

“Oh he’s smiling. He’s happy. He’s proud we’ve picked up the torch after him,” he said.

02/24/10  
 
                              

It would have made Craig proud to know that the statue that he loved and that was so dear to his heart will finally be restored with your help.

The Iwo Jima Statue is in desperate need of repair, Please help in Craig's name and fulfill something that he really  wanted so badly.

Honor our son by donating to restore the local Iwo Jima Statue

Craig T. Fuller Iwo Jima Statue Restoration Fund

The Cape Coral Community has band together to honor Craig T. Fuller in restoring the Iwo Jima Statue that is located in Eco Park in Cape Coral. It would have made Craig proud to know that the statue that he loved and that was so dear to his heart will finally be restored with your help.

The Cape Coral Community foundation is stepping forward to help manage your donations to ensure that your monies will be allocated to the restoration of the Iwo Jima Statue in Craig's Honor.

If individuals would like to make a contribution to the Iwo Jima Restoration Fund, they may do so by contacting the Cape Coral Community Foundation, which established the Craig Fuller Iwo Jima Restoration Fund.

"On the Move" stated in the article ;Craig was a serviceman who lost his life in Iraq, and his family has established this fund to assist the City in the restoration of the Iwo Jima Statue

Actually; Craig did serve his time in Iraq, However, He died in Afghanistan near the Pakistan boarder. The typo was made is article is excusable since the honor will still belong to him for the restoration project..

Cape Coral Marine dies in California motorcycle crash..

Michael Martins, 23 of Cape Coral had a dream of being a career Marine Corps officer.He served 2 tours in Iraq

Those plans ended tragically Friday when Martins, a sergeant who applied for officer training, died in a motorcycle crash on his way to work at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego, his widow, Allison "He's the love of my life. He's my soul mate. It doesn't seem real. I'm in denial,"

Michael had served just more than five years in the Marine Corps and survived two tours in Iraq before being stationed with the intelligence unit at Miramar,

His personal decorations included a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, an Iraq Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a National Defense Service Medal and a Navy Unit Commendation.

Cape Coral Police Department unveils statue at new headquarters !

__________________________________________


NAPLES —    Lance Cpl. Dennis J. Burrow

Burrow was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine
Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C , His address was listed as Naples, though Hagan said Maryland was still home.

In a written statement, Marine Capt. Timothy Patrick said that Burrow joined the Marine Corps in June 2006 and was promoted to the rank of lance corporal on Sept. 1, 2007.

If you think that CPS is running a muck You need to watch these videos...Just click on the picture !





The William Dunn Story :




__________________________________

Website to honor our local Hero's is Up and Running..
Please visit: www.craigtfuller.com

We welcome other families to join us to
Celebrate and Honor their lives and sacrifice to our country.


North Fort Myers Marine killed in Afghanistan..


                  

Sgt. Roy was a Lee County Academy high school graduate, and served two tours of duty in Iraq before a third deployment to the Middle East. Initially trained as a rifleman, Roy was promoted to sergeant in October 2005. His decorations include a Navy Achievement Medal, a Combat Action Ribbon, a Navy Unit Commendation, three Navy Meritorious Unit Commendations, two Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Humanitarian Service Medal, four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and a NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan

Roy and his wife, Amy, have three children, Olivia, 4; Mikey, 2; and Landon, 11 weeks

Roy was on his third tour of duty, a week from returning to Camp Lejeune, N.C., for good.

He enlisted Sept. 25, 2001, two weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and often talked about stopping terrorism, al-Qaida and Osama Bin Laden.

Sgt. Michael C. Roy died July 8th after being shot in the right cheek during a mission in the Nimroz province of Afghanistan. He was assigned to the third marine special operations battalion, a unit that was set for a return next week to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

__________________________________________

Memorial Day 2009

During a visit today to the Iwo Jima Statue at Eco park, Several people had come and gone just to pay tribute to the Flags of our military.
At one point a LCSO Sheriff's car pulled up, The Deputy got out of his car and walked to the Flags, He stood silently as he took his moment . As he saluted the American Flag, Tears were noticed falling from his cheeks. He returned to car and drove off.
At that very moment the realization that Memorial day is not just for our military but for our Law Enforcement Officers as well , Those who Serve and Those who have fallen. We all share the same flag, We all make sacrifices for our country and We all need to honor those who give us the safety and rights that we proudly defend.. 

While people are lighting up their grills, or spending a
day off at the beach, it's important to remember the real reason for today's holiday.

During a visit today to the Iwo Jima Statue at Eco park, Several people had come and gone just to pay tribute to the Flags of our military.At one point a LCSO Sheriff's car pulled up, The Deputy got out of his car and walked to the Flags, He stood silently as he took his moment . As he saluted the American Flag, Tears were noticed falling from his cheeks. He returned to car and drove off.At that very moment the realization that Memorial day is not just for our military but for our Law Enforcement Officers as well , Those who Serve and Those who have fallen. We all share the same flag, We all make sacrifices for our country and We all need to honor those who give us the safety and rights that we proudly defend..

Today marks a solemn day of remembrance for the more than 1 million American heroes of all generations who gave the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefields, defending our country.

To me, Memorial Day means paying tribute to heroes like former Marine Craig T. Fuller,  for his selfless bravery.

In the mountains of Afghanistan, while returning from delivering supplies near the Afghan / Pakistan boarder,

He was ambushed and sacrificed his life exactly 1 month ago today..

There are no words that can adequately express our debt to the men and women of all generations who have paid the ultimate price in service of our nation. But we should take the time to honor their sacrifice today, and every day of the year.

Sad days here in Cape Coral, Florida....

  Craig Thomas Fuller

               

               October 30,1975 - April 25,2009

My name is Craig; I'm a United States Marine and founder of Scrap Yard Fights.

Cape Coral,Florida vet killed in Afghanistan ambush

Gave his life to help the less fortunate

         

"Remember where you got the freedom of speech from; this way you don't abuse it or forget the ones that so diligently protected it for you! " ~ Craig Fuller ~

         


On top of the world !  Craig & Jeff in Kabul, Afghanistan



Seated at the right hand of God, Thank you for everything you have done for all of us, You will be sadly missed. You were a Loving Son & Friend !
Till we meet again..


It broke my heart to lose you,

But you did not go alone

Part of me went with you,

the day God called you home.


A million times I've thought of you

A million times I've cried

If loving could have saved you

You would have never died

I love you now and always ~Gina

Craig will get the recognition that he deserves, He fought for this country as a Marine and went back to Afghanistan to continue the fight , After 6 more years of battle, He was coming home on July 1st for good.


On Saturday, He had completed a mission and was on his way back to his base when they were ambushed and he was fatally shot.


There are men and women there that are protecting us, those who have died are not the being referred as casualties of War because they are independents yet they have sacrifice them selves for us and are unknown to us.


To those Soldiers and all of our military : I say Thank You..

Please pray for them and for all the souls that we have never heard about .


Marian
And Justice 4 All
                           



I would like to Thank the News-Press and Rachel Myers

 

Rachel Myers from The News-press posted a Beautiful 3 page article


This article was absolutely beautiful. The description of Craig was right on the money !

I can't say enough about Craig & his family, the Father / Son bond was so strong that I hardly remember a time that they weren't together. His love & devotion for his friends was amazing. He was always looking out for everyone & wanted only the best for them, Sadly right now they're all so devastated by the loss.

My home is quite & cold, My children are distraught & I feel as if the world has lost one of it's greatest defenders.

Craig gave everyone advise on how to better themselves, Do what he asked for him & in his honor. Don't let him down because he is gone , Make him proud !

He made everyone feel they were the most important person in his life, Use this to " Make a Difference ".
Make your goals for life as he did & stick to them in his memory, And as long as we all do this , he will never be forgotten & his love will carry on in each of us.

With my sincerest sympathies to all ,
As Craig would call me : Gina's Mom


On Wednesday May 6, 2009 @ 6:00 pm , We gathered to honor Craig T. Fuller, during a service at the Iwo Jima statue near the Veterans Memorial Bridge @ Eco Park in Cape Coral.


On behalf of the Fuller Family, We thank everyone who has worked so hard planning this memorial with dignity

Thank you to all who attended this memorial to honor and celebrate the life of Craig Fuller:"  Son, Brother, Uncle and Friend to everyone who crossed his short path", His last mission was completed and he is safety home.


In Memory of Craig T.Fuller

       


At the Families request: 

The Iwo Jima Statue is in desperate need of repair, Please help in Craig's name and fulfill something that he really would of wanted so badly.

Donations:
The Cape Coral community has banded together to honor the past, current, and future service men and women through the establishment of the project. These dedicated service personnel have earned our respect and inspired us to undertake this project in recognition of their effort in providing us the freedom we enjoy in these United States of America.

By Check:
Donations can be sent by check to the following address:

Cape Coral Community Foundation
4729 Vincennes Boulevard
Cape Coral, FL 33904

RE: Craig T. Fuller Memorial / For the restoration of the Iwo Jima Statue

Please make your check payable to:
"Cape Coral Community Foundation "




After he sacrificed everything surrounded by suffering, those who loved him don't doubt that heaven is where Craig Fuller rests.

Special Thank You's to : The media who covered the memorial , Pastor Russ Winstead, The Cape Coral VFW,
The CC Park Rangers, CCPD, The Harp & Thistle Bagpipe Band of SW Fla., CCFD, ROTC, Singers, Kara Everly and Debbie Brown, The VFW Cater Jeanie and her crew of lovely ladies..

In Craig's memory his very close friends joined the memorial with words of remembrances. They made us cry and they made us laugh. We heard stories that a lot of us have never heard and some that were witnessed by our selves.
Craig's friends will carry all of his love and devotions with them forever.

Those special speakers were: Dusty Rhodes: his Afghan Brother, Mike Hannon: The little Brother from Scrapyard, Jade Juda: the Scrapyard Diva, Joe Sabella: The first friend Craig had when he moved here to SW Fla. who always stayed close , Gina Cohen: The Heart of Craig's Soul, Charli Willard: AKA Charli from Texas and Dirk Smith: from Childhood to heaven.

Other Thanks to friends of Craig that made the memorial possible : Rob Robertson: Sound System, Ty Jackson: The production manager and his team, Melody Hull who did the flower arrangements from " HE, She and Me " in Fort Myers, Lisa Cohen : Who greeted the guest and distributed the program booklets. Erin Hannon who made the private invitations to the reception and everyone who helped Jade with the slide show.. If I left anyone out , My apologizes..

Craig would be so proud to see all his friends come together for him, He had many different circles of friends, and made everyone special...Craig had his military friends, childhood friends, party friends, Scrapyard friends and then his confident friends that he counted on to be there for him...They all came together and celebrated Craig the Man, The Solider; as one family.. Semper Fi

Thank you for everyone's help to make the memorial  special , God will bless those who help others for no reward.

Marian
And Justice 4 All



Craig Fuller Memorial photos  :


http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=A4&Dato=20090506&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=905060813&Ref=PH&Profile=1003&SectionCat=ACC





                          

                   

Sexual Violence

Experiencing sexual violence transforms people and changes their lives, forever. Sexual Assault is a crime of violence, not sex. Sexual Assault is about power and control, sex is the weapon.

The following facts reflect the magnitude of the problem:

• A sexual assault occurs every 1.6 minutes in this country
• Survivors in Florida range from 2 months to 94 years old
• 80% of sexual assault survivors know their assailant, at least by sight
• 1 in 4 women will be raped in her lifetime
• 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys will be sexually assaulted by the age of 13
• 10% - 14% of all married women have been raped by their husbands
• Nearly 1/3 of all rape survivors develop Rape-Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Cooperation DOES NOT mean consent

Rape is NEVER the victim's fault

Sexual assault is a violent, unexpected, traumatic, and sometimes life threatening experience. Sexual assaults are directed against women, men, and children. Assaults include any type of unwanted sexual activity expressed by one person toward another either overtly or in a subtle manner. If you have experienced this type of assault, it is important for you to remember that... Cooperation is NOT consent! Perpetrators sometimes use threats of physical harm, physical force or the use of a weapon. The fear of harm or even death may have prompted you to cooperate with the assailant. This does not in any way mean that you consented to the assault. Since rape can feel like... and can often be a life-threatening situation, whatever measure you took to survive was EXACTLY the right thing to do.

A Survivor

As a survivor of sexual assault, you will most likely have many questions and concerns. There are emotional and psychological reactions to the trauma you have experienced. You may want clarification on medical and legal questions.

Following the assault, you may have many thoughts and feelings that will be confusing and disturbing. That's normal. Rape survivors usually feel a sort of emotional numbing or shock immediately following the assault. It is also normal to have the tendency to deny what happened. These feelings and emotions are normal, and it is called Rape Trauma Syndrome.

Rape Trauma Syndrome is a term that covers the wide range of emotions and reactions that are common to rape survivors. Some of these reactions include fear, grief, disbelief, guilt, shame, anger, sadness, betrayal, and rage.

Rape is a terrifying assault. It is normal for you to feel fear, anxiety, distrust, anger or any other emotion you may have. It is normal to experience sleeplessness, lack of appetite, and/or increase in appetite, and to have less interest in your normal routine and activities.

Flashbacks and nightmares are also common symptoms of Rape Trauma Syndrome. You may be blaming yourself for what happened. IT WAS NOT YOUR FAULT. Regardless of what a victim does or doesn't do, NO ONE DESERVES TO BE RAPED.

For More Information:

Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc.
P.O. Box 60401
Fort Myers, Florida 33906

24-Hour Hotline 239-939-3112
Emergency Shelter 239-939-3112
Administration 239-939-2553
Fax 239-939-4741

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This picture rocks, someone went above and beyond to prove how corrupt every department of Lee county government is .

          

Now, If we can get everyone to stand up and let everyone know the truth about the justice system here; We may actually have a fair justice system..For more information go to the links for Jail4Judges.

This person was giving 5 days to remove this, However, By then everyone would of seen it on Del Prado Blvd. in Cape Coral

Maybe they'll listen to the defendants more before making a ruling and remembers even the state makes mistakes .

If you are truly innocent don't plea out, go all the way and if you lose:  appeal and appeal but fight for your rights to a fair and balanced justice system.

__________________________________________________________________

Just a note from Me :



With all the turmoil in the county right now, A few are referring to me as a cop hater, this is far from the truth.. I support Law enforcement, I have family and many friends that are LE, here and all over the country. That bothers me, because I sat with the widow of a fallen cop, he was one of my best friends and I lost many other friends as well.

Those who have dignity have nothing to hide !
 
What I don't support is abuse of the badge and those who condone it.

I don't support the patriotic act and violations of our civil and constitutional rights.

I believe in Justice, fair and balanced Justice from all civil servants and every elected officials.

This is not an axe to grind or a personal issue, this is a citizens right to call it as I see it and let people know that this is happening here and in other states until a change is made..

We don't need a Big Brother, we don't need to fear LE or the justice system, we should not be afraid to call the police or let our children be afraid of them because of the scare tactics that are used right in front of their eyes.
There has to be balance..That is what this country is made of .
Our constitutional and civil rights should be complied by everyone.

Every one has the right to agree to dis-agree and that is why we live in the United State of America.
This is one of my rights and it's your right and it should never be taken away from any of us.

This country is Based on Christian Values and I believe that there are more good guys than bad but the bad strips the good of their dignity and self-respect if you don't stand up and Make a Difference..

With Regards,
Marian / Karma 4 All

                         

In Loving  memory of :

Police Officer Albert A. Valentino Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Monday, October 23, 1989 Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)

EOW ~ 22 years ago

Police Officer Albert A. Valentino

Philadelphia Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Monday, October 23, 1989

Biographical Info
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: 7113

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Date of Incident: Monday, October 23, 1989
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

Officer Albert Valentino was accidentally shot and killed by a fellow officer while involved in a shootout on a city street. The suspect involved in the shootout was also shot and killed.

Officer Valentino was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter Gina Marie, born a week after her father's death.

I miss you , Al and I'm so proud of you, not a day goes by that I don't think of you... You were a good husband, father and friend..

In Memory of my friends who protected and served with dignity...
              

Police Officer Daniel J. Faulkner Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Wednesday, December 9, 1981 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Charles Patrick O'Hanlon Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Wednesday, November 13, 1985 Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle

Police Officer Daniel T. Gleason Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Thursday, June 5, 1986 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer William D. McCarthy Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Tuesday, September 22, 1987 Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

Police Officer Albert A. Valentino Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Monday, October 23, 1989 Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)

Police Officer Freddie Dukes Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Tuesday, December 25, 1990 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Daniel R. Boyle Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Wednesday, February 6, 1991 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Robert Hayes Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Thursday, June 17, 1993 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Robert Porter Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Friday, January 19, 1996 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Detective John Cousin Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Thursday, August 15, 1996 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Thomas M. Bray Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Tuesday, November 13, 2001 Cause of Death: Drowned

Detective Anthony Johnson Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Tuesday, January 7, 2003 Cause of Death: Heart attack

Police Officer Charles Cassidy Philadelphia Police Department, PA EOW: Thursday, November 1, 2007 Cause of Death: Gunfire

I Live life in such a way that when my feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders & says ;

              "Oh shit... she's awake!!!"

Power Corrupts And Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

~ John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton

01/27/12
Let's not forget why " You " are here....



http://www.thepetitionsite.com/456/justice-for-nick-christie-murdered-in-the-lee-county-florida-jail-by-those-who-were-to-protect-and/


01/25/12

A second look into jail death necessary

Written by : Sam Cook 

http://www.news-press.com/article/20120125/COLUMNISTS02/301250016/A-second-look-into-jail-death-necessary

“That photo is a snapshot in time,” says Christie family attorney Nick DiCello. “I don’t know why it wasn’t included in the criminal investigation. That raises concerns and questions.”

The uproar rattled the cage of the governor’s office. Gov. Rick Scott asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Jan. 5 to gather information about Christie’s death.“It was prompted by calls from citizens to the governor’s office,” says Lane Wright, a spokesman for the governor.

DiCello says it took him a long time to get his hands on the photo.

“The sheriff’s office claimed that no digital image existed,” he says. “The sheriff’s office gave us a photo that looked like it had gone through the photo copier 100 times. It was not a quality image.”

The lawyer says it wasn’t until he deposed Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Robert Pfalzgraf that he discovered the absent piece of evidence.

“We found the digital image in the coroner’s file,” DiCella says. “Mr. Christie was on the suicide watch floor. I knew there had to be a photo. A deputy took it. Jails video the entire action to protect everybody involved.”

Why wasn’t the photo included in the criminal investigation?

Whether intended or not, corrections deputies bungled the handling of Christie’s situation.

It shouldn’t take a corrections deputy or a medical examiner to see the pepper spray was excessive.

The governor was wise to ask FDLE to give the case another look-see. It needs all the eyes it can get.

 Keep the petition going, Call or email the governors office and demand that this re-open investigation be out of jurisdiction 

In regards to recently re-opening of the case of Nick Christie who was Tortured and Murdered in the Lee County Jail , It would be in the best interest of this investigation that since Mike Scott is the sheriff and he and his staff unbridled access to all evidence and documents relating to this case.
Already, footage of the Nick Christie case has conveniently gone missing. This is very much like a prior case where key former members of Scott's administration made allegations regarding Mike Scott involvement in criminal activity with a cartel member went missing.
It is in the interest of justice to ensure that no one manipulates this investigation from within. As long as Mike Scott is in office, the propensity for him to effect.the outcome is great. For the sake of the people, deputies, justice and inmates as well as the integrity of the investigation, Mike Scott and his current command staff should be suspended from office and an interim sheriff appointed.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/456/justice-for-nick-christie-murdered-in-the-lee-county-florida-jail-by-those-who-were-to-protect-and/

Office of Governor Rick Scott
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
(850) 488-7146
Email : http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/

01/20/12

Thank you God !

After a 6 year battle for justice against the abuse in the Lee County Jail;

Just confirmed Gov. Rick Scott has ordered FDLE to review case of Nicholas Christie (man who died after being pepper sprayed in Lee Co Jail.) FDLE said they are in the process of conducting that investigation now.
Thank you to everyone who signed the petition , made calls and sent emails...Keep up the Good Work and Let's bring some Justice to the Christie Family

http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2012-01-20/Governor-orders-investigation-into-pepper-spray-death

The Lee County Sheriff's Office responded to today's news:

"Due to patient privacy laws and on-going litigation we cannot comment on the facts of the case, however the Lee County Sheriff's Office makes the following statement:

The Lee County Sheriff's Office conducted an extensive investigation which spanned months and involved interviewing over 90 witnesses. Upon completion, the entire investigation was turned over to several other independent government entities including the 20th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office, the US Attorney's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who conducted independent investigations of the case.  None of the investigations found criminality on the part of the Lee County Sheriff's Office.  The Lee County Sheriff's Office continues to stand behind the investigation and although the death of Mr. Christie is tragic, the specific facts of this case are presently before the Federal Court and no further comments will be made."

I Call Bull Shit ~ Everyone, who investigated this almost 3 years ago was part of the Good Ol Boys Club, everyone was linked back to Mike Scott and his friend Dick Spence who was a contributor to all of them..
Public records reflect all of them received donations from Spence and the common factor was >>>>>> Mike Scott

P.S
Mike; I see you hit this site at least once a day, maybe if you were doing the job of a sheriff and not playing on your computer, you would have some control over your department ..You make the Good deputies look bad and how sad is it that all those who do their jobs and do it well ; Have to be brought down in disgrace because of YOU

                                




01/19/12
Where were the CO's this time ??

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a report by an inmate at the Lee County Jail that he was raped by another inmate.

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012120119018

Read the disgusting comments left from the readers, It's another embarrassment to the Sheriff's Department and these readers have no morals what so ever

01/18/12
This is extremely well done article, It is not only about Nick Christie but others that Asst. SAO, Dean R. Plattner , would not charge for abuse of their powers..

The Prosecutor Who Cleared Nick Christie’s Jailers For Pepper-Spraying Him to Death Had a History of Letting Cops Off the Hook

By: Mike Riggs , who is an associate editor at Reason magazine and Reason.com.

Dean Ross Plattner, 53, of Fort Myers, passed away Friday, October 7, 2011. My condolences to his family for their loss..It is never a good thing to lose a husband, father or brother, So suddenly.


01/17/12

THE TODAY SHOW !
WHAT HAPPENED TO NICK CHRISTIE IN THE LEE COUNTY JAIL ?

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/46022579#null

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

1/16/12

Outrage from all over the world, Demanding Justice for Nick !
 
Every website that I have read , people ask what are the names of these deputies that murdered Nick Christie ?

The state attorney's office cleared the five LCSO corrections deputies

- of criminal wrongdoing in the case

All, to the best of my knowledge , are still employed with LCSO, None were even suspended during the bogus investigation..
After I read the motion of the wrongful death civil suit , I noticed that one name did not and should of been on the motion..
That is Col. Michael Waite , Retired in October 2011 and In my opinion , I also believe that SAO Steve Russell holds some responsibility since he also knew since 2005 about the abuse at the Lee County Jail..

I have kept a paper trail of letters and emails from inmates and their families of disturbing incidents, Before Mike Scott decided to go to post card mail..Now; I hear from families that fear to email or call to find out what the hell is going on and why is it still allowed and condoned .

If you have a story about what you seen in the Lee County Jail; Please email me at : comments2marian@yahoo.com



1/14/11

The Murder of Nick Christie was not enough for the Lee county Jail..

 When will they learn ?

I just came from the Lee County Jail and was informed by several people that nothing has changed there at all...Request are still denied , no medical and Deputies are still running a muck using inmates as sport...This STOPS NOW !

I promise that big changes are coming because Karma and God are taking the devil down...

Now; Let's Make It Right !

Please sign this petition and spread the word , Justice for Nick Christie :

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/456/justice-for-nick-christie-murdered-in-the-lee-county-florida-jail-by-those-who-were-to-protect-and/

Just weeks ago if anyone Googled Nick Christie's name , You would of found some local news and Ohio news links and little old And justice 4 all and maybe a few others ..

As of today , 01/13/12

Google has 182,000 websites
BING has 304,000 websites
Yahoo has 2,280,000 websites
Ask.com has 9,480 websites

I'm just a drop in the ocean now !

1/12/12

Everyday I google Nick Christie's name and see more and more websites posting his story. The attention is there, However; as disgusted people are , The petition site have less signatures than convicted Cop-Murder Mumia Abu-Jamal..
I find that completely disgraceful that over 2500 people want to see him free, yet; No Justice for the family of Nick Christie.. These deputies, Mike Scott, Mike Waite and Steve Russell , Need to be held accountable . There is no statue of limitations on Murder and this was Murder !

Letter From : Pam Bondi's office

Thank you for contacting the Office of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to express your concerns relating to the 2009 death of Nick Christie. Attorney General Bondi asked that we respond.

 This office appreciates hearing from you, and we have taken note of your concerns. However, the Florida Constitution provides that the elected state attorney has the sole responsibility for prosecuting criminal charges at the circuit level in Florida. The state attorneys operate independently and are not a part of the Attorney General's Office. The contact information for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office is:

       State Attorney's Office
       Twentieth Judicial Circuit
       Post Office Box 399
       Ft. Myers, Florida  33902
       Telephone:  (239) 533-1000
       Website:  http://sao.cjis20.org/

 Additionally, part VI of chapter 112, Florida Statutes, sets forth the
 process and requirements for complaints against law enforcement officers.
 You may access that chapter and the Florida Statutes in entirety in a
 searchable database online at:

 http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0112/0112PartVIContentsIndex.html&StatuteYear=2010&Title=%2D%3E2010%2D%3EChapter%20112%2D%3EPart%20VI


 In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice may also review alleged police misconduct in some circumstances, as described on its website, which includes contact information:

  "Addressing Police Misconduct Laws Enforced by the Department of
 Justice"
       http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/polmis.php

 If you are concerned about conflicts of interest involving public
 officials, you may contact the Governor's Office. Florida law gives the
 Governor the authority to assign state attorneys from one jurisdiction to prosecute crimes in another jurisdiction. This authority is appropriate in unusual situations, typically when the state attorney informs the Governor there is a conflict of interest within the office, and he or she cannot be impartial. This authority, however, is not designed to allow the Governor to review or second-guess the actions of the state attorney. The contact information for the Governor's Office is:

 The Honorable Rick Scott
 Executive Office of the Governor
 The Capitol
 400 South Monroe Street
 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001
 Citizen Services Hotline: (850) 717-9337
 Fax: (850) 487-0801
 Website: www.flgov.com/

 Again, thank you for contacting Attorney General Bondi's Office.

 Sincerely,

 Office of Citizen Services
 Florida Attorney General's Office
 PL-01, The Capitol
 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
 Telephone:  (850) 414-3990
 Toll-free:  (866) 966-7226
 Website:  www.myfloridalegal.com



12/26/11
Overwhelming support, I have over 800 emails to respond too and there are 2 petitions calling for justice.


http://www.thepetitionsite.com/456/justice-for-nick-christie-murdered-in-the-lee-county-florida-jail-by-those-who-were-to-protect-and/


01/11/12

The BEST article, That I have read !

Death In The Devil's Chair: Florida Man's Pepper Spray Death Raises Questions About Jail Abuse

Radley Balko Radley.Balko@huffingtonpost.com Become a fan of this reporter

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/jail-abuse-nick-christie-pepper-spray-florida_n_1192412.html?ref=mostpopular

12/25/11

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING ... OVERWHELMING RESPONSES !

THIS WEBSITE VISITS FOR : 12/24/11

• 235
Visits

• 196
Absolute Unique Visitors

• 253
Pageviews

• 93.19%
Bounce Rate

• 79.57%
New Visits



235 visits came from 23 countries/territories

624 Comments on THE BLAZE
116 Comments on Care2
580 personal emails

Now Google Nick Christies name and instead of few found searches, there are hundreds and more than 10 pages


12/24/11

My Christmas miracle... Finally; After 2 years the Nick Cristie story has gone national.. It's every-where and I couldn't be happier.
I was wondering why my website had 173 hits the other day and today It's on the cover of the BLAZE ..... Thank you Blaze, that you GOD..I just want justice for Nick !

Merry Christmas : Joyce and Pete ♥

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/new-pic-shows-aftermath-of-man-tied-to-chair-by-cops-and-pepper-sprayed-until-he-died/


This story is not just National now but World Wide !

Merry Christmas Mike Scott - Free !

http://www.care2.com/causes/florida-man-tortured-and-pepper-sprayed-to-death-by-police.html#comment-2979785




12/23/11

Keep opening your mouth and inserting your foot, Liar, Liar...Green Pants on Fire !!

http://www.news-press.com/article/20111223/COLUMNISTS02/312230035/Sam-Cook-Sheriff-Scott-staff-still-converse-felon

Read Sam Cooks ( News-Press ) article and watch the video..


The policy: Chapter 26:48 of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Operations Manual states deputies should avoid felons

Lee County Sheriff’s Office Operations Manual: Chapter 26:48: Association with criminals: Except as necessary in the performance of official duties, Sheriff’s Office members should avoid regular or continuous associations or dealings with persons whom they know or should know are persons under investigation in a criminal matter or indictment, or who are convicted felons, or persons actively involved in criminal activity, or persons generally held in ill repute in the community, or have relationships with persons that would reflect discredit on the member or the Office.

What is it about Alva Village Market manager Dick Spence that some Lee sheriff’s deputies — including Sheriff Mike Scott — find so irresistible?

“Because I’m just a good guy,” Spence, 54, said Dec. 15 after three deputies had lunch at his store. “And we got the best pizza in town.”

Spence is a felon.

That designation should be enough for deputies to not befriend him and breach agency policy.

But Spence estimates 150 law enforcement officers a week frequent his store.

This not just a small time felon, especially since everything in Lee County is a felony, Richard "Dick" Spence is A money launderer and kidnapper, the former Colombian cartel cocaine supplier served only three years in prison.

Sheriff Corp. Mike Scott closed our Sub-Stations, However.....

In 2011, the sheriff has spent $225,000 on these announcements, which have aired on major networks – CBS and NBC, and at key times, such as during the “Tonight” Show. That’s six times more than the $37,500 the agency paid last year for the public service announcements. The sheriff’s office pays for the messages with money seized from illegal activities, such as drug sales.The increase has caused some in Lee County, including one of Scott’s opponents in the 2012 sheriff’s race, to question if Scott is using the announcements for his own political gain. Though the messages contain no mention of the sheriff’s re-election run, they say his increasing appearance in TV announcements is promoting his re-election.

“Every time we turn the television on it’s Mike Scott, Mike Scott,” said Lee Bushong, one of Scott’s opponents in the 2012 race and a former Lee County sheriff’s lieutenant. “If the sheriff wanted to do it the right way, he’d be out there campaigning on his own dime.”

Scott said in an email to the News-Press ; " His job entails a number of public appearances, and called the suggestion his public interactions were political “laughable.” He said an aggressive public awareness effort was necessary because of the magnitude of the issues, particularly texting while driving and prescription drug abuse.

“As the person charged with public safety countywide, I see these two issues as serious, life and death threats and both seem to have surfaced more prominently this year,” Scott wrote.

It's time for a serious change here in Lee County, Let's Make It Right !

                               

                             The Eight Amendment

http://youtu.be/tKNKCltRXrE

THIS IS WHAT THEY DID !






12/15/11

Photo shows pepper-sprayed prisoner

Updated: Thursday, 15 Dec 2011, 5:19 AM EST
Published : Wednesday, 14 Dec 2011, 11:37 PM EST

• 

  Doug Smith
  FOX 13 Investigative reporter

• http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/investigates/photo-shows-pepper-sprayed-prisoner-12142011

TAMPA - No doubt you've heard the adage: a picture is worth a thousand words. A picture of 62-year-old Nick Christie could be worth thousands of dollars when a jury sees it.

The photo shows the Ohio man restrained inside the Lee County Jail with his body covered in pepper spray.

"This photo is a picture of a man who is strapped to a chair naked inside a jail for hours with a hood over his face. That evokes thoughts of being tortured," says Cleveland-based lawyer Nick DiCello who represents the Christie family.

The photo, which was obtained by FOX 13's investigative unit, was taken in the final hours of Christie's life.

The District 21 Medical Examiner ruled his death was a homicide because he had been restrained and sprayed with pepper sprayed by law enforcement officers. But to this day, nobody has ever been charged with a crime, and the Lee County State Attorney cleared the sheriff's office of any wrong doing.

It's been more than two and a half years and his wife still can't accept what happened.

"I was shocked. This was something out of a horror movie," says Joyce Christie. She said her husband was depressed and was showing signs of erratic behavior a few days before leaving for Florida.

She called authorities and pleaded with them to take her husband to a hospital and be given his medications. Instead, he was taken to jail for disorderly intoxication.

Her lawsuit alleges he was pepper sprayed 10 times over a 48-hour period, at times while in a restraint chair.

Tom DePolis spent more than 30 years in law enforcement at the Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He's seen first-hand the effects of pepper spray and knows its limitations. He can see no reason for deputies to repeatedly pepper spray Nick Christie since he was already in custody.

"The purpose is to temporarily incapacitate someone -- temporarily, that's the key word, so you can restrain them," says DePolis.

Monshay Gibbs was a deputy trainee at the jail at the time. In a video deposition, she testified that she thought the way Nick Christie was treated was excessive.

"He had a spit mask on and was naked," she said on the video while under oath. Gibbs testified that Christie pleaded with guards to take off the spit mask because he couldn't breathe.

The State Attorneys Office investigated the incident and cleared the Lee County Sheriff's office of any wrongdoing.

Picture, Video Depositions Paint Horrific Images of Ohio Man's Final Hours

By Bill Sheil

Fox 8 News Reporter

10:19 PM EDT, October 30, 2011

09/07/11

10/02/11

Let's Make It RIGHT !

I am running for Sheriff based on the foundation of proven law enforcement
experience (my evaluations and commendations are listed on my website
and are publicly available) and high moral character. Most of all, I am a committed law enforcement officer.
I am not and will not run based on politically fueled promises, partnerships and
agendas. I ask you - the taxpayer, the citizen, the parent, the retiree - to attend the press conference and the following debates and announcements. I ask you to listen, see the evidence I present and make a decision based on fact and not a smile.
I anticipate a challenging and exciting campaign over the next 11 months, as well
as the greater challenges when you elect me as your Sheriff. I am committed to the
challenge, hard work and dedication that lay ahead for us all as a community. Together, “Let’s Make It Right!”

“Those who expect to reap the blessings
of liberty must undergo the fatigues of
supporting it.” -Thomas Paine

– Lee Bushong
LEE 2012 Bushong L e t ’ s M a k e I t R i g h t
Political Advertisement

http://lee2012.com/content/content/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LEE-NP-AD-HALF-PG-1.pdf

Lee Bushong, Candidate for Lee County Sheriff Announces Challenge

07/26/11

Lee Bushong, Candidate for Lee County Sheriff calls for multiple “all candidate debates” in anticipation for the Republican Primary election next year.

The easily anticipated announcement by the current Lee County Sheriff opens the door to multiple debates that will provide Lee County citizens with the information they need to elect their new sheriff in 2012. 

“Now that the sheriff has announced his attempt at another term, I can formally challenge him as well as the other candidates to a series of professionally moderated, video-taped debates that Lee County deserves. We cannot keep the citizens of Lee County in the dark. They deserve to see their candidates stand shoulder to shoulder, to debate the topics that are important and critical to their very safety. The people need to understand how their money is being spent, amongst other very important, insightful and significant issues.  There has been a lack of consistency in the leadership of the Sheriff’s Office, and in the midst of this crisis, I wish to bring accountability and answers to the people.” – said Lee Bushong.

Bushong added, “I challenge any and all candidates to these debates because there is nothing more sacred than the right to vote. It is a right that I have fought for, millions have sacrificed for, and one which many across the globe do not have. It is vital that we stand before our citizens for questioning and judgment. It is their right.”

When asked about when and where the debates should take place, Mr. Bushong stated that it is in the interest of the public to have such debates conducted on neutral ground, moderated by a neutral party such as a professional representative from each major media outlet. It is important that all candidates be involved.

Despite Family's Pleas, Ohio Man Pepper Sprayed to Death

By Bill Sheil ~ Fox 8 News Reporter

Joyce Christie composes herself just to try and talk about what happened to her husband, Nick.

"He was a man that needed medical help. Help that he didn't get. I trusted the wrong people," she says softly.

When her husband showed signs of mental issues while visiting his brother in Florida, Joyce reached out to the sheriff's office in Fort Myers.

Ultimately, after being taken to jail instead of a hospital first, Nick died.

The medical examiner in Florida ruled it a "homicide" because Nick had been "restrained and pepper sprayed by law enforcement officers."

"It was almost like they tortured him," Joyce says.

Nick was a union boilermaker in Cleveland. After he retired, his health, both mental and physical, began to decline.

On a whim, he drove to Florida in 2009 to visit his brother. After an argument, Nick checked into a hotel.

Worried, Joyce went to the Girard Police Department for help. They called the Lee County Florida sheriff's office.

In a taped call, the sheriff's office acknowledges that Nick needs to be "baker-acted."

The sheriff's department tells FOX 8 that "baker-acted" is a code phrase in Florida for someone who needs help with mental health issues.

Nick, 62, was taken, instead, to jail. He was released a short time later, but picked up again - apparently, his wife says, after an argument at the hotel where he was staying.

Frantic, Joyce called the sheriff's office, pleading that her husband be taken to a hospital and given his medications.

Joyce tells the dispatcher, "I'm just afraid that I'm going to get a call that he's dead."

While in jail a second time, Nick was pepper sprayed repeatedly.

His wife's lawsuit says it was "no less than ten" times - some while he strapped to a restraint chair.

Ken Cutler, who was in the jail at the time, remembers seeing it happen.

"We could see him from our cell, he's covered in pepper spray - and they sprayed him again."

Joyce believes her husband may have been acting out because he was off his medications.

Her suit contends Nick was "denied... necessary prescription medications."

Nick began having medical problems and was finally taken to a hospital.

But Joyce says medical personnel had trouble helping him - because they were gagging.

"I met a nurse and two doctors," says Joyce, who flew down to be with her husband, "and they said they had trouble working on Nick because he was excessively pepper sprayed and it was affecting them."

Nick died in the hospital after having a heart attack.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office declines to comment because of the pending lawsuit.

Even though Nick's death was ruled a homicide, no one has been charged.

"This is a living nightmare," Joyce says, "that I have to live through everyday and wonder, 'what could I have done differently?'"

Copyright © 2011, WJW-TV

http://www.fox8.com/videobeta/46290aac-f0d3-4d9b-9834-cdc934cd68a4/News/I-Team-Pepper-Spray-Death

06/16/11

Storyline

Personal injury attorney Stuart Pepper faces the challenge of his young career when he takes on a controversial case of wrongful death in small town Iowa. Kevin Thacker's body was found in the alley outside the Marshalltown Police Department after the young man was arrested for drunk driving. The arresting officer's story is highly suspicious and everyone involved, from the investigating detective to the FBI, appear to be aiding in covering up what actually happened that fateful night. With a promise made to the Thacker family to expose the truth, Stu dives head first into an uphill battle against lies and corruption. What transpires will change this lawyer's life forever. Written by Robert Dean Klein  

Lee Bushong, a former Lieutenant with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, will make public his decision to run for Lee County Sheriff on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 12:10 pm (or about that time), on the North steps of the Old Courthouse located at 2120 Main Street Fort Myers.

Lee Bushong was born in 1974 in Ohio.  During 1992, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served two tours.  Upon his separation from the Marines, Lee joined the Lee County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office.

Lee has lived in Cape Coral and Fort Myers.  During his career with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, he served in a variety of capacities.  He was a patrolman, active in community events.  Later, he was promoted to a general crimes detective and spent time between Bonita Springs and a County-wide task force before receiving an assignment to the homicide unit.

After Lee’s tour in homicide, he was promoted to sergeant and served as a patrol supervisor.  He brought new concepts in aggressive, criminal targeted programs that resulted in removing key criminals in West Lee County (South Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach area).  Soon after, he was promoted to Detective Sergeant, and later Lieutenant.

Lee’s career with the Sheriff’s Office spanned 11 years.  His time there was marked with commendations and gratitiude.  He resigned during December 2009 in order to prepare to run for this office.

Lee currently lives in the Gateway area of Fort Myers with his wife and children.  Most of his family is from Fort Myers Beach and Cincinnati.  Lee looks forward to bringing leadership to the Sheriff’s Office and improving the safety and quality of life to those who live and visit Lee County.

Details on his plan will be released from time to time during his campaign.  What Lee wishes to drive home is that he believes in accountability and that as the Sheriff, he will be solely responsible for all things within the Sheriff’s Office – good and bad.

The community needs access to law enforcement, and Lee will ensure it.

Lee will be available for comment immediately following the announcement of his decision.  Further information can be obtained at www.lee2012.com and/or  www.leebushong.com

With his wife and daughter in attendance as well as a couple of dozen supports, Bushong stated, “I pledge that my partnership with you will be grounded firmly in trust, honesty, and dedication to the greater good and a passionate commitment to the fiscally responsible practice of the rule of law.”

Among the topics Bushong touched on during his speech was the goal of reducing the sheriff’s office budget, while putting more boots on the street. When asked how he could do this Bushong stated, “Funds are there to increase patrol deputies and reduce the level of the budget. To make it work misplaced funds need to be re-appropriated.”

Another strong statement Bushong made was on what he feels should be the equal treatment of all, “I vow to preserve and protect the rights of all persons, regardless of who they are. Everyone is a human being and should be treated as such,” said Bushong.

Read in it's entirety at : http://www.capecoral.com/content/bushong-officially-announces-his-run-lee-county-sheriff

Jury awards plaintiff $1.2 million in lawsuit against Prison Health Services

She testified that during monthly meetings with nursing staff, Prison Health Services officials stressed not sending inmates to hospitals because of prior mistakes. She said nurses needed to call doctors for clearance.

Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, recently dropped as a defendant from Fields' lawsuit, said he believes Prison Health Services provides good care, considering the clientele.

"Generally speaking, they're doing a good job. Mistakes are made. But that's anywhere," Scott said. "I give these guys a little bit of room because of the baseline they're dealing with."

Mike Scott has known since 2005 that the health care and corrections officers are neglecting and abusing the inmates at his jail, He claimed that the murder of Nick Cristie was an isolated incident, The fact remains that Scott and his staff were very aware of the problems at the jail and they still continue. According to the DOC, when inmates from Lee County are transported to the reception center most are in serious need of medical and they dread their arrival ...

The health care provider is not the ones at fault in most cases, If they are not aware of problem because the CO's or deputies don't inform them, How can they know someone needs help, medical request are routinely DENIED !

From Lee Bushong ~ June 5, 2010.

Laws were written and developed many years ago as a basis to form a civilized society. As time evolved, some governments abused the laws, leading to fractured and sometimes new societies. We are all familiar with one story dating back to 1776 which laid the groundwork for the Constitution and the society which we live in.

Those Constitutional guarantees, and the laws of this great State were not made to be ignored, nor to be treated arbitrarily or with indifference.

I believe those laws and guarantees should be passionately protected and preserved for all people - citizens, immigrants, deputies; innocent people and guilty people. Free people and incarcerated people. EVERYONE. We all have rights, and it is the responsibility of law enforcement to do just that - enforce the law and thereby protecting those rights.

As much as anyone wants to bend the rules from time to time to circumvent the Constitution or to get around a law, it cannot be done. It's the mandate and the very concept of law enforcement to protect those rights through impartial, unbiased application of the law. Justice is supposed to be blind, right?

Sadly, though, I just learned of another recent example of the Lee County Sheriff's Office - the body charged with enforcing all laws in Lee County, willfully neglecting the very laws it's supposed to enforce. Or more accurately, Mike Scott is not enforcing the very laws he swore to uphold And that profoundly disturbs me.

So let me say it again - passionate unbridled protection and preservation of the rights of all people regardless of who they are and what their past is.

To read Lee's views on the Fatal crash involving a LCSO deputy that was in the words of the state attorney “incomplete or inaccurate.”, Please visit the F.Y.I section

State attorney did not see deputies’ actions ?

There was no complete video for state officials to review before they decided not to prosecute Lee County sheriff’s deputies who re-strained and pepper-sprayed inmate Nicholas Christie eight times over two days before Christie’s March 31, 2009 death.

That’s because deputies pepper-sprayed and restrained Christie in areas where there are monitors, but video is not recorded, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Sgt Larry King.

“The only areas that have the video capabilities are the new areas of the jail,” King said.

Also, a video that would have shown deputies handcuffing Christie to a gurney before taking him to a hospital froze for about 11 minutes as it happened.


“There is a lot of cover-up. It will come out. I will have my day in court,” Joyce Christie said.

The state attorney used information provided to that office from the sheriff’s office for its investigation.In those 11 minutes of frozen video, Christie had trouble breathing while in a restraint chair. He became combative, was removed from the restraint chair, then handcuffed and shackled to the gurney, according to public records.

King said the tape was not tampered with; it simply locked up.

Joyce Christie’s attorney, Nicholas DiCello, has filed an intent to sue the sheriff’s office and the company it contracts for medical services.
.
In the two-day incarceration that followed, deputies pepper-sprayed him directly eight times, and twice sprayed inmates in his cell. Christie spent two days in jail before being taken to the hospital, where he died two days later.

In video showing Christie minutes before first being sprayed March 27, Christie sways and looks confused, but not threatening. He is then led into a room where, according to the incident timeline, he is sprayed less than two minutes later for the first time.

State attorney spokeswoman Samantha Syoen said investigators asked the sheriff’s office multiple times if they had turned over all the video. “It’s something we noticed, too,” Syoen said.

Absent the video, Syoen said investigator’s based the ruling on witness testimony and documentation.

Of course there is no video..
It seems that is standard procedure with LCSO, the cameras only work when it is in their favor, That's is sometime that has been proven time & time again..
The State attorney office should as ashamed of the LCSO as the residents are; However He is not and Why ? After all wasn't Steve Russell also kept in the dark for weeks after Mr Christies Murder ? You would think by now he would grew a set & stood up to his bully buddies & fix the problems but he won't.. The SAO is just as fault as the Murders themselves for allowing this happen & not holding anyone accountable.
Those who say don't commit a crime & this won't happen; Remember that everything here in Lee County is crime to them , It's all about the money & they careless who you are, if you get pulled over, You maybe looking at a visit to our very expensive jail & looking straight at the same faces that Murdered Mr Christie..So be careful out there !

Lee County Moto:
Come on Vacation, Leave on Probation , Return a Violation

01/22/10

Jail-death inquiry an official disgrace

As for the criticism of the NP, If you don't like it, Don't read it !
No one is bending any arms, You made the choice to read and comment, However; To be disrespectful to Mr Christie or His family is also embarrassing to this county.

Flaws in jail surveillance

Video in inmate death investigation may have been recorded over, other video not recorded at all

There is not video of Christie again for almost 48 hours. During that period, documents from the sheriff's office show that Christie is pepper sprayed eight times.

The time-line describes each time deputies use OC spray on Christie, but none of it is caught on camera.

The sheriff's office says the spraying happened in a secure area, where surveillance cameras are present but do not record.

The next time there is recorded video of Christie is two days later, March 29 at 2:03 p.m.

It shows Christie sitting in a restraint chair waiting for an ambulance. The video then freezes for about ten minutes.

01/20/10

Pepper Sprayed Man Dies In Jail - What Happened To Nick Christie?

The widow of an Ohio man who died in police custody in Fort Myers, Florida last March, will file a federal lawsuit for violating her husband’s constitutional rights by failing to recognize that he was mentally ill.

Joyce Christie, of Girard, Ohio, and her son, plan to file the action against the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Prison Health Services (PHS), the private company that oversees medical care for the jail, which had taken custody of Nicholas Christie for trespassing.

Her attorney, Nick DiCello (IB member), of the Cleveland firm of Spangenberg, Shibley & Liber LLP, says his firm has filed the notices required under Florida state law of an intention to sue.

His medication list was found in the back pocket of his pants when Christie’s personal effects were returned to his widow.

What Happened To Nick Christie?

Sometime between the time he was arrested on March 27, 2009 around 2:00 p.m., and March 31 at1:23 p.m. when he was pronounced dead, Christie had been sprayed with ten blasts of pepper spray, also known as OC (Oleo-resin Capsicum), which is a derivative of cayenne pepper.

The medical examiner has ruled his death a homicide.

On January 6, the Lee County State Attorney’s office mimicked a lengthy investigation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, clearing the officers of any wrongdoing in the death.

Assistant State Attorney Dean Plattner and Chief Investigator Kevin Smith found the jailers did not break policy guidelines. A separate internal review of policy was not conducted and the five corrections officers have remained on the job.

“My blood is boiling,” Joyce Christie, 59, told the News-Press. “I knew it was going to end this way because the corrections officers were never taken off their jobs during the investigation.”

A Failure to Indict

Assistant State Attorney Dean Plattner says in his memo that in order to prove manslaughter, the office would have to prove someone showed a "reckless disregard for human life" to the extent that they should have known it would likely cause death or great bodily injury.

"The facts of the case do not support this level of proof,” says the office.

Attorney DiCello says he is shocked that the state attorney didn’t come to the conclusion there was a crime.

“All he needs to come to a conclusion that there was probable cause there was a crime. The local community should have been given the opportunity to indict. They weren’t given that opportunity,” he says.

DiCello says despite the state attorney's conclusion, the federal case has a different standard of review.

“They have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt there was some type of criminal intent. We have to prove it fell beneath the standard of care and these officers knew they were violating this man’s constitutional rights.”

DiCello says strapping an obese, 62-year-old with a heart condition and COPD to a restraining chair, pepper spraying him and not allowing him water to wash off should qualify.

“Case law as a matter of law defines that conduct as a violation of constitutional rights and affords it no protection under the law,” he says.

The standard of care is established by the county and Prison Health Services, under contract with Lee County for $9 million annually..

Under the contract, PHS is responsible for conducting a medical evaluation of everyone coming into the system.

Never Saw A Doctor

His jailers say Nicholas Christie was combative, despite the fact that he was restrained in a chair so he allegedly wouldn’t spit at his jailers.

But three inmates who shared Christie’s cell block told the Fort Meyers News-Press that they thought the use of pepper spray was excessive and that deputies ignored the victim’s pleas for help.

“While he was sitting in the chair, they sprayed him two more times,” said Ken Cutler. His whole head was turning purple and almost blue,” he says, “He was gasping.”

The other inmates say the pepper spray was so intense they were gagging in the cell block.

“He was constantly telling them I can’t breathe and I got a heart condition,” he says.

Dr. Robert Pfalzgraf, deputy chief medical examiner, concluded that stress caused by restraint and pepper spray were irritants and stressors to his heart. He says that 99 percent of the time those sprayed do not die. Christie was the 1 percent.

The medical examiner’s report indicates that the death was caused by “hypoxic encephalopathy following resuscitation for cardiac arrest, cardiac shock with congestive heart failure, physiologic stress following restraint and noxious effects of oleoresin capsicum.”

A homicide does not necessarily mean that the death was a criminal act only that it was caused by a person or persons.

DiCello says take a look at Pepper Spray on YouTube videos to see it can down someone for 40 minutes, even if it is washed off.

“You’ll see Marines crying, now imagine being sprayed ten times, you’re obese, have COPD and having a manic episode. Ten times and the last time not washed down for a half hour strapped down so you can’t rub his eyes.”

“He begged them to take Nick to the hospital. They said he’s having a good time, he needs a few days away. All they had to do was say ‘Let us talk to your doctor to confirm.' They didn’t do it. Captain Begowski told the officer, ‘If you don’t take him now, I’m going to tell you, you’re going to be dealing with him in a couple of hours.’”

That forecast proved true.

Joyce says her husband couldn’t remember her number, or his son’s. Two days later on March 27, he was arrested again for trespassing.

This time when officers took her husband into custody, Joyce says they locked his medications in his truck and never retrieved them.

Joyce frantically flew to Fort Myers March 28, but police would not let her see Nick. She says they wouldn’t even tell him she was there. Finally, an officer suggested she could bond him out of police custody.

When she finally was allowed to see her husband it was too late.

He had been taken by ambulance to Gulf Coast Hospital where Joyce says Nick’s eyes were taped shut and he had 40 tubes taped to his body. Doctors told her he had a 10 percent chance to live. The nurses told her when he was brought in naked that he had so much pepper spray on him doctors had to change their gloves as they became saturated with the orange spray.

No one in the sheriff’s office had contacted her, and until he arrived at the hospital, Nick Christie had never seen a doctor. Someone in the hospital, shocked by his condition, suggested she contact an attorney.

“Nick had a life he was somebody my husband, a father to my son. He’s somebody I miss very much. It shouldn’t have happened. He should be here. Three weeks later I get his ashes back from Florida in a mail truck. My husband, he was somebody, he wasn’t just a nobody,” Joyce Christie says.

Attorney Nick DiCello says the state attorney's report clearing the officers will not hurt the federal case. The fact that Christie was sprayed at least once after being restrained in a chair with a hood over his head violates any qualified immunity defense the county and Prison Health Services may claim.

Besides a violation of the law, DiCello is concerned about the violation of another human being.

“Humanity has failed here. And now they aren’t going to address the failure. Us as a people, we need to recognize we’ve all failed and make it right, not ‘Let’s just move on from this failure.’ People shouldn’t do this to people. Nothing could warrant the treatment and death this guy experienced.

Widow of dead Lee County jail inmate Nick Christie to sue

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100107059"

The widow of Nicholas Christie, who died shortly after he was released from jail, intends to sue the Lee County Sheriff's Office, as well as the company contracted by the county to provide medical care to inmates.

Christie died three days following his second incarceration, during which he was pepper sprayed eight times; another two times, his cell mate was sprayed. The medical examiner's office ruled his death a homicide.

The state attorney's office cleared the five corrections deputies - Kurtis Calhoun, Frank Hansen, Daniel Falzone, Monshay Gibbs and Dathan Pyle - of criminal wrongdoing in the case, though federal investigations are ongoing. A separate internal review of policy and protocol was not conducted, according to the sheriff's legal director, Barry Hillmyer.

In a letter sent to the sheriff's office, attorneys for Joyce Christie allege corrections officers "used excessive force, acted with deliberate indifference to Nicholas Christie's need for medical care and violated his rights under state and federal law."

Cristie's attorneys also sent a letter to Prison Health Services Inc., saying the jail's medical staff did not properly care for him while Christie was in custody.

Ohio attorney Nicholas DiCello, who is working in conjunction with Tallahassee attorneys, said a letter of intent to sue has been sent, which has to be done in civil suits against government agencies. He expects the lawsuits will be formally filed by April.

Nurse Maria Canete reported when she expressed concern to Deputy Calhoun about the sprays, he responded, "This is good training for everyone," and laughed.

Five inmates - including two who were not originally interviewed by the sheriff's office - said they heard Christie yelling for medical help throughout his 43-hour incarceration, though several others didn't hear that and neither did corrections deputies.

"My blood boils when I hear all this," Joyce Christie said  "They murdered my husband. Whether they meant to kill him or not, the outcome is still the same. They can't bring him back. I will have my day in court, and I will have justice for Nick."

TIME LINE

Feb. 21-24 — E-mails show John Taylor of the business Taylor Carpet One asking Sheriff Mike Scott for two background checks. Scott asks former Lt. Lee Bushong to run the checks for his cousin, which Bushong does.

April 12 — Bushong tells The News-Press that Sheriff Mike Scott had him run criminal backgrounds searches for personal reasons. Scott said it was an employment background check for Taylor Carpet.

April 17 — A follow-up News-Press column reveals John Taylor, of Taylor Carpet, is Scott’s cousin. Bushong said he violated agreement terms of the National Crime Information Center and the Florida Crime Information Center — computerized law enforcement indexes.

May 8 — A letter from Donna M. Uzzell, a director at Florida Department of Law Enforcement, asks Scott to explain Bushong’s allegations made to The News-Press.

May 15 — In a reply letter to FDLE, Scott did not indicate his cousin requested the background checks. Instead, he said he ordered the criminal checks because “anonymous, third party information” advised a fugitive was relocating to Fort Myers and seeking employment. Though neither person was a fugitive, Scott notified Taylor Carpet one man had a prior record.

Summer 2009 — FDLE chose not to investigate.

An investigation by the state attorney’s office,determined there was no malicious intent or reckless disregard for life when deputies pepper-sprayed Christie 10 times during a two-day incarceration.

The medical examiner’s office had determined the 62-year-old Christie, who was arrested March 27 for trespassing, died of cardiac arrest and physiological stress brought on by restraint and “noxious effects of oleoresin capsicum,” or pepper spray.

Eric See and Robert Grout were inmates in Christie’s cell block at the time he was arrested; they had been picked up for failure to pay child support. According to both, Christie was not combative, but he did beg for medical attention — loudly — for hours.

“If they would have listened to the man, they wouldn’t have needed his medical records,” Grout said. “He was an elderly man, and he kept screaming for medical attention, and they just kept on ignoring him. He was not threatening, but he was really loud because he was saying he needed help, and they just kept spraying him.

“We were telling him to shut up, that he was making it worse for himself, but he said he didn’t care because he really needed medical help,” Grout said.

Neither Grout nor See met Christie before, and both said the state attorney’s office didn’t contact them for statements during the investigation.

See said Christie was pleading for a nurse, and asking jail staff to call his wife so she could bring his medications.

Investigations by the FBI and the U.S Department of Justice are ongoing, said Nicholas DiCello, the Ohio attorney of Joyce Christie. DiCello said Nicholas Christie, a retired Ohio boilermaker, had a pre-existing heart condition and took medication for anxiety and depression.

Lee inmate's alcoholism caused death

A Lee County Jail inmate who died while in custody was determined to have suffered sudden cardiac arrest, brought on by chronic alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

The District 21 Medical Examiner’s Office is labeling the death of James Kindred, 45, as natural, according to a report released .

He died a week later after jail officials transported him to Gulf Coast Hospital.

Bruce Kindred, 47, brother of James, said “I think something bad happened to my brother in there,” said Bruce Kindred, who has been arrested and spent time in the Lee County Jail.

Sgt. Lee Bushong, once fired by Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott then rehired prior to his civil service hearing, has resigned December 4th., Stating: "Irreconcilable differences", It may sound like a divorce but if Bushong stayed after FDLE had cleared Scott Free of any wrong doing; He would have a huge bulls eye tattooed to his head.

Just this past month, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement cleared Scott of any criminal misconduct after allegations by two former sheriff's office employees; Charlie and Dominic Farrante and Bushong.

According to the News-Press ; Bushong sent a threatening, off-color e-mail in Jan. 2009 to two sergeants chastising the unit for taking too much time away from the job.Scott then fired him in April.

He then rehired him in June just before Bushong’s attorney Stuart Pepper was prepared to call 39 witnesses for Bushong's civil service board hearing.

Bushong alleged Scott broke federal and state law by directing employees to collect criminal background information on two job seekers for his cousin.

Scott said he ordered the search and gave his cousin the information.

Bushong said information taken from the National Crime Information Center and Florida Crime Information Center or Computerized Criminal History cannot be released to noncriminal justice personnel.

This is no surprise, Bushong and the Ferrante brothers all did the right thing and followed proper channels of file the complaints, However, the first step was to take it to FDLE. The complaint was clearly overlooked and ignored as all other complaints filed against Mike Scott with his brothers of the badge in this department.

Scott Free was very confident from the start that he would be cleared of all wrong doing even prior to knowing what the approximately 100 plus page complaint and almost 300 pages of supporting documentation said in detail :

http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/wbbh/documents/091123_sheriffscott_part1.pdf

http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/wbbh/documents/091123_sheriffscott_part2.pdf

Note: Talk about off color email and threatening emails, Mike Scott has never sent or replied to citizens in any other fashion ..

Why is FDLE, the SAO, LCSO IA department and The FBI still sitting on this case ??

Why did the guards not get suspended pending the outcome of this Murder investigation ??

Are the guards who killed Mr. Christie CO's or Deputies ??

12/06/09 ( Unconfirmed )

Read a letter from Lee Bushong that was written this morning to his former co-workers and their replies :

http://forums.leoaffairs.com/viewtopic.php?f=309&t=94016&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Effective immediately:

Chief Deputy - Dale R. Homan

Colonel - James "Gill" Allen (Law Enforcement)

Colonel - Tom Ellegood (Corrections)

Major - Matt Powell (Patrol Bureau Commander)

Major - Tom Eberhardt (Corrections-Ortiz Site)

Major - Jim Barraco (Corrections-Downtown Site)

Captain - Matt Leclair (West/Charlie District)

Lieutenant - Mike Ciolino (West/Charlie District)

Sergeant - Rob Kizzire (West/Charlie District)

FDLE today cleared Scott of four specific allegations:

• Allegations Richard Spence was allowed to clean up a crime scene at his son’s home.

• Allegations a sheriff’s office employee revealed the installation of a pole camera at the Alva Market, Spence’s store.

• Allegations a sheriff's office employee revealed an undercover officer’s identity.

• Allegations public records were destroyed regarding a polygraph exam of two captains.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has cleared Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott of all criminal misconduct over certain aspects of his relationship with a convicted felon, According to today's article in the News-Press our largest media source.

Considering the allegations and documentation provided to the FDLE, They were able to conclude quickly..They had the Christie Murder case since April and it passes around the red tape unanswered.  I wonder why ??????

Sheriff Mike Scott snubs The News-Press

The sheriff resumed the press conference with other media representatives in the hallway.

Two Lee County Sheriff’s officials have been reprimanded for improper conduct following a September outing at Gulf Coast Town Center.

Lt. Joseph More and Sgt. Brian Jakacki were off-duty at the Gulf Coast Town Center Ale House on Sept. 11 when they ran into members of the sheriff’s communications department, who were having a “girl’s night out,” according to an investigative report.

The two groups exchanged greetings but went their separate ways, according to the report.

The groups both ended up at Bar Louie, where communications dispatcher Haley Bartoe alleged Jakacki put his arm around her waist unprovoked.

The night continued at The World Famous Cigar Bar, where witnesses said Jakacki grabbed the rear end of Amanda Turner, another communications dispatcher.

Jakacki is Turner’s former brother-in-law. Turner said she didn’t remember Jakacki grabbing her, but if he had, she would have been offended.

Toward the end of the night, a security guard saw Bartoe’s boyfriend, William Hill, lunge toward More, although the two were separated.

More continued to go near Hill after they were separated and said something to the effect of “see you later, sweet pea,” provoking Hill.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1283451.html

Florida Gov. Crist wants grand jury on public corruption

On the day he called for a grand jury to investigate public corruption, Gov. Charlie Crist was mum about his ties to indicted political fundraiser Alan Mendelsohn.

BY MARC CAPUTO AND JAY WEAVER

Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau

The most recent major public corruption indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury last month, charged political player Alan Mendelsohn with 32 counts of fraud and wrongdoing for allegedly attempting to sell his access to lawmakers -- including Crist.

Mendelsohn, who has pleaded not guilty, had even claimed he could bribe Crist, a charge that prosecutors investigated and declared false. Mendelsohn this year held a fundraiser for Crist's fellow Republican and rival for U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio.

Still, Mendelsohn's political ties with Crist ran deep. Mendelsohn held fundraisers at his home for Crist's 2006 governor's race and had used secretive political committees to boost Crist and attack at least one rival.

Crist then made Mendelsohn a member of his gubernatorial transition team in 2007. And the governor wrote a personal letter asking the University of Florida's medical school to admit Mendelsohn's son.

10/15/09

Lee County Fla. included in state-wide grand jury plan

Citing a "rash of crimes" involving public officials, Crist told the court that while the investigation "is not limited to any particular section of the state," five judicial circuits should be the operating area for the convenience of witnesses and law enforcement.

Those circuits are the 20th (Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties) along with the 11th, 15th, 16th and 17th circuits, all in the southern half of the state. Together, the circuits constitute Southeast and Southwest Florida plus the Keys.

The grand jury should investigate crimes including bribery, extortion, gambling, kidnapping, murder, racketeering, money laundering and bid tampering, Crist told the court.

Crist, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, was joined at a news conference by Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, the North Fort Myers resident who is running for attorney general; and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey.

Statewide Prosecutor Bill Shepherd, who also attended the brief news conference, said the inquiry might run 18 months.

"It's obvious to me that something is wrong with the system," Crist said. He added that he has removed 30 public officials from office - about one a month - since he has been governor.

Attorney General Bill McCollum, who is running for governor, issued a statement of support for the governor's petition to the high court.

Statewide grand juries have wide-ranging authority to investigate multi-jurisdictional crimes that cross county and judicial-circuit boundaries.

The FBI also requested a long list of words, names or acronyms the FBI requested were: Todd, Stephenson, AIM, Three Oaks, Samir, Tom, Frank, Daugherty, Impact, Golf, Bonita, Biodiesel, Vegas, dredging, FBI, Bruce, 20/20, Chico, Lease, Dan, Aronoff, Edison Farms, University, Galvano, Waterman, Estero and Freeman.

They won't say what they are looking for and some on the list have been asked , However, They really don't know why either.

Ironically, Most of these names/words are in this site or have searched this site according to my statics, The questions are ; What are they looking for ? Who are they looking at ? Why ?

And : What took you so LONG ???

After several years, I personally can shed some light on several and can add many more for them to be seriously looking into. At one point I contacted the local Ft Myers FBI, I asked for the persons name and they refused, I ask questions and was giving answers that just didn't sit well with me..That prompted me to contact the Washington FBI field office, I was told that Ft Myers had lied to me concerning everything I discuss with them and was directed to the Tampa field office.

Tampa of course said they would investigate and would report back to Washington. At this point my part was completed, However, Here we are a year after my last contact with them and some but not all are on the FBI to do list.

The event was on the steps of the Collier County Courthouse in East Naples as part of the organization’s; " 2009 National Domestic Violence Awareness Month campaign."

At the same time; Lee County Sheriff's Sgt. Keith Day, Det. Joseph Anderson, Deputy Bryan Perera, Det. Mike Detar and Deputy Anthony Perfetto enjoyed a special Estero Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Sept. 24, at Wildcat Run Golf & Country Club, honoring the investigators who worked on Estero's recent widespread vandalism case.

One of these honorees was cleared by LCSO Internal Affairs back in 2007 of Domestic Violence and Sexual Battery and The 20th circuit court denied several request for orders of protection allowing him to walk freely to be rewarded, praised and promoted several times since while on duty, However, Regardless of Laws, escaping the long arm hiding behind the badge and blue wall of silence..

The widespread vandalism of his Victim; CONTINUES !

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As nice as it was the; The Photo was Removed by request !

However, it is available for viewing at :

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=A4&Dato=20090925&Kategori=NEWS0102&Lopenr=909250806&Ref=PH

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I'm keeping it short, The articles speaks for itself..

Ex-police officer dies in Lee County jail cell..

08/30/09

08/21/09

Every day this week the story continued, more updates were posted by the News-Press, I on the other hand would like to hear from the rest involved, So far we have 2 short statements from Governor Charlie Crist and SAO Steve Russell, But claim not to know Richard Spence, But did admit accepting money from him

 Today's Story Again; Focuses on Sheriff Mike Scott and a open investigation. To read this article , Just click the link below..There is way too much happening for me to post it all every day.

Lee County sheriff is subject of preliminary state inquiry


08/19/09

It has come to my attention that I am Guilty of really pushing the envelope concerning this county..I was reading a article in the paper today that really opened my eyes to other peoples views,
When you see something so wrong that is makes you want to scream in anger, I get blind sided with my own opinions, I need to stop injecting those opinions on my readers and allow them to make their own conclusions.. One quote sticks out of this article that I love :

" The power of such anger is awesome - surpassed only by the power of a listening ear."


What a simple powerful statement,  It was like reading my mind on how people over react finding no other room to maneuver, They start yelling or getting personal to hurt people not to agree to dis-agree.

So now I have had my light bulb moment after reading hundreds of opinions on What is happening in our local government, It was either For or Against, Agree or Dis-agree until it got catty and nasty..So for myself , I need change and For those who set out to hurt others, There has to be change !
I will admit that I have said things about Mike Scott's shinny head and his uniform but I never called him fat or ever spoke about his family, I would never include a family with my objections to his politics, Ever !

They say the opposite of Comedy is Tragic , I find no humor in people who set out to destroy because of personal feelings...I don't know Mike Scott or his family, I apologize for the remark about him hiding behind his mothers skirt, I don't know his mother..I really don't personally know most that I write about and if I do, Than that is my opinions on them as well as any proven facts..

When dealing with politics, You judge the official not the person, I can be harsh out of principle, That will not stop, That is my right, However, I will not lower myself to these standards any further..Everyone is entitled to their opinions, However, Some need to try and look at the other sides of people before passing any judgment on their personal lives.

I don't like Sheriff Scott, I disagree a lot with him , Is Mike Scott a good dad or husband ? I don't know and it's none of my business !

Well, I had my wake up call, Have You ?



08/18/09

Spence's record didn't stop calls

Gov. Charlie Crist, for whom Spence said he raised $500,000 during his last election, while in Fort Myers that he does not know Spence.

Crist, who praised Scott, said he was not aware of Scott’s relationship with Spence, but he would be “happy to look into it.”

Sheriff Mike Scott said he would have “great concerns” for any Lee County Sheriff’s Office employee who associated regularly with felons.

08/17/09
Rachel Revehl of the News-Press; Rocks this county..

Rachel is what the News Press needs to get stories like that out, email her with your story ideas, If she does any thing like this, We will see more results in this county, She has guts and went above the NP standards of reporting ...Great Job !

She has a real future a head of her and she earned it , So; before we send her to Washington lets get this state cleaned up first.

Journalism is what she does not reporting, which is very odd for the News Press, They should be thankful for her services, I am and I look forward to see her follow up stories..

Keep up the Great work, Rachel : I'm counting on you

08/16/09

Strange Bed Fellows:

Governor Charlie Crist, State Attorney Steve Russell , Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, former Hendry County Sheriff Ronnie Lee, former state attorney Joe D'Alessandro and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV, R-Fort Myers.

"All involve with Colombian Cali Cartel Felon"

Mike Scott (Free), Makes Headlines( Again ) So Big, I can't even post all of it and all I can say is : "LMAO" Here comes " Karma "

Just click the Headline and off you go !
8 well written pages, A beautiful article with links to PDF files..I'll print it and save it with my Life magazines.. 

Lee County Sheriff's link with felon raises influence fears

The Policy :

“Association With Criminals: Except as necessary in the performance of official duties, Sheriff’s Office members shall avoid regular or continuous associations or dealings with persons whom they know or should know are persons under investigation in a criminal matter or indictment, or who are convicted felons, or persons actively involved in criminal activity, or persons generally held in ill repute with the community or have relationships with persons that would reflect discredit on the member or the office.”

-From Chapter 26 of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office operations manual



There are more LCSO that have connections with felons than reported, It's part of the double standards, Depending on who you are, Will determine your fate and this is one of the reasons these guys need Union, As long as he is the sheriff, They need protection from Him and the rest of the Good Ol Boys ..

One of the agency’s ex-deputies, holds that the relationship was such that deputies frequented Spence’s store as an informal channel to Scott.

Sheriff’s Office policy prohibits deputies from associating with individuals they know are convicted felons.

“The fact is I did not know he was a felon,” the sheriff said in an interview . “I guess we can argue or disagree about whether I should have known.”

Griner said Spence told him otherwise, that the sheriff knew about his background before August 2008.

Spence butted heads with Scott’s former second-in-command, Chief Deputy Charles Ferrante. Ferrante and his brother, former Capt. Dominick Ferrante, both left the Sheriff’s Office under "allegations of wrongdoing" earlier this year. Others in the Special Operations Bureau, including its commander, then-Major Scott Ciresi, were transferred or demoted at the same time.

Samantha Syoen, a spokeswoman for the State Attorney’s Office, said Russell received a $500 donation from Spence for his 2006 campaign and then returned $385 that was never used. Russell only learned of Spence’s history late last year, Syoen said.

State Attorney Stephen Russell, who oversees prosecutors in Lee and four surrounding counties, also has maintained a friendship with Spence. Phone records show Russell talked to Spence 15 times between January 2008 and June 2009. This communication, too, continued after Russell learned of Spence's background. The state attorney's office, unlike the sheriff's office, does not have a policy restricting associations with felons, Russell said.

If you want some info on Spence, Rachel wrote another great article all about him...

Spence's role in 90s money laundering scheme


Richard “Dick” Spence, manager of the Alva Village Market and friend of Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, was one of the top three organizers in the New York cell of the Colombian Cali cartel that laundered more than $100 million in the early 1990s


*************************************************************


WOW....I KNEW THAT  YOU GUYS WERE IN BED TOGETHER BUT MIKE SCOTT ON TOP ? ?

"The Sheriff’s Office never notified the State Attorney’s Office of Nick Christie’s death, despite a requirement by State Attorney Stephen Russell that his office be informed of in-custody deaths no later than the end of the next day."

Prosecutors only heard of the death from media reports in May.

The Lee Circuit Court, too, was never notified, and a bench warrant was filed in Christie’s and delivered to the Sheriff’s Office three weeks after his death. The court only learned of Christie’s death two weeks later.

Bet you feel the " Abuse of Power " now, Don't you ?

Steve Russell    Mike Scott

More Former inmates comes forward:

North Fort Myers man files lawsuit against Lee County Sheriff's Office

A North Fort Myers man has filed a federal lawsuit against the Lee County Sheriff's Office and Prison Health Services, claiming that in 2007 he was denied medical treatment and deteriorated from healthy to paralyzed

Brett Allen Fields, 26, was booked into the Lee County Jail on July 6, 2007 charged with violating an injunction, criminal mischief and a probation violation. His lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, legal costs and a violation of his constitutional rights.

According to the lawsuit, filed Tuesday afternoon in federal, Fields requested medical attention for a wound in his left arm on July 10, 2007. A nurse identified his wound as a boil caused by Staphylococci and tried to treat it with a medication called Bactrim.

Two weeks later, Fields filled out an Inmate Medical Request Form stating the medication didn't work, but he claims his request was ignored.

By August 2007, Fields began to suffer from severe back pains and weakness in his lower extremities and that he had not urinated in days, the lawsuit states.

On Aug. 7, 2007, a nurse examined Fields and scheduled an appointment for the next morning. On Aug. 8, 2007, he was confined to a wheelchair because he could no longer walk. The physician's assistant ordered Tylenol and returned Fields to his cell.

The next morning, Fields tried to use the toilet by dragging himself across the floor. He then realized that all the muscles in his anus stopped working and his rectum was protruding through his anus and was visible outside his body, a condition called rectal prolapse, the lawsuit states.

Cellmates, seeing Fields' condition, summoned employees, who pushed Fields' rectum back into his body and removed him from the cell. Twelve hours later, a doctor examined Fields, who was taken to Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center.

Medical staff diagnosed Fields with MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and he underwent surgery.

According to mayoclinic.com, MRSA is a strain of bacteria that is resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat it. It can be fatal.

According to the lawsuit, Fields still suffers partial paralysis in both legs despite two years of physical therapy.

"Fields' now permanent spinal injury could have easily been avoided had defendants not been deliberately indifferent to Fields' obvious serious medical needs during his incarceration and provided him with basic medical care," the lawsuit reads. "Defendants intentionally refused to provide and in fact did deny Fields minimally adequate medical care and treatment."

The lawsuit claims that denial violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.

At least He is still alive, Nick Christie was not that Lucky !

Still to come , Another story from a female inmate....


Finally ! We may have some Justice ...

Nicholas Christie,  was arrested March 25 on a charge of disorderly intoxication and booked two days later on a trespassing charge.

But what happened the second time he was taken into Lee County Jail still haunts his widow, Joyce, said her lawyer, Nicholas DiCello.

Christie died March 31 — two days after he was taken to the hospital from jail, DiCello said.

Ken Cutler,  was booked into jail the same day of Christie’s injury. Cutler said he was five cells from Christie in the jail’s mental health section March 29.

Cutler said guards emptied two large cans of pepper spray in Christie’s cell in the early morning hours when he began shouting for his keys and wallet.

“You could tell immediately there was something wrong with the guy,” he said. “He didn’t know where he was.”

The noxious drift coating the block prompted Cutler to stuff paper in his nose and cover his face with a blanket, he said.

Later, he said officials restrained Christie in a chair after he complained of problems breathing and chest pains and put a mask on him to prevent him from spitting.

“While he was sitting in the chair, they sprayed him two more times,” Cutler said. “This guy sat in the restraint chair, which seemed like over an hour, and his whole head was turning purple and almost blue. ... He was gasping.”

A nurse arrived and Christie was wheeled away in the chair, Cutler said.

The death certificate signed April 29 lists brain damage caused by lack of oxygen after a cardiac arrest, low blood pressure caused by heart pump failure and stress from the restraint and pepper spray as leading to Christie’s death.

“Deaths at our jail are very rare,” King said. “Certainly, it’s uncommon.”

King pledged the agency would do a thorough investigation.

A breakdown provided by the sheriff's office earlier this week indicates there were 596 use of force reports generated in 2005, and 1,104 in 2008.

There have been 696 use of force reports so far in 2008, and 252 from February through April. This is what the LCSO is willing to say, You can actually double if not triple these numbers due to the lack of reported incidents.

The News-Press made a public-records request to the sheriff’s office last week for three months of use-of-force reports and sexual harassment and assault complaints after being contacted by several people who alleged mistreatment in jail.

His family believes police didn't try to get him treatment soon enough.

Christie's widow, Joyce, said from her home Thursday that she wants the truth to come out about her husband's death and for someone to be held accountable.

''I want justice for him,'' she said. ''The system failed him once. Don't let it fail him again.''

Her lawyer, Nick DiCello, said the family is awaiting the outcome of a criminal investigation before deciding on their next step.

''I'm committed to pursuing this thing all the way through,'' DiCello said. ''Right now, we don't have any answers that we want.''

Joyce Christie said she wished someone at the jail had taken her husband to the hospital sooner. She said she is upset that two of the people who were involved still are working.and "It was over an hour before the nurse came in."

DiCello said given Nick Christie's medical history and the circumstances surrounding his death, the coroner could not have ruled any other way.

''I would've been shocked if it wasn't ruled a homicide,'' DiCello said.

The Militarization of Our Police....

Bushong Reinstated ~06/01/09

Ciresi appealed to the Civil Service Board, claiming there was no legitimate reason for his demotion and that the reasons for his reduction in rank weren’t put in writing.

“Quite frankly, we don’t know why this happened. His personnel record shows no disciplinary action leading up to the demotion. This action was not supported by the rules and should be reversed,” Ciresi’s attorney, Doug Wilson, told the board.

However, Scott testified that Ciresi held a command level rank — the third highest in the agency — and answered to the sheriff.

“The sheriff has the ability to reorganize, conduct investigations and to demote. I don’t write reports to myself,” Scott said.

There were plenty of reasons to demote Ciresi, the sheriff said.

When the Sheriff was questioned about why he had not produced written documentation to show reasons for the demotion, the Sheriff basically replied he was the sheriff and had the ability to do so.

This Crazy ass Civil Service board ruled the Crazy Sheriff is not required to produce proof,

Chris Arey later voted the sheriff did not have just cause to demote Ciresi. standing up for what they believed to be right, knowing that the vote could of hurt his career severely...

If Ciresi signed anything on paper than the Sheriff should of produced it but since he was able to get away with that, Proves to me  that this man is a serious problem and will continue to get away with every thing with the back up by the Civil Board of Nuts , FDLE and Commission of Ethics.

Nothing is going to change until we are all :

" SCOTT FREE " of this man. Luckily. I don't have to work for him but I feel for those who do ..He has been completely out of control abusing his almighty powers..

This is getting so bizarre that no one is safe from this man, Jobs are lost, demotions and pay cuts, refusal to allow outsiders investigate his department, the lying is so bad that he contradicts himself over and over to the press and to the employees, He almost like the mad scientist..He needs to get a grip and stop embarrassing this county.

"The later determined fact that the threatened weapon was a BB gun in no way changes the fact that the presented events could only be treated as a lethal threat to his life," Kevin Smith, chief investigator for the SAO said in a summary of his investigation into the shooting in Bonita Springs.

"I am convinced that the actions of Sergeant Nalewaik were in self defense and a legally justifiable use of deadly force," Russell said in a letter Friday to Sheriff Mike Scott.

Allen and Sonier drove by Petrey’s Torchfire Trail home and saw him smoking a cigarette. He appeared paranoid and edgy, they radioed Nalewaik and Dektas.

When Nalewaik came to the house on foot, he saw Petrey inside the lanai and he called out to him. Petrey turned and “looked through him,” Nalewaik said.

“He looked a little bit surprised but then it almost went into he had — almost like he had a plan,” Nalewaik told an investigator after the shooting. “And he said, ‘I’ve got something for you.’”

This is Hear say and Assumptions...

That’s when Petrey picked up the BB gun, a replica Smith & Wesson 9 mm, and pointed it at the sergeant. Nalewaik opened fire.

Petrey was hit three times, once in the chest, another time in the lower back and again in his torso, the latter a graze wound.

Wow: I don't think that was the right reaction after 11 years and a specialist in dealing with mentally ill suspects.. And shot in the lower back ? Back would mean Behind him.. At what point did he turn around ?

“Clearly, the situation was one in which Sgt. Nalewaik reasonably believed that Petrey presented an immediate threat to himself and other deputies,” Assistant State Attorney Dean R. Plattner wrote in the report summary.

Lee County deputy fired after alleged actions with inmate

A deputy has lost her job after an investigation concluded she had been sending food and notes to an inmate, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Fay St. Rose, a corrections officer with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, was found to have taken part in improper conduct, neglect of duty, insubordination, and failed in her job knowledge and performance for passing on messages on paper towels and candy bars to an inmate earlier this year, according to a withdrawal of appointment document from the sheriff’s office.

The food and letters were apparently hidden in the inmate’s legal material.

The document also said St. Rose admitted giving her cell phone number and having three party calls from the inmate.

The report also said she has 15 days to appeal this decision.

OMG, They stop mail and only made postcards come in, They shake down right after commissary is handed out and them they resell it over and over by calling it contraband.  ( Racketeering ) They use the inmates as sport and the mental ill inmates for fun with weapons and Oh Lets Not Forget : Abuse and KILL the inmates...

She doesn't need to appeal , She needs to spill it all to the media and stop what is going on that jail , Save her integrity and throw the real " Improper conduct, neglect of duty, insubordination, and failed in job knowledge and performance " Deputies under the BUS...The LCSO is a disgrace !

What about the Murders, What happened to them ? Did they get the candy bar after killing Nick Christie?
Have they been charged yet ? Are they still working or off with pay ?

They should be in jail right NOW ! ! MURDERS ! !

Other deputies need to be in jail for Domestic violence and Sexual Assault and they're not ;They got promotions and raises..

At least she had compassion and tried to help people who have not been proven guilty of crimes YET

And where the Hell is the State Attorney ???

Why haven't those guards been charged yet ???

Mike Scott : You should hang your head in shame !

______________________________________________________

Charles Ferrante : Former chief deputy proud to have served Has a message for the residents of Lee County !

Charles Ferrante's message is in the F.Y.I section on the other side of Mike Scotts arrogant message to the residents. Ferrante does not seem dis-disgruntle but concerned for his former team, Unlike the message of self-servants that was left in February of this year by Scott.

This is a man who left with dignity and self-respect !


Sheriff Mike Scott had announced Ferrante had been placed on paid leave pending a formal internal investigation. But Scott now says the investigation was over almost before it began.

“We can’t investigate the chief without the chief,” Scott said.

He questioned the timing of Ferrante’s medical leave, but Ferrante said the medical issues, which he declined to discuss, had been ongoing.

“So, really I’m on sick leave, yet they continued to report that I was being investigated,” Ferrante said. “Well, which one is it? I mean, this is my reputation, and if the reason they didn’t move forward on this was because I was on sick leave, then why didn’t they even try to interview anyone else?”

In actuality: we don't even know if Ferrante is having medical issues because he is on FMLA; which can mean "care of family member."

Ferrante said he was never formally notified of the accusations against him, and no other witnesses made sworn statements — steps that should be taken under the state’s officer bill of rights.

Ferrante expressed bafflement at Scott’s handling of events.

Today, Scott plans to release his self-penned response to sheriff’s attorney Abbi Smith about an incident in which she alleged the chief attempted to intimidate her into purging a document from Dominick Ferrante’s file. Her statement is below.

Ferrante said the only communication he had with Smith was during the meeting the sheriff invited him to; he said he never spoke to her alone about the matter. The sheriff said the chief was out of town during that meeting.

Just before his brother resigned, Ferrante was facing a civil service board hearing about his treatment of Sgt. Ryan Bell during a meeting in November to sort out disagreements in the Forensics Unit. It was alleged he cursed and threatened Bell.In all fairness,

Look at the civil court of LeeClerk.org, Mike Scotts is mentioned 24 times in civil suits so far, with some still open and pending..

The former chief said he sometimes used “language for men, behind closed doors,” which he said is common in law enforcement. But he said the sheriff didn’t frown upon it, and in fact sometimes encouraged his next-in-command to give certain employees “the chief’s special,” meaning an especially stern tongue-lashing.

“He just made sure he wasn’t in the room when it happened,” Ferrante said, noting his discipline was always, “fair, firm and consistent.”

The sheriff said Ferrante is lying.

“I think that statement’s probably right up there with the whole claim about having a, ‘chief’s probation,’” Scott said. “We don’t have a chief’s probation, we don’t have ‘chief’s specials.’ And as far as all this, ‘men talk,’ I don’t know what they’re talking about. I don’t speak to my employees that way, and I wouldn’t expect my administrative staff to speak to other employees that way.”

In the last year, Ferrante said he and the sheriff spoke at least twice about his performance, and the sheriff never questioned his tactics.

But Ferrante questions Scott’s credibility, pointing to the fact that on the day he announced his retirement, Scott described his career as, “impeccable.” Days later, Scott blasted Ferrante, saying he had repeatedly counseled against his harsh tone with employees, and also about the reported incident with Smith.

“If it was true that he had to repeatedly counsel me, then I would consider it his failure as a sheriff that he didn’t remove me from this position sooner,” Ferrante said. “You don’t repeatedly counsel your second-in-command about something like that. You take action.”

Scott said if Ferrante had merely retired after the Bell incident, the outcome might have been different. He said the Smith incident was, “the last straw.”

But internal investigations, Ferrante said, protect the agency and the employee. He said one should have been carried out, especially when the public was told it was.

“They would have had to take sworn statements,” Ferrante said. “The truth might have actually come out.”

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In one high profile issue the Chief wanted to do things by the book, However, Scott, as a favor to a Captain, Squashed it,
Telling the public that there was no direct connection to this deputy:

Sam Cook: Seeing students' creative efforts and talents is believing..

April 22, 2009

RITA B.
North Fort Myers

RITA: My two "attacks'' on the sheriff since I've known him were for not firing Cpl. Michael Detar after he used a Taser as a joke on someone at a party and his Hussein reference to President Barack Obama at a rally. Bushong deserves a chance to tell his side of the story.

- - -

SAM: While I hold Sheriff Scott in very high regard, I feel that it would be to his advantage to allow an unbiased third party to do the investigation of recent killings by his deputies. One question for the sheriff is this: Will you openly and completely publish the full and unbiased reports related to these investigations? Not the summary, but the full report. If the answer is no, The News-Press needs to get in gear and demand to know why not and demand an independent investigation.

______________________________________________________

Recent personnel changes in the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

One of these people uses a fake name :

Mel Dasher; Coward who won't show his real face yet claims :

                      

" you not even knowing the first thing about me choose to libel me."

 

"Madam, you are a lost and dying sinner and you are completely disobeying God's word through your blog! "

 

This is not a blog but a website. and I am protected by God and the 4th amendment....

Update on Mel Dasher: Mel started to creep me out and throw his faith in my face as if I am doomed to eternal damnation, I ask him to delete my email address.

Use serious caution if you are contacted by this guy, He has Stalker like issues and seem unstable and possiable dangerous . He feels He is doing Gods work..

 

If anyone here thinks that I am slandering you, please feel free to contact me with your side of the story, I would be more than happy to print your side in your own words.

Please no fake names , It just makes your creditably sink low..

• Capt. Dominick Ferrante resigned

• Deputy Chief Charles Ferrante retires effective April 18. On paid administrative leave

• Lt. Lee Bushong, head of the intelligence unit, demoted to deputy and placed on paid administrative leave

• Lt. Brad Hamilton replaces Bushong in Intelligence

• Lt. Robyn Mitar replaces Hamilton as Alpha tour commander ( She knows what she did...Oh a women scorned when her deputy lover was getting married, No Cake for you, Mrs. Mitar and I don't mean the bride to be at that time )

• Detective Sly Smalls promoted to sergeant and replaces Mitar in Correctional Investigations

• Maj. Rob Homan promoted to colonel over the law enforcement bureau from patrol bureau commander

• Capt. Gil Allen promoted to major as patrol bureau commander from captain in charge of south district patrol 

• Lt. Kathy Rairden promoted to captain in charge of south district patrol from lieutenant in internal affairs ( during a IA investigation & On a voice recording told a victim : "She was surprised that he didn't hit her sooner" referring to a deputy involved DV and sexual assault.)

• Lt. Bob Bal replaces Rairden in Internal Affairs

• Lt. Jim Brown replaces Bal as Delta tour commander

• Detective Isidro Lopez promoted to sergeant and replaces Brown in Correctional Investigations

• Major Scott Ciresi demoted from major in charge of special operations division to captain in charge of the Echo District

• Capt. Gene Sims promoted to major in charge of special operations from captain in charge of Echo District

• Lt. Robert Forrest moved from public information to court operations

This one gets the most hits per day, Why ? I don't know ! but maybe Mel Dasher knows ?

• Capt. Ed Tamayo, commander of Bravo District in Lehigh Acres, moved to head of Internal Affairs Division ( Back in 2002, during a traffic stop, Capt. Walker arrested a man on a motorcycle who had a minor child with him, Capt. Walker left the child at then: Tony Roma's in Ft. Myers, ALONE ! When the child's Guardian found the child , she went to the IA and Capt. Tamayo threatened to arrest the women and said it was slander on the LCSO )

• Capt. Jim Leavens moves from head of Internal Affairs to Bravo District commander ( During and IA investigation  Leavens told a victim of a deputy involved DV and Sexual Assault " That if she was laying bleeding and dying on the road : Don't call LCSO )

• Sgt. Brian Amburgey reassigned from Boca Grande to Bravo

• Deputy Joe Caizza promoted to sergeant on Boca Grande

* Deputy Jason Reed was accused of being rude and disrespectful on a call for service in February 2009.
at a home where he knew one of the parties involved. When the complainant asked Reed to call another deputy to handle the situation, he refused.  Reed was suspended for two days and has been with the sheriff's office for five years. ( Learned by example already, only took 5 years to become rude )

* James Erb booted to road patrol. ( Shouldn't of drop the drink in that computer or is that the other way around ? )

_________________________________________________________________

LCSO are like the new Kids on the Block, Trying to revive a slow dying department..
The Old Good Ol Boys, Are coming to Mike Scotts rescue.
So as of today we  have eliminated the chief deputies position and promoted with-in the department to help the failing sheriff .

Maj. Rob Homan, 59, has been promoted to colonel of the law enforcement bureau. (1991 to present) 

Col. Michael Waite, who now oversees the corrections bureau, he will answer directly to the sheriff, and each will be responsible for overseeing all operations under their respective bureaus. Under the corrections umbrella, there are 544 employees, and under law enforcement, there are 793, which includes patrol, special operations and criminal investigations. As major, his salary "was" $129,691.

Col.  Waite has the experience to baby sit the county and the Sheriff , However, Holds no accountability to the county jail when the Corrections Officers were using the mentally ill inmates as sport for fun..

Before the appointment, the deputy chief answered directly to the sheriff, and even acted as sheriff in his absence.

James “Gil” Allen, 57, a former captain, will be taking over Homan’s old position as patrol major. His previous salary "was" $94,221.(1990-present)

 

Kathy Rairden, 39, a former lieutenant in internal investigations, will take over Allen’s position as the Delta south district patrol captain. As lieutenant, Rairden made $76,920 annually. (1993 to present)

She is finally rewarded for her lack of creditability, a lot of ass kissing, deaf ears and blind eyes as favors to Scott , a former captain and his son who is a current corporal with the department.         
Don't Trust this women...If you think she will ever help a victim, You are Dead Wrong !

When she was  IA she protected the deputies who were being investigated, She made victims more victimized....On a voice recording she condoned a deputies act of domestic violence ! You just can't get any lower and going by her salary all that kissing got you nothing compared to the guys, LOL

In a written statement, the sheriff said the re-organization has energized the agency.“I am very proud of these members and their reputations and work ethic precedes them,” Scott wrote. “Colonel Homan, Major Allen, and Captain Rairden are an exciting part of my re-organization and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office has never been more energized and focused.”

Reorganizing is expected to continue.

More to come !!!!

Keep bringing changes, It gives me more reasons to air the dirty laundry !

If you could please, I would like to see Walt Ryan promoted, That will be a blast !


______________________________________________________

LCSO continues to make headlines...

There comes a time when enough is enough, that time is Now with the Lee County Sheriffs Office..I wonder When and If the Lee County Commissioners, Attorney General Office or FDLE will ever realize that something is NOT RIGHT in this department.


So here is the brief on the never ending topic :

We have the Victims :

Chief Deputy Ferrante began his career in Lee County as a corrections deputy at the jail. He has been a member of the SWAT team, headed the Fugitive/Warrants Unit and was North District assistant commander.He came to the sheriff’s office after two years at the New York City Department of Corrections.

Scott, who named Ferrante chief deputy in 2005, said his second-in-command goes out on top.“After 20 years of impeccable service, he is going to retire to pursue other interests,’’ Scott said.
Chief Ferrante, said he is interested in pursuing a job as chief of police.
“I’ve given a lot of years of great service and I learned a lot here,’’ he said. “I’m proud of the things I’ve done, but I’ve gone as far as I can here. My aspiration is not to be sheriff.’’

Earned all his strips, promotions, and work his way to the top, And Has a degree in his field.


Capt. Dominick Ferrante, who oversaw the Special Operations division which includes the SWAT team and other special units,
As division commander, Ferrante oversaw several units, including Narcotics, Intelligence, Criminal Apprehension (fugitive warrants), Sexual Predators and Anti-Crime.
Ferrante first came to work for the sheriff’s office in 1992, but resigned in 2000 to work for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Four years later, he resigned from FDLE, and returned to the sheriff’s office.

Knows law enforcement well enough to be former FDLE

Lt. Lee Bushong,  who had overseen the agency's intelligence unit, now holds the title of deputy rather than lieutenant.
Bushong has been a member of the agency since 1998.

In his personnel file, released Monday, the former U.S. Marine sergeant repeatedly received stellar reviews and several letters of commendation, including for his part in saving two lives - one who had threatened suicide and another who had driven into a pond. He is described by his superiors as someone who is motivated, polite, an excellent writer and a good team player.

His records indicate he was counseled in the last few years for not going through the proper chain of command and the need to cultivate better relationships with other lieutenants and sergeants.

Abbi Smith, The file for Capt. Dominick Ferrante had first to be reviewed by the sheriff’s legal staff, and while aide Abbi Smith was looking over the documents prior to their release, Charles Ferrante reportedly approached her. He told her the documents about the confrontation involving his brother did not belong in the file. The documents detailed the sheriff’s exoneration of the other deputy in the dispute.

“I told him the signature on the page was an original, and I believed the sheriff meant for it to be there,” Smith wrote in a memo to Scott dated March 11. “He again told me that it did not belong there. I stood to leave the room, and he walked with me. ... I told (my supervisor) that I felt that the chief was trying to get me to remove the paper from the file, and I refused to do so.”