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
02/27/10
Just to be fair; This was printed in today's New-Press
How this is ?
I just don't know..
HOWEVER; KEEP READING AND SEE THE PURPOSE OF CALEA
Lee County Sheriff's Office
selected as flagship agency
news-press.com • February 27, 2010
8:52 A.M. — The Lee County Sheriff's Office has been
selected as a flagship agency by the Commission on
Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.
"CALEA flagship agencies are really the cream of the
crop," said CALEA program manager Steve Mitchell.
"They have clean assessments and have something
to bring to the table. In fact, they are the ones we
want all other agencies to emulate."
The Lee County Sheriff's Office is one of 22 agencies
nationwide to receive the current flagship
designation and will receive its certificate on March
27th in Dallas.
So what is CALEA ?
The CALEA® Flagship Agency
Program is designed to acknowledge CALEA Accredited public safety agencies that
have demonstrated success in the accreditation process. The program also serves
to provide other agencies seeking accreditation with examples of “best
practices” on how to address compliance, policy development, file maintenance,
and other issues relating to the accreditation process.
A Flagship
Agency must meet the following minimum criteria:
-
Must
have a minimum of two previous consecutive accreditation awards.
-
Must
not have conditions or noncompliance issues on most recent past award.
-
Must
not have noncompliance issues, or be recommended for conditions on current
assessment.
-
Current Assessment Report must have limited file maintenance and applied
discretion issues.
-
Current Assessment Report must not have issues involving life, safety, and
security standards.
-
Must
not currently be affected by issues that detract from the tenets or goals of
accreditation and/or the Flagship Program.
MUST NOT HAVE ISSUES INVOLVING LIFE, SAFETY AND SECURITY STANDARDS !!!!!
The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation
Programs is to:
" Improve the delivery of public safety services ", primarily by:
maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners,
covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives;
establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing
professional excellence.
To Improve The Delivery of Public Safety Services ???
This means stop killing people .... or you'll will lose your accreditation !
01/29/10
Hey; I've been a very girl this week...I haven't written any updates.
So why is the Lee county sheriff department on my website everyday this week ??
They must really miss me !
01/23/10
Way to go Sam !
Smooth talk proves enough to bail out Lee County sheriff
By Sam Cook
scook@news-press.com
http://www.news-press.com/watchdog">Read Sam Cook's blog and get the latest dispatches from our investigative reporters by going to the Watchdog page.
Sheriff Mike Scott is always quick to exonerate himself from wrongdoing.
Granted, the sheriff has had a lot of practice lately.
In a guest opinion in The News-Press on Thursday, he wrote that despite the scrutiny of allegations against him, the newspaper couldn't spoil his spotless record.
"The official and final findings of fact reveal no wrongdoing and no sanction warranted in each and every instance,'' he wrote.
Give Scott credit.
He's a charmer. He has talked his way out of trouble so far.
I wonder, though, is it the sheriff's gift of gab or laziness on behalf of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement?
Maybe both.
A little history.
The first encounter I had with an FDLE investigation involved four Fort Myers cops who were accused of using excessive force while arresting a drug dealer in 2005.
The FDLE cleared the white officers without interviewing the black victim or witnesses. No lie.
Complete whitewash.
The agency's latest look at Scott is not so much ineptitude as indifference.
Lee Bushong, who was hired, fired and reinstated by the sheriff before he resigned in December, told me Scott directed him to use restricted databases to gather background information on two job applicants for his cousin's carpet store in February.
I asked Scott about the allegation for two columns I wrote in April.
While saying, "I am well aware of policy on criminal history," Scott admitted he violated the user agreement governing national and state crime information centers by releasing the information to noncriminal personnel.
In other words, "I'm the sheriff, I'll do what I want."
His actions violated FCIC Manual Chapter 2.3 on use of information.
If the sheriff's misuse of the database wasn't bad enough, the reaction of the FDLE to his explanation topped it.
Sleuthhound Scott follows with his best Columbo impression.
"The two checks ... were born of anonymous, third-party information I received from a person advising that a fugitive was relocating to Fort Myers and was applying for work at one of the Taylor Carpet stores," he wrote to FDLE.
"Though the caller did not provide a name, I had reason to believe that one (1) of the people applying for a job in late February was possibly wanted.
"As the Law Enforcement Coordinator of the Year in 2003 for Crime Stoppers in the Southeastern United States, I am always attentive to the value of tips ... anonymous or otherwise."
Relocating from where? Never Never Land?
Funny, the sheriff never mentioned that anonymous tip to me.
When asked to explain the conflicting accounts, Scott said it "was a mere coincidence" the telephone call and his cousin's request arrived together.
Only another law enforcement agency would buy that excuse.
There were contradictions by Scott in his e-mails, letter and my columns, yet FDLE couldn't find fault.
Donna Uzzell, department director for FDLE, put Scott on the honor system for his explanation.
"As no violations were reported by the sheriff, no action was taken by FDLE," said spokesman Mike Morrison.
I hear you laughing.
I am too.
Former sheriffs John McDougall and Rod Shoap were never this much fun.
Sam:
You've done good according to many more than those who just comment negative remarks ..
These people hate you so much that they only show up to critique your columns and boost the ego of the corrupt sheriff and his department.
Like I said yesterday in the editorial section: "No one is bending any arms to read and comment and if they don't like the NP; Don't read it at all"..
They are also the same people that call others cowards and show disrespect to Mr Christie and his family ( "Murdered" Inmate )..In fact ; They are the cowards when they hide safely behind their avatars.
You are very factual concerning the FDLE and Mike Scott-Free, they are brothers from another mother and they will stick together and will cover up everything as they have for the last 5+ years, FDLE has proven their worth to the citizens of the State of Florida and have lost all respect from anyone that contacted them.
01/21/10
Lee County inmate pepper spray video lacking
State attorney did not see deputies’ actions
BY RYAN LENGERICH
rlengerich@news-press.com
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 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.
Another video shows deputies leading Christie into a secure room less than two minutes before pepper-spraying him the first time.
Christie’s wife, Joyce, of Girard, Ohio, said she is not surprised no video shows the pepper-spraying or restraint.
“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.
A lack of video showing any pepper-spraying or restraint could be considered significant. The medical examiner’s office had determined Christie, 62, died of cardiac arrest and stress brought on by the restraint and pepper spray.
In addition to the state attorney choosing not to investigate, the federal government ruled recently that Christie’s civil rights were not violated, said FBI Public Affairs Officer Dave Couvertier.
Joyce Christie’s attorney, Nicholas DiCello, has filed an intent to sue the sheriff’s office and the company it contracts for medical services.
“The fact this isn’t video (taped), from a jury standpoint, it is going to be just as bad as if we had the video,” DiCello said.
Nicholas Christie was arrested March 25 for being drunk and disorderly after multiple disturbances at North Fort Myers hotels. During booking, he provided his medical history, including a heart condition, emphysema, gout and depression. He was released the next day. He was then arrested March 27 for trespassing at a North Fort Myers restaurant.
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
Going by the videos that are posted on the News-Press and WINK News : Mr Christie doesn't seem combative to me at all. The video that the NP has shown the office area and hallway pretty good but yet where the cameras really should be focused with the inmates doesn't show anything, not even Mr Christie acting out ??
Is it that the jail is more concerned over what their deputies are doing on shift or What the inmates are doing in the holding areas ??
This alone can raise any ones eyebrows that something is just not right here !
What will it take to get someone to take notice to what is going on here and put a stop to it ?
How many fatalities do we have to have before something is done to stop them ?
I sincerely hope that Mrs Christie gets her day in court soon and Maybe her husband did not die is vain but saved more lives as a result of his Murder ..
01/12/10
Report: Nurse begged deputy to go easy on inmate who died in Lee jail
By STEVEN BEARDSLEY
Monday, January 11, 2010
LEE COUNTY — Heavy doses of pepper spray and an unknown medical history made a lethal combination for a Lee County inmate, according to an investigation released today.
Nicholas Christie, 62, refused to submit to a medical screening when brought to the jail on March 27, reports show. As deputies continued applying pepper spray, nurses checked him, saw nothing wrong and assumed he was okay, they reported.
“I had nothing, I had no guidelines,” one nurse, Maria Canete, said in an interview included in the report.
Still, she begged one deputy to go easy on the inmate and others in his cell block, which, after multiple applications of pepper spray in various forms, was filled with the irritant.
“And he said to me, ‘It’s good training for everyone,’” Canete recalled.
Christie died March 31 of cardiac arrest caused by the pepper spray. Christie was exposed to the chemical 10 times in 43 hours at the jail. Medical examiners ruled his death a homicide.
State prosecutors cleared nurses and jailers of criminal wrongdoing last week, after finishing their review of an investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office.
On Monday, they released the investigation, which totaled more than 1,600 pages. The report included booking sheets, an autopsy report and statements from 70 witnesses, including inmates, guards and nurses.
At the release of the investigation, State Attorney Stephen B. Russell held a press conference, in which he emphasized the limited nature of his agency’s review. He said his office could not perform a policy review for the jail, a step he said would be “appropriate” for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
“In other words, we are limited as to whether there was any criminal liability in this case,” Russell said.
Federal investigators have been looking into the matter, he added.
In the Sheriff’s Office investigation, jailers said federal privacy laws left them blind to inmate medical issues and that they relied on nurses to know medical histories and manage the inmates after each application of spray.
The spray, derived from cayenne peppers, is needed to keep inmates quiet and keep them from hurting themselves, the jailers said.
One officer, Deputy Daniel Falzone, a trainee at the time, said he used the spray once to stop Christie from banging his head into the bars and wall after the inmate’s first appearance in court.
“My biggest fear was that he would hurt himself, injure himself against that steel door,” Falzone said.
The deputy used chemical force on Christie twice more in the following day, when the inmate continued acting up in an observation cell.
The two applications, both with foggers, which distribute the chemical widely, followed within minutes of each other.
Nurses were routinely called to check on the inmates, after each use of the chemical. One nurse, Linda Sundo, said the chemical was so heavy in the observation block that it irritated her, too. But because Christie was screaming, she knew he was breathing okay, she said.
“I didn’t get that super close to him, because that (pepper) spray and me don’t get it,” she told a detective. “Nine years workin’ there and it still — it still bothers me.”
Christie was eventually restrained in a chair, sprayed once more and then covered with a spit mask.
As nurses continued their checks, Canete said she was bothered by what she saw. She felt uncomfortable when a jailer said Christie, now restrained and covered in a mask, refused lunch and a drink of water. And she was disturbed by how the same jailer, identified as Deputy Kurtis Calhoun, responded to her appeals for lighter chemical use.
“And I looked at him and I said, ‘We don’t need training like this,’” she said in the report. “’This has become a health hazard to everyone here.’
And he just laughed.”
Canete, Sundo and the other nurses involved are all employed by Prison Health Services, a private company contracted by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to care for inmate medical needs.
The nurses said they, too, were unaware of Christie’s medical history. Even when his wife, Joce Christie, arrived at the jail, she did not allow staff to copy her husband’s prescription list.
Policies changed after Christie’s death, Canete noted in her interview. Now, she said, inmates don’t leave the medical floor until they provide their medical information.
01/09/10
FDLE proves they are willing to cover the tracks of the Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott-Free, At any cost !
http://www.news-press.com/article/20100109/SS15/100108101/Lee-County-Sheriff-Mike-Scott-s-claim-changed-records-show
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.
FDLE has cleared their brother Scott of all wrong doing with every investigation !
The State Attorney's office has cleared brother Scott and his department of all wrong doing every time, even when defying Steve Russell; the SAO rules do not apply to Scott-Free !
Governor Charlie Crist keeps backing him, Our County Commissioners ,Congressman and Senators never get involved !
The FBI have done nothing about Scott or his department and he even was able to beat the charges of his violation of the Hatch Act during a presidential rally..
So; if he doesn't answer to the voters as an elected official then who does he answer too ????
If no one above him cares about his corruption and wrong doings , Who should care ????
The families of those he has hurt, Care !
The families of dead inmates in his county jail, CARE !
The victims of his corrupt department , Care !
01/07/10
Not all witnesses were interviewed; 90 witnesses and most were disregarded and ignored !
News-Press Update by Rachel Revehl
1:10 A.M. — Lee County corrections deputies will not be criminally prosecuted by state officials for their role in the March 31 death of jail inmate Nicholas Christie.
An investigation by the state attorney’s office, completed Tuesday, determined there was no malicious intent or reckless disregard for life when deputies pepper-sprayed Christie 10 times during a two-day incarceration.
Two inmates who shared a cell with Christie dispute the investigator’s findings, and a federal investigation is still ongoing.
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.
In an e-mail statement, Sheriff Mike Scott said while the loss of life was regrettable, he is satisfied with the outcome of the investigation.
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.
Smith reported Christie’s wife, Joyce, did come to the jail March 29 and explained his medical history. Earlier that morning, the nursing staff discovered Christie suffering from “labored breathing.” He remained in a restraint chair while they showered him and returned him to his cell.
At 2 p.m. that day, Christie was transferred to the medical unit, still in the chair. Ten minutes later, the nurses called 911 to take him to Gulf Coast Medical Center, where he died two days later.
The names of those corrections deputies involved weren’t immediately available from either the sheriff’s office or the state attorney’s office.
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. But while in Southwest Florida visiting family, his medication was interrupted and he began behaving erratically, leading to his arrest.
DiCello said
Christie kept in his back pocket a list of every medication he was on, all his medical conditions and the names and numbers of his doctors. The list was recovered by Joyce Christie when she came to gather his belongings, DiCello said.
State attorney’s office spokeswoman Samantha Syoen said a full investigative report is expected to be released by the state attorney’s office in the next few days.
01/ 06 /10
Murders Cleared in the most corrupt jail in the country !
Lee County jailers cleared in pepper spray death of inmate
By STEVEN BEARDSLEY
Originally published 03:22 p.m., January 6, 2010
Updated 07:30 p.m., January 6, 2010
Lee County jailers will not be charged in the March death of an inmate who was heavily pepper sprayed within a short period of time, including while he was restrained.
Nicholas Christie, 62, a retired boilermaker, was exposed to oleoresin capsicum, or pepper spray, more than 10 times in less than two days in custody.
He died at Gulf Coast Hospital on March 31. Medical examiners ruled his death a homicide.
Also on Wednesday, medical examiners released the cause in the December death of another Lee County inmate. James Gregory Kindred, 45, died of alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal syndrome, circumstances classified as “natural” by forensic pathologists.
Officials said timing of the announcements, both of which came Wednesday afternoon, was not coordinated.
Ken Cutler, an inmate housed with Christie at the time of his death, said the result of the investigation, as conveyed by a reporter, surprised him.
“It was excessive force, absolutely no question,” he said. “For someone to come out and say that’s not the way it happened is someone who didn’t listen to what we said.”
In a prepared statement, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott said he was satisfied by the review.
Detectives with Scott’s agency investigated Christie’s death and then forwarded their results to the State Attorney’s Office in August 2008. Kevin, L. Smith, chief investigator for the office, concluded that jailers were within policy guidelines for subduing the belligerent Christie.
“A review of the report indicates that inmate Christie presented physical, verbal and bodily fluid contamination threats to the jail staff during his incarceration,” Smith wrote.
Assistant State Attorney Dean R. Plattner stated in an accompanying memo that jailers had no intent to kill Christie and no “reckless disregard” for his life.
The jailers involved were not named in the document.
Nicholas DiCello, an Ohio attorney representing Christie’s widow, said the family was disappointed but is looking toward a federal inquiry, in addition to a possible civil suit.
“I’m not aware of any policy that allows (oleoresin capsicum) spray to be used for the 10th time after someone has been restrained to a chair,” he said.
An internal policy review conducted by the Sheriff’s Office after the death found no policies were broken and that the jailers didn’t need to be investigated, said agency spokesman Tony Schall.
Christie suffered from several medical problems, including an irregular heartbeat. A medical examiner’s report released after the death concluded Christie died from cardiac arrest due to shock caused by the chemical.
He arrived at the downtown Fort Myers jail on March 27, following an arrest for trespassing at a North Fort Myers motel.
Smith doesn’t describe how often Christie was exposed to the chemical, but he notes application was in the form of a spray and a fogger, which is used to hit a wide area with the chemical.
Christie’s last exposure to the chemical followed his restraint in a chair, Smith writes. After spraying him, jail staff placed a spit mask over Christie’s face, an effort Smith states was designed to protect staffers.
Cutler, the inmate, has said Christie was trying to spit the chemical out of his mouth, after a guard sprayed him directly in the face.
Minutes later, nurses found Christie’s breathing labored, and they moved him to a downstairs shower to decontaminate him.
At 1:30 p.m., Nicholas Christie’s oxygen levels were found to be low, and he was soon moved to the medical wing. He was still in the restraint chair.
At 2 p.m., nurses decided Christie needed to go to the hospital, and they called 911 at 2:11 p.m.
Two days later, Christie was pronounced dead.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office contracts with Prison Health Services for inmate medical care. A spokesman for the business could not be reached for comment.
Kindred’s death may come under review by the State Attorney’s Office, said Schall, the Sheriff’s Office spokesman. Samantha Syoen, a spokeswoman for the State Attorney’s Office, said no investigation has been received by her office.
No charges in Lee County jail inmate death
Rachel Revehl
rrevehl@news-press.com
Lee County jail inmate Nicholas Christie was pepper-sprayed 10 times in the course of his two-day incarceration in March, and his subsequent death had been ruled a homicide by the medical examiner’s office.
Today, in a decision released by the state attorney’s office, investigators have determined corrections deputies did not act with malicious intent or show reckless disregard for life, and will not be filing criminal charges in the case.
Cristie, 62, died following cardiac arrest at Gulf Coast Medical Center on March 31, 2009. He had been restrained, and it was determined that the pepper spray contributed to his death.
Kevin Smith, state attorney’s office investigator, reported that Christie was arrested on March 27 at 2 p.m. for trespassing.
“At the jail, Christie became combative, causing staff to use OC (pepper) spray to gain compliance,” Smith reported. “...The investigation shows that in total, inmate Christie was subjected directly or indirectly to 10 OC events delivered in spray or ‘fogger’ form from the time of his arrest on March 27 until March 29, at 9:46 a.m.”
Various reasons given for using the spray included combativeness, banging and rattling the cell door and attempting to spit on jail staff.
According to Smith, Christie did not disclose his medical history, and which would have revealed he suffered from gout, irregular heartbeat, emphysema and back problems. He had previously disclosed this information during a prior arrest, but Smith noted that information wasn’t readily available to jail staff.
On March 29th around 10 a.m., Christie was found to have labored breathing, and nursing staff asked to wash him down to decontaminate him from the pepper spray.
On March 29 at 12:25 p.m., Christie’s wife, Joyce, visited the jail and explained to the jail staff his medical history. About an hour later, he was transferred to the medical wing, and then a half hour later to Gulf Coast Medical Center, where he died.
“A review of the report indicates that inmate Christie presented physical, verbal and bodily fluid contamination threats to the jail staff during his incarceration,” Smith said.
“These challenges caused the application of OC pursuant to agency policy while under the direct supervision of medical care and observation. Evidence suggests the participants did not operate with any unlawful intent and that their actions would be criminally excusable pursuant to FSS 782.03.”
Smith closed the investigation without recommendation for criminal charges.
The deputies involved are not named in Smith’s report.
http://www.news-press.com/assets/pdf/A414957516.PDF
This is a tragedy; Murders with badges !
Nick Christie was never even charged with a crime and the flaws in this case are so clearly obvious, Everyone covering each others asses and no one to take the responsibility of Murder..No one to hold them accountable just proves without a doubt how corrupt the Lee county system is along with all the players involved..
How can Mr Smith explain the time lines of the events and justify them to this mans family ?
Regardless of Mr Christie's medical history, He sat restrained in a chair with a spit mask on and continuously sprayed with barrel maze for 9 hours causing him to smother to death due to lack of oxygen..
How does the Sheriff answer to this out come:
January 5th, 2010 by rlengerich
Sheriff’s deputies and employees can no longer identify themselves as agency personnel on blogs, personal Web pages or online forums without management approval.
Sheriff Mike Scott issued the policy Dec. 14. He modeled the four-page policy off the one put in place by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in June.
Under the policy, employees with blogs can’t identify themselves as working for the sheriff. Photographs of an employee with the uniform or badges are prohibited without authorization. Included are photos posted on popular social networking sites such as Facebook. Employees are not allowed to post messages on forums provided on stories posted on News-Press.com and other news sites if they reference their position with the Sheriff’s Office or harm its reputation.
The policy includes Internet activity on or off duty.
This is called a gag order for those on the department that know this is wrong...
01/06/10
Lee inmate's alcoholism caused death, report says
Rachel Revehl
rrevehl@news-press.com
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 Tuesday.
Kindred was arrested for DUI after crashing his car Dec. 3 in Lehigh Acres. Kindred was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment, where doctors determined his blood alcohol level was 0.294, well over the legal limit of 0.08, according to his arrest report.
Kindred was released from the hospital the next day, arrested and charged with DUI.
He died a week later after jail officials transported him to Gulf Coast Hospital.
Bruce Kindred, 47, brother of James, said a sheriff’s detective told him his brother had been in an altercation with corrections deputies, restrained and pepper sprayed, prior to being taken to the hospital. Bruce Kindred said he received no other details.
“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.
Lee County sheriff’s officials have not yet offered comment, citing the pending investigation.
Earlier in 2009, sheriff's deputies restrained and pepper sprayed Nicholas Christie, 62, of Girard, Ohio. He died March 31 at Gulf Coast Medical Center, two days after being taken from jail to the hospital. The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI are looking into the incident, which was ruled a homicide.
My readers and I want to know !
Mike Scott has never had issues with commenting on his department, He is the most vocal elected official in Lee County, sometimes to vocal when he should of kept his mouth shut..
However, When the issue of his fatality rate in his jail comes up, He is Mute !
When will he rear his ugly head and mouth and explain "Why" inmates are being killed in his jail and "Why" is nothing being done to Stop it ??
In all cases this year, None of the deceased inmates were even charged by the State Attorneys office, they were merely arrested for the crime. In 2 cases the inmates were smothered to death due to lack of oxygen and 1 was already ruled a Homicide..
When a person intentionally uses force that causes death that is Murder !
This Murder has been under investigation since March 2009..
Now; Had this Murder been done by a citizen, They would be behind the bars, However, These murderers were not suspended pending the investigation as I'm sure either are those guards who committed this last murder, this past week.
When is this going to end ?
The Lee county jail is just a stopping place, It's not prison..County is for people sentenced to less than 1 year incarceration and those who have been arrested but not convicted yet.
Guilt or innocence has to be determined by the Justice system not the correction officers or deputies, They are trained to handle any situation and if they can't; They don't belong there. The DOC has rules and the inmates have rights both have been severely violated here in Lee County
I'm openly asking Mike Scott, FDLE, the Department of Justice, the Department of Corrections and the FBI to answer these questions..Show the balls you have and I'll print your reply right here !
Explain to me and my readers; Why people are dying in your jail and No one is being held accountable ..
You know how to reach me !
12/16/09
Judge to issue ruling on firing of Lee County sheriff's captain
Plaintiff says Scott was out to get him
By MARK S. KRZOS
mkrzos@news-press.com
Former Lee County Sheriff's Capt. Les Partington was in court Tuesday to get his old job back after suing his former boss, Sheriff Mike Scott.
The nonjury trial was expected to last three days, but testimony and closing arguments wrapped up in under six hours.
Judge Lynn Gerald said he will notify both parties once he reaches a decision.
Partington worked for the Lee County Sheriff's Office from 1985 until February 2006, when Scott fired him, saying Partington lied about a conversation he had with another deputy during an internal investigation.
The agency maintains a zero-tolerance policy on lying.
At the time of the firing, Scott said Partington twice denied talking to Cpl. Daryl Holton, who was part of a separate agency investigation that ended up being unsubstantiated.
Holton and Capt. Jeff Hollan, however, told investigators Partington talked to Holton about the case, the investigation shows. Partington denied he spoke to Holton when he was first questioned about it by Maj. Scott Ciresi, according to the investigation.
"I was fired for talking about that case," Partington said in 2006.
Most of Partington's case revolves around a conversation he had with Holton following comments made by Capt. Gary Kamp during a morning roll call in 2005. Kamp told deputies that they don't want to do anything illegal or else they could "end up in a cell next to Daryl's big brother."
Holton's big brother is 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds. Holton, who is black, believed Kamp's comments may have been racially offensive.
"He reached out to Capt. Partington, whom he considered a friend and mentor," Partington's attorney, Robert McKee, said Tuesday.
McKee said Partington told Holton that he didn't think Kamp was a racist and urged him to talk to Kamp about his comments - and if he wasn't satisfied, he should then talk to his superiors.
"He engaged in constitutionally protected speech," McKee said.
Scott's attorney, Wayne Evans, disagreed, pointing out that Holton never filed a complaint and that the comments were not of public concern and would be handled internally.
Scott deemed Kamp's remark inappropriate, but added that it was more about size than race.
While on the stand, Partington said Scott was out to get him and used the casual conversations between him and Holton as his ammunition.
Kamp's comments caused controversy in the south district, Scott testified. To get to the bottom of it - and the conversations between Partington and Holton - he ordered an internal affairs investigation.
News of the controversy was then leaked to The News-Press.
"They took all these rumors to (internal affairs) to ruin me," Partington said in court.
12/14/09
Murders at the Lee County Jail Strike Again !!!!!!
When is our Sheriff going to take the responsiblity of the behavior of the guards in his jail ?
When is this going to STOP ????
This all in less than 1 year !
Was this done by the same guards as in the Christie Case; whom were never even suspended pending the investigation that has still yet to be completed since April ?????
I want Answers, Sheriff Scott,
This is your department and You have been hiding the facts that Abuse in your jail is normal and You condon this behavior.
LCSO has "NO REGARD" for anyones life and "Must be held accountable" for these MURDERS !
12/11/09
Brother suspicious of Lee County inmate’s treatment
BY RYAN LENGERICH
rlengerich@news-press.com
A man taken from the Lee County Jail to the hospital, where he died Sunday, was pepper sprayed and restrained by corrections officers before his death, the man’s brother said Thursday.
It would be the second inmate this year to die after being pepper sprayed in jail.
James Gregory Kindred, 45, died at Gulf Coast Medical Center.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office officials did not comment Thursday because of an ongoing investigation. They did not confirm pepper spray or any other force was used.
The medical examiner’s office said the cause of death is pending.
Bruce Kindred, 47, brother of James, said a sheriff’s detective told him Sunday his brother had been in an altercation with corrections officers, restrained and pepper sprayed early Sunday, prior to being taken to the hospital. Bruce Kindred said he received no other details.
Earlier this year, sheriff’s deputies restrained and pepper sprayed Nicholas Christie, 62, of Girard, Ohio. He died March 31 at Gulf Coast Medical Center, two days after being taken from jail to the hospital. The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI are looking into the incident, which was ruled a homicide.
James Kindred’s jail altercation occurred about 9 a.m., Bruce Kindred said. Hospital representatives called Bruce Kindred, and by the time he arrived around 1:30 p.m. his brother was on life support, and handcuffed to the bed.
“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.
James Kindred flipped the white Pontiac Vibe he was driving on Alabama Road in Lehigh Acres last Thursday night, according to a report from the sheriff’s office.
The vehicle swerved on Alabama, struck a mailbox, hit a telephone box, flipped and landed on the passenger side door, according to the report.
Kindred was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment. His doctor said Kindred had a blood alcohol level of 0.294, well over the legal limit of 0.08, according to the report. Kindred was released from the hospital early Friday, arrested and charged with DUI.
Bruce Kindred described James as a good guy who had a temper. James Kindred was out of work and “kind of depressed.” He was single with no children.
Bruce Kindred said he could not afford the $6,500 needed to bail out his brother.
James Kindred called his mother Friday and twice Saturday, Bruce Kindred said. His brother did not mention headaches or other health problems, only that he wanted out of jail.
At the hospital, James Kindred had cuts on his face, but Bruce Kindred said they may have come from the crash.
12/10/09
Brother says dead Lee County inmate was pepper sprayed
BY RYAN LENGERICH
rlengerich@news-press.com
Inmate taken from the Lee County jail to the hospital where he died Sunday was pepper sprayed and involved in an altercation with corrections officers before his death, the man’s brother said today.
James Gregory Kindred, 45, died Sunday at Gulf Coast Medical Center after being transported there from jail.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office officials are not releasing information because of an ongoing investigation. The medical examiner’s office said today cause of death is pending.
Bruce Kindred, 47, brother of James, said detective William Kalstrom told him Sunday James Kindred had been in an altercation with corrections officers and pepper sprayed early Sunday prior to being taken to the medical center. Bruce Kindred said he received no other details about the possible incident from the detective.
“He was brain dead when he got to the hospital,” Bruce Kindred said.
The altercation took place sometime around 9 a.m., Bruce Kindred said, and by the time Bruce Kindred arrived at the medical center around 1:30 p.m. his brother was on life support.
Kindred flipped the white Pontiac Vibe he was driving on Alabama Road in Lehigh Acres around 9 p.m. Thursday, according to a report from the sheriff’s office.
The vehicle Kindred was driving, which he did not own, swerved on Alabama, struck a mailbox, hit a telephone box, flipped and landed on the passenger side door, according to the report.
Kindred was transported to to Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment. His doctor said Kindred had a blood alcohol level of .294, about 3.5 times the legal Florida limit, according to the report.
Kindred was released early Friday, arrested and charged with DUI.
Bruce Kindred said he could not afford the $6,500 needed to bail out his brother. James Kindred called his mother Friday and twice Saturday, Bruce Kindred said.
Bruce Kindred said his brother did not mention any health problems, only that he wanted out of jail.
12/08/09
Jailed Lehigh Acres man dies after being taken to the hospital
RYAN LENGERICH
rlengerich@news-press.com
A Lehigh Acres man arrested Friday for driving under the influence was transported to a local hospital from the jail on Sunday, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
James Gregory Kindred, 45, died Sunday at Gulf Coast Medical Center, said Sgt. David Valez, sheriff’s office spokesman for the county corrections facilities.
Kindred flipped the white Pontiac Vibe he was driving on Alabama Road in Lehigh Acres around 9 p.m. Thursday, according to a report from the sheriff’s office.
The vehicle Kindred was driving, which he did not own, swerved on Alabama, struck a mailbox, hit a telephone box, flipped and landed on the driver side door, according to the report.
Kindred was transported to to Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment. His doctor said Kindred had a blood alcohol level of .294, about 3.5 times the legal Florida limit, according to the report.
Kindred was charged with DUI and transferred Friday to the Lee County jail.
Valez said he could not disclose information about why Kindred was transported from the jail to the medical center Sunday, because of an ongoing investigation.
Valez would not confirm or deny whether force was used against Kindred at the jail.
The sheriff’s office report said Kindred was arrested for DUI in 1986.
He previously was arrested in February 2008 on a second-degree felony charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to Clerk of Court records.
12/07/09
Bushong resigns after " Brothers from another Mother " Clear Mike Scott Free of Criminal Misconduct..
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.
Scott demoted Bushong, in March 2009 from lieutenant and head of the Intelligence Unit to deputy for improper conduct and abusive insubordination.
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 ..
Considering the complaint and the documentation, FDLE completed this investigation quickly...They have had the Nick Christie Murder case on their desk and wrapped in red tape for longer with NO answers yet; I wonder Why ??
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
11/29/09
And another one for the scrap books !
Open letter to Sheriff Mike Scott from the Editor of the News-Press in the F.Y.I Section...
11/27/09
More changes at LCSO, hopefully for the better !
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)
"That decision was made to afford me ample time to revisit the command structure of our organization and consider candidates for that structure. It's based on many different factors, none the least of which include the enormous responsibilities of the Lee County Sheriff's Office."
Hopefully; there will be change for the better, I really believe with Col. Ellegood in control of corrections, the behavior of those who work there will be more efficient and safer, Col. Ellegood has always been a man of integrity and would expect nothing less from his staff under his control..I wish him luck and best wishes of success.
However: In some cases, over $10,000.00 more in each of there salaries (if not more). This after the sheriff for the second year denied raises for those on the streets, Stating the budget and the economy for those who do the actual job..Sadly; they voted NOT the Unionize !
11/23/09
FDLE clears Golden Child Mike Scott-Free of all criminal wrong doing.. Not the FBI but FDLE has yet again turned another ass cheek :
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 ??????
HOWEVER:
* Still # 1 Gooberhead !
This week has 3 Gooberheads :
3rd Place - Arnold Kempe wants to be the next the city manager for Cape Coral ~ LOL ~ Arnold Kempe, Cape Coral’s Mayor from 2000 to 2005, this week submitted a typewritten letter and several newspaper clippings to city officials in a bid to become Cape Coral’s next city manager.
“I believe I know government and I know it well,” said Kempe in a Nov. 16 letter to the council. Kempe also served on the Minnesota State Legislature in the 1970s.
The City Council has made no decision yet on how to replace Terry Stewart, who resigned last week after eight years as Cape Corals’ manager.
On Monday Jack Nettis, Jr., the administrator in a small Ohio town, also submitted a resume to officials.
Kempe and Nettis join two other candidates who have already expressed interest in the city manager spot.
Local lawyer Eric Feichthaler, who beat Kempe in the 2005 mayoral election, has been lobbying for the manager’s job. And Gary King a commercial mortgage broker and former executive with an investment firm has offered his services. King supported Sullivan in his mayoral campaign.
Cape Coral Council members Monday said a decision on filling Stewart’s spot was months away. None expect a decision this year.
Assistant City Manager Carl Schwing has since taken over the day-to-day operations of the city.
Going by the last election I think the city is ready for new and improved and not old and mismanaged, This city needs people that look out for us, not their selves...
Eric; You have my vote if you make the choice to run !
2nd Place -Tammy Hall is new the Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairwomen ~ LOL ~Tammy ??
Really !?!?!?!
She can't do the job she has, You can call her , write her or scream from the roof tops and still NO response from her or her office ! Giving her more duties would be a huge waste of time and money but than what is the BOCC for but to spend our money ??
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h705.html
The Winner : 1st Place - Sheriff Mike Scott
Reason # 1
11/19/09
Sheriff Mike Scott snubs The News-Press
By Rachel Revehl
rrevehl@news-press.com
Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott abruptly halted a press conference after his agency's union vote Wednesday night because he won't speak to reporters from The News-Press.
"I have the right to pick and choose who I want to speak to," Scott said as he walked away, "and don't you forget it."
The sheriff resumed the press conference with other media representatives in the hallway.
Scott has voiced displeasure with The News-Press' coverage of events this year related to the sheriff's office, specifically reports on three deputy-involved shootings, the sheriff's close relationship with a convicted felon and the union vote. He has repeatedly declined to grant face-to-face or phone interviews with The News-Press, funneling all communication through his information officers.
On Wednesday night, just after the vote against unionization by deputies was announced, representatives from four media outlets - including The News-Press - gathered at the back of a conference room at the sheriff's office to interview Scott. He answered one question from a television reporter before halting the press conference and announcing he would meet with everyone but The News-Press reporter.
The other media representatives then interviewed the sheriff in the hallway.
Reason # 2 :
11/16/09
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.
Both More and Jakacki received letters of reprimand for their actions from Sheriff Mike Scott on Oct. 22.
There seems to be a lot missing here..I have seen and heard worst !
This is just a waste of space and time...Please; give me a break, they were off duty, all adults, one a former in law and where is the point of misconduct here ?
Others have walked away Scott-Free, with more severe cases of misconduct than this !
There are LCSO that committed Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault while off duty and NOTHING was ever done to them...
There are Correction Officers that committed Murder while " On Duty " and still " NOTHING " has been done to them YET !!!!
10/11/09
“It looks likely that Lt. Kimberly Falk is going to get her gun and badge back”
A Lee County circuit judge erred when she upheld the firing of a lieutenant by Sheriff Mike Scott, a state appeals court ruled Friday October 9th
Circuit Judge Sherra Winesett denied former Lt. Kimberly Falk’s right to overturn the Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Board decision that upheld Scott firing Falk in 2006.However, the three-member 2nd District Court of Appeal found that Mike Scott had the burden to prove that Falk was fired for good reason, not the other way around, and that the civil service board "mistakenly ignored this".
According to an Internal Affairs investigation, Falk mishandled evidence after she found cocaine vials in the pocket of a former co-worker she was visiting in the hospital.
Falk was investigated for several neglect of duty and improper conduct charges, which led to her dismissal from the Sheriff's Office on August 1, 2006 according to the Sheriff's Office.
After her dismissal, Falk also had been implicated for inappropriate behavior at a retirement party, which caused two other deputies to resign.
Falk’s firing came about the same time of the retirement party that led to the resignation of two other officers, 21-year veteran Capt. Jeff Hollan and Detective Jessica Shipansky. Another investigation found that Shipansky and Falk had performed groping lap dances at Beef O’Brady’s when it was rented for another officer’s retirement party
Falk appealed her termination to the Lee County Sheriff's Office Civil Service Board, which affirmed the decision.
John Coleman is a Fort Myers attorney who’s represented people before the Sheriff’s Civil Service Board. He said he always felt the burden of proof was on him.
“In that venue I would say you have to show the sheriff made a mistake,” he said. “That’s always the approach we’ve taken.”
With the board members working for the sheriff and selected by him it’s hard to win, Coleman said.
“It’s so political. I’ve never thought I lost, so who cares who the burden’s on?” he said.
“To try to get the sheriff’s people to say the sheriff made a mistake is an incredibly difficult thing to do.”
Capt. Jeff Hollan and Detective Jessica Schipansky resigned following a lengthy Internal Affairs investigation into their actions at a Beef O'Brady's . Lt. Kim Falk, also was accused of getting intimate with the two.
All three were accused of having been involved in a series of inappropriate actions during the retirement party for a fellow sheriff's employee in May 2006.
Some sheriff's employees said they saw both Schipansky , Hollan and Falk kiss each other.
"We can't have that," Scott said. "And not because it's female on female. It's because it's lieutenant on detective."
10/06/09
" 2009 National Domestic Violence Awareness Month "
2 Victims , 1 dead / 1 slapped in the face by the system that should of protected them both..
2 Special events take place at the same time !
The Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Collier County ll held a Thursday night, September 25th candlelight vigil to honor Guerline Dieu Damas and her five children, along with " Other Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence."
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ironic similar tie in was the very next day, One did not escape the law.
09/29/09
I'm keeping it short, The articles speaks for itself..
09/26/09
Lee County deputy accused of L & L on a Minor between 12 and 16 years of age..
http://www.news-press.com/article/20090926/CRIME
Without making a judgment on this deputy until after the facts are in court, All I can say is: When In fact any deputy commits a crime , Scott should be on the side of the community and not his friends...This has been a strong point that I have been trying to make for 5 years...Instead of covering it up and acting stupid, Man up and do your job as the sheriff, However, I get public criticism and called a cop hater..Wrong: Far from the truth: Bad Cops make Good Cops look Bad, Not the Citizens..
The only thing that makes this worst than what other deputies have done is it involves a minor....WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER VICTIMS ? WHAT THEY ARE LESS THAN A Victim to LCSO ?
The first person to attack this comment on a personal level better have grounds..
Other interesting and Disturbing news: 09/26/09
Ex-police officer dies in Lee County jail cell..
http://www.news-press.com/article/
If the jail said he acted fine, they said He was no threat to himself, Then why are they in a fuss to air this out in the public, so quickly to calling it a suicide , I have a reason of concern here...They still have not released the details concerning the Death Of Nick Cristie who died the end of March, LCSO went above and beyond to hide that, The guards who killed him are still active and working , The SAO didn't find out for weeks after the media got a hold of it, The courts even issued a bench warrant for failure to appear..LCSO has something to hide and the leader of this fine up standing jail is getting ready to walk away with a Gold watch in October , Does anyone else find this disturbing ? Does anyone see that Col Michael Waite will retire soon without any recourse of his actions; He had full knowledge of what was going on in that jail and the behavior, That KILLED people..
If Your thinking this has been a slow week at LCSO, Your wrong..Yes; They did make the news again but it was Stupid !
Deputy Sonia Colon was eating lunch at the restaurant with five sheriff’s employees on Aug. 5 when she asked for a to-go box for her leftover food, according to a sheriff’s report. She placed her leftovers into the box along with a bowl belonging to the restaurant, the report states.
Two sheriff’s employees who were also at the restaurant questioned Colon about taking the dish, but she denied taking anything.
The following day, another employee saw Colon reheating her leftovers in the bowl and asked her about it. Colon then admitted to taking the dish.
Following an internal investigation, Colon was charged with improper conduct. She will serve a one-day, or 12-hour, suspension.
She gave back the bowl on her own, before she was investigated. The restaurant is not prosecuting, However, The IA department felt this was worthy, In less than one month with 5 witnesses they came to the conclusion that this deputy must be punished.
Bowl vs. Murder !
90 witnesses and 6 months later and IA has still yet to do something with the guards who killed Nick Christie, They are still active duty and the investigation is in the Department of Justice hands now...
This will go past the retirement date of Col. Michael Waite come October, He will receive his Gold watch and full benefits and walk out the door smelling like a rose on a grave.
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..
By Rachel Revehl • August 16, 2009
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.
“I think he had the sheriff’s ear,” said former Capt. Kerry Griner, a 26-year veteran who left the agency in 2005. “The reason why so many deputies went into (Spence’s store) was because they knew he could talk to the sheriff. It was proven time and time again.”
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.
He said he only learned of Spence’s past in August 2008, after Charles Ferrante made the discovery.
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.
Scott conceded that, if based on the level of phone conversations, averaging as much as five calls a week during the first eight months of 2008. he likely had a closer relationship to Spence than did Russell. Still, he said, deputies wouldn’t have known about it, and so they shouldn’t have perceived that Spence had any kind of influence over the sheriff.
Phone records and interviews reveal a tight personal bond, which branched into campaign involvement and possibly influence over personnel actions. A corruption investigation targeting the felon, Dick Spence, and his relationship with local law enforcement officials was under way earlier this year when Scott demoted, transferred or fired several deputies connected to it. * * * Records show that between October 2005 to August 2008, they talked 371 times. During his second campaign, from January 2008 and August 2008, the sheriff had 162 conversations with Spence. The conversations lasted anywhere from 1 minute to 94 minutes, sometimes as early as 5:40 a.m. and as late as midnight. There were days Spence was the first person the sheriff spoke to in the morning, and the last person he spoke to at night
Griner disagreed — he said deputies went to Spence to get around Ferrante, who they claim to feared.
“They found a loophole,” he said
A state inquiry into Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott will determine if a complaint made by ex-employees should prompt a criminal investigation into the sheriff.
The nature of the complaint, as well as the names of the complainants, are confidential, said Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman Kristen Perezluha.
"We're just looking to find out if we need to do a full investigation," she said.
The agency opened the preliminary investigation after receiving a complaint from several ex-employees in May. The Tallahassee-based Office of Executive Investigations is handling the inquiry, due to Scott's high profile.
The same office would handle a criminal investigation if one is deemed necessary, Perezluha said.
Findings from a criminal investigation would then go before the State Attorney's Office. LOL and why would they send it to the SAO who is also involved ??
The recent revelation of a years-long friendship between Scott and a convicted felon with former ties to a Colombian cartel has raised questions of the man's influence inside the Sheriff's Office.
Scott has denied that the man, Richard Spence, a convenience store owner in Alva, had any sway in his agency.
Earlier this year, a restructuring of the Sheriff's Office saw several employees part ways with the agency.
Scott, in a prepared statement, said the investigation would work to his advantage.
“I am thankful for the inquiry into these false accusations, and I am supremely confident that the independent and unbiased review of the facts will eliminate the agenda driven cloud of suspicion.”
Really ? Really !
If Mike Scott Free walks away with a slap on his hand, Then every deputy, fired, demoted or voluntarily left needs to go back to work, We can't have Double Standards..
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
August 12, 2009
News-Press.com
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 ...
Officials NBC News spoke to say it became a federal investigation because it deals with constitutional rights.
Back in March, Nicholas Christie was visiting his brother in Naples. After some arguments, he made his way to a couple of Fort Myers hotels where Lee County sheriff's deputies say he was causing trouble.
The sheriff's report notes that Christie was "loud and smelled heavily of alcoholic beverages and was upset his beer was missing."Two days later, deputies arrested him again. On that occasion, it was on trespassing charges. He was taken to the Lee County Jail and that's where Christie's family says he was killed.
The family attorney, Nicholas DiCello, says deputies restrained Christie for six hours and used pepper spray on him.
"It appears that he was sprayed even after he was restrained and there were also some suggestions by some of the witnesses that a spit mask was placed over Christie's head until he ultimately stopped breathing," DiCello said.
Deputies took him to Gulf Coast Medical Center where he died from heart failure. Officials with the Lee County Sheriff's Office wouldn't comment except to say that they are investigating, along with the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI. The Guards involved have not been named and are currently still on active duty.
"It's out understanding that the two or three individuals that were responsible for this are still employed and have not missed a day of work as a result of this," said DiCello.
The Christie family says "They wants justice" , However. they have been told they'll have to wait for several investigations to be completed before that happens.
According to Public information of the Lee County Sheriffs office, This investigation was on the heels of being completed, What was not mentioned However very important is that a Be On The Look Out was in effect for Mr Christie the entire time all of these events were taken place, In fact , The local Sheriff of Mr. Christie's Ohio Town; Personally call LCSO and informed them of his current medical condition
The Naples News that has been more in touch with this has written that Christie was placed in the jail’s observation cell, where corrections deputies could keep a closer eye on him, said another inmate on the wing at the time, Kenneth Cutler, 42.
Cutler, who had been arrested for failing to appear at court, said that on March 29, Christie was loud, belligerent and disoriented to the point of asking for his car keys so he could drive home.
Deputies gassed him multiple times, beginning in the early morning hours, Cutler said. When Christie continued being loud, a new shift escalated the spraying, according to Cutler. They used two foggers, which release the chemical into a cell at large, he said, and then restrained Christie in a chair.
“They sprayed this man in the face directly with (pepper) spray while he was strapped to the chair,” Cutler said. “They must have got some in his mouth, because he’s spitting trying to get it out, and so they put the spit mask on him.” Cutler said Christie turned blue and complained of chest pains. He was taken to a nurse station, Cutler said, before being rushed to the hospital in the afternoon.
Christie’s heart failed from the shock of the pepper spray, Medical Examiner Dr. Robert Pfalzgraf concluded in an autopsy. By the time his heart was beating again, his brain had gone too long without oxygen.
The Sheriff’s Office never notified the State Attorney’s Office of 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.
None of the jailers involved were removed from their duties after Christie’s death.
DiCello, the attorney, expressed confidence in the Sheriff’s Office investigation. Major Crimes investigates homicides within the agency’s jurisdiction, as well as fatal shootings involving its own officers.
Investigators with the jail were originally handling Christie’s death, King said, before it was handed to Major Crimes.
“I think (the unit) redid everything and really did a thorough job,” DiCello said.
King, with the Sheriff’s Office, said the agency’s investigation, at more than four months old, was taking so long due to there being more than 90 witnesses to the event.
Once completed, the investigation will be forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office, which will determine criminal culpability.
DiCello said he believed an investigation could show fault with the jail’s medical protocols, although he declined to elaborate. Cutler, the inmate, said in an interview several months ago that nurses should have been aware of Christie’s medical issues from the first of his two arrests.
“They knew there was something wrong with him back then,” he said.
Today August 5th, The News-Press had written an article leaving out many important details and misquoting Mrs. Christies statement as to Nick self medicating himself, This is not the truth, "Nick would have a few drinks at night to help fall asleep " said Joyce Christie the widow of Nick.
Joyce who is very over whelmed with the sudden death of her husband has just asked for " Justice for her husbands Murder " she stated that he was her life and her house is no longer the home that she and Nick enjoyed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just wondering, What year is this ??
08/14/09 or is it 08/14/06 ????
Retired Lee sheriff's lieutenant won't be disciplined for failing to report time off in 2006
There were two complaints against Lt. Paul Wiles that included:
* Inattention to duties/procedures
* Improper conduct: untruthfulness in proceeding or reports
In 2006, Wiles' time sheets that he submitted to payroll were audited to subtract 216 hours of vacation or sick time he Wiles failed to submit.
After the 2006 incident, Wiles was counseled about the behavior being unacceptable.
There was no disciplinary action as a result of the current investigation, because Wiles retired before the investigation was complete, according to sheriff’s office spokesman John Sheehan.
A Lee County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant retired July 28 during a sheriff’s office internal affairs investigation into whether or not he took time off from work and failed to fill out a required time sheet accounting for the time off.
The investigation was completed by the sheriff’s office with the first complaint found substantiated and the second found unsubstantiated.
According to the report: The allegation claimed Wiles took time off from work on June 3 and then failed to fill out a time sheet.
08/14/09
News-Press.com
Amid news those in his ranks are considering unionization, Lee Sheriff Mike Scott sent an e-mail to county commissioners offering to explain why deputies are making the push.
The e-mail ended with this: "Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered."
Asked what he meant, Scott responded in an e-mail: "My comment was nothing more than a common cliche ... to suggest that greed and discontent do not typically result in a favorable outcome over the long haul. I maintain that members of the Lee County Sheriff's Office currently have as good or better an overall workplace than anyone."
Cecil Pendergrass, president of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Police Benevolent Association, the union group that garnered a 40 percent in-favor vote from deputies last week, said he was shocked.
"I can't believe he would refer to his employees that way," Pendergrass said. "And if he's referring to the PBA, he's talking about 36,000 law enforcement officers across the country. The only thing they want is to be treated fairly and ensure their pay and benefits."
The letter, sent to the five county commissioners Tuesday, says of deputies:
"Apparently, they are of the impression that the PBA will be able to better negotiate salary increases given this, our second consecutive year without one. Regrettably, they are unable or unwilling to see the writing on nearly every wall across our county, state and nation. I have tried to stress the fantastic position we are in due to the many years of Lee sheriffs working closely with supportive boards. In closing, I am reminded of the popular saying, 'Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.'"
08/13/09
Lee County Sheriff responds to News-Press article about possible unionization
By RACHEL REVEHL • rrevehl@news-press.com
Sheriff Mike Scott released the following e-mail to his ranks this morning after a News-Press article ran this morning regarding an earlier e-mail he sent to commissioners on Tuesday. In the first e-mail, Scott offered to explain to commissioners the reason 40 percent of deputies ranked sergeant and below voted in favor of holding a union vote for the Police Benevolent Association. He ended with, "I am reminded of the popular saying, 'Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.'"
From: Scott, Mike
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 6:48 AM
To: All Users
Subject: A Morning Thought
The spin doctors at the News-Press are at it again, holding on to every word I say or type with a seemingly obsessed focus. Since it appears some are trying to incite the suggestion that I used a common cliché and thereby disrespected my peers, I will share a morning thought with you. At some point today when I say "it is hotter than hell outside," I am not making a religious statement. When I said "pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered," I was not indicting any subset of our membership or anyone else. What I was simply trying to reinforce is a theme I have been sharing with you for some time now and that is the sad reality of our economy affecting everyone in a negative way. Make no mistake about it, I think each of you is worth far more than you are paid, and I have long thought the same about teachers, firefighters, medics, etc.; however, I become curious about the unions given their track record with our teachers, firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement counterparts. In sum, I have not noticed appreciable working conditions on balance that rival ours.
My concern and interest for each and every one of you is genuine, and that is why I feel an obligation to raise additional thoughts for your consideration; especially when the decisions of some might have lasting impact on all. With the present direction according to my information, the union stands to gain roughly $15,000 dollars per month from (you guessed it) monthly, union dues. Individual opinions will vary on why they are so anxious to "represent" members.
Our agency is 122 years old and has grown over the years into a very impressive operation that we can all be very proud of. With twelve (12) Sheriffs and supportive Commission Boards charting the course over these 122 years, our agency remains strong and competitive in every area of compare. Whatever the future holds, I can assure you that my professional commitment to our office will not waiver, nor will my personal respect for each and every one of you.
Have a great day!
Mike
08/12/09
Lee County Sheriff Scott responds to unionization efforts Rachel Revehl • rrevehl@news-press.com
Amid news that those in his ranks are considering unionization, Sheriff Mike Scott sent an e-mail to county commissioners offering to explain reasons deputies are making the push. The e-mail ended with this:
“Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.”
When asked what he meant, Scott responded in an e-mail, saying:
“...My comment was nothing more than a common cliché ... to suggest that greed and discontent do not typically result in a favorable outcome over the long haul. I maintain that members of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office currently have as good or better an overall workplace than anyone. I also find it noteworthy that our agency seems to be about the only organization around not discussing pension concerns, furloughs, layoffs, etc.”
Cecil Pendergrass, president of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Police Benevolent Association, the union group that has garnered a 40 percent in-favor vote from deputies recently, said he was shocked by the comment.
“I don’t know what the conversation was with commissioners before this was sent, or if this was some kind of inside joke,” Pendergrass said. “But it does appear insulting. You know the people who call us pigs? It’s the people we arrest, not the people who work with us.”
The letter, sent to the five county commissioners at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, says of deputies:
“Apparently, they are of the impression that the PBA will be able to better negotiate salary increases given this, our second consecutive year without one. Regrettably, they are unable or unwilling to see the writing on nearly every wall across our county, state and nation. I have tried to stress the fantastic position we are in due to the many years of Lee sheriffs working closely with supportive boards. In closing, I am reminded of the popular saying, ‘Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.’”
08/10/09
Union looking good for LCSO :
Lee County sheriff's deputies are closer to unionizing.
Results came back last week, and about 40 percent of deputies ranked corporal and below voted in favor of the union, according to Cecil Pendergrass, president of the Gulf Coast Police Benevolent Association
( PBA ).
"They basically just want a guarantee of everything they have now," Pendergrass said. "With a contract, you can set up a standard pay structure and your benefits are guaranteed."
It is the first time at the sheriff's office that the issue has come to a vote.
Sheriff Mike Scott could decide not to contest it, and the process of hammering out a contract would begin.
"I am convinced that the benefits, salary, incentives, equipment and general working conditions at the LCSO are as good or better as any I have seen across this state," Scott said in an e-mail. "That said, I wish everyone well moving forward."
Commissioner "Tammany " Hall had not met with Pendergrass or the sheriff , but she was eager to learn the reason behind the push.
If you need more information on Tammany Hall :
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h705.html
"People unionize because they believe they aren't being treated fairly, and I guess it bothers me that employees at the sheriff's office feel the only way for them to have adequate representation is through a union," Hall said. "(Unions) can create division and diminish our ability to be flexible."
The contract would only cover those deputies in law enforcement. Sworn personnel in corrections and courts would have to vote separately. Total, the PBA union would cover about 25 percent of agency staff, which is about 1,500.
The Unions are there to protect you !
That is exactly what any union you choose will do for you, You see something wrong, you go to them and tell them, the union represents you..Why should you answer to anyone without representation, This department has been running a muck lately and only a few are trying to change it.
What ever happened to professional standards? As employees you are held accountable to them but with Scott it depends on who you are, not what you did. Internal Affairs is useless, they are nothing more than puppets to Scott.
If you did something you learned from someone else and nothing happened to them but you get fired , Is that right ? No, it not fair and balanced justice...
The Rules need to apply to everyone or no one, And the punishment needs to be consistent. The same with rewards and raises, Are only a curtain few allowed to live high on the hog, While the ones out on the street, risking safety , are ignored and suffer financially..
Just think about that before you make your discussion as to Yes, No and Why, Are you treated all the same ?
When one bad apple make the whole department look bad, Should all of you take the criticism of the public ?
The unions were started for the protection of the employees, You have several to choose from, Which is a good thing...Who would represent you the best is question, You have to look at the Union as whole, Not just for money or promotion sake.
Are they going to protect you with the department policies and procedures, That are unclear to some or can be defined in several manners for disciplinary reason. You have to look at the back ground here, with LCSO sometimes it's not what you did but Who did it.. Now, Is the union going to allow double standards ?
Each union has people in your own department to insure that treatment is fair and balanced on everything. In most cases the union representative will keep your name anonymous when talking about your concerns, This keeps everything off the radar with the supervisors and allows you to work without the feeling of retaliation.
Fear of losing your job and the fact that you are in a right to work state, the Labor laws do not protect you, However, Union Will !
I personally am a supporter of the FOP, My family has always been..With several LE that are family and friends, I have been told nothing but good not only for the member but the families.
For more information on the FOP contact:
James Preston at: president@floridastatefop.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 27, 2009
Come on already !
Why is LCSO holding back ? What are they hiding from us ?
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE HOMICIDE / MURDER OF NICK CHRISTIE ??
Updated 07/17/09
I Spoke with Public information at LCSO today and was told that this investigation is " Almost " complete.
I contact our local news paper hoping that maybe we can get the attention this case deserves, It has been back burner-ed long enough and it's time for IA to rear their ugly heads ..
Nick Christie has a family that has gone long enough without answers and the residents of Lee County also deserve to know the truth about the Abuse in the Jail and How this behavior was acceptable by the Sheriff , IA and Those who were in charge of the jail..
Enough is Enough !
4 months later and still no answers, had this been a resident instead of an inmate, would this investigation be done ?
Had this been a resident would this " Homicide " be ruled as Murder ?
Had this been a resident would there be an arrest by now ?
LCSO Internal Affairs is dragging their feet......Why ?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Governor Crist appoints Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott to Human Trafficking task force ?
07/10/09
Scott builds his task force:
http://www.news-press.com/article/20090710/NEWS01/907100398/1002/NEWS01
06/30/09
Gov. Charlie Crist has chosen Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott as one of three officials who will make up the Statewide Task Force on Human Trafficking.
Gerald Monahan, chief of police for Port Orange, and state Rep. Maria Lorts Sachs of Delray Beach were also chosen for the task force.
Scott's record amount of traffic tickets, obviously pays off as knowledge of performance, However, Human is in question and as 1/3 of the task force, who has trouble overseeing his own elected office, The 2/3 will need to pull the weight for success...
And here we go again !
07/27/09
Captain Rex Shevitski has been demoted and will immediately receive a 5 percent pay cut.
According to the Internal Affairs reports, complaints for insubordination by abusiveness and improper conduct were substantiated.
Lt. Robert Bal investigated the complaints, which centered on derogatory statements Shevitski, who oversees the Marine Unit, made regarding Cpl. Randy Hodges and Shevitski's involvement into investigations within the Agricultural Unit.
Several complaints against Shevitski were made by resident Fred Kobie Sr., a farmer who also has an air conditioning business. Some of the allegations were Shevitski had fired his weapon dangerously, expected to be charged less for air conditioning services in exchange for keeping Kobie's son out of jail, told Kobie's young son about a prostitution arrest and came to Kobie with information about Kobie's son being under investigation for theft of cattle.
06/23/09
LCSO Col. Michael Waite takes his Retirement soon ! Get the gold watch ready ..
Col. Mike Waite, who oversees the corrections bureau, has formally issued a letter of retirement, which will be effective later this year.Waite was the third in command before the agency’s restructuring earlier this year, when he was transferred to head of corrections operations.
Col Waite is wise to take his retirement before the civil / possible criminal case of Nick Cristie's Homicide ,
Mr. Cristie's attorney is aware of that the than Major Waite was fully aware of the abuse in the Lee County Jail, And he chose not to do anything but condone the bad behavior.. It was just a matter of time that Col Waite would have to answer to someone for Mr. Cristie's death.
It all started on March 29, 2009, And still nothing on this investigation... I contacted a Staff Writer with the News Press, And asked if She had heard anything and she replied with : " We request completed, substantiated internal affairs investigation results every two weeks from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and nothing has come back on that yet "
It is time to really focus on the death of
Nick Cristie. What is going on with this investigation ?? And Why are those guards still at work ?
I don't believe that the outside health care provider was at fault here, That is not true, not that they are good at their job or quick and efficient. But they are not the offenders...
So Let's FOCUS ..
( March 31,2009 ) This is where it all started:
Another Inmate dies at the Lee County Jail
And it could of been prevented !
Nicholas Christie, 62, of Girard, Ohio who suffered from depression and heart disease, Died while in the Lee County Jail, His death is under investigation by LCSO .
After being arrested and jailed in Lee County, Christie died. His wife blames the treatment he received by Lee County Sheriff's Office corrections deputies at the downtown Fort Myers holding facility.
"I want to know why they just didn't care," said Joyce Christie, from her Eastern Ohio home.
Joyce Christie said that Nicholas left home without his medication so she filed a Welfare "Be On the Look Out", or BOLO, with local police and even filed the BOLO with law enforcement agencies in Southwest Florida, because her brother-in-law lives here.
Christie says she contacted police stations and sheriff's office in both Fort Myers and Naples. Their Local Sheriff had personally called and spoke with LCSO informing them to take this man to a hospital, They refuse and incarcerated him...
Two Lee County Sheriff's Office arrest reports show deputies did come across Nicholas Christie, and arrested him twice. On March 25, 2009 he was arrested for disorderly intoxication and on March 27, 2009 he was arrested on a trespassing complaint.
"Instead of taking him to the emergency room like they should have, they took him to jail," said Joyce Christie.
When she found out he was at LCSO main holding facility, in Fort Myers, she flew down to try to help her husband.
"We flew back to Florida to try to get him some help, took his medical records, tried to tell them he could go into cardiac arrest he had major health issues. They wouldn't listen. Instead I got a call later saying he had gone into cardiac arrest, all because no one would listen no one would help," said Christie.
The Sheriff's Office confirms they had taken Nicholas Christie to the hospital on March 29th but will not comment further on the situation because it is an active investigation.
Joyce Christie said that nurses told her that her husband was soaked in pepper spray. She believes he was maced several times while being restrained.
Joyce Christie hired an attorney who said: "Now how his vacation to visit his brother ended up in what appears to be almost an execution remains incomprehensible to the family understandably.. and its unacceptable," said attorney Nick DiCello and requests for interviews or to view surveillance video showing Mr. Christie were denied by the Lee County Sheriff's Office due to the ongoing investigation.
This time we have a name, face and family that are not going to accept what has been going on in the Lee County Jail any longer, I have been addressing these issues for years. Back when Col. Michael Waite was Major Waite, I had several conversations with him about my concerns about the treatment at the jail and the behavior of the correction officers and deputies.
I had done a article for the News Press at that time with many details that was never published, However, All media in Lee County was informed by me of the serious issues that concern me, I had gone the LCSO Internal affairs and was told no such things were happening there, And the inmates who were contacting me were all liars. I have several letters of protest from the inmates that shared my concerns with the mentally ill , I had contacted, LCSO's IA, the Media , the Commission of Ethics, Department of Corrections, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the ACLU...All of this is on record and nothing was ever done.
During this time, I researched each case and found that all accounts were almost identical and that all of the inmates were being used as a sport for fun. My research also had shown that there was Racketeering going on in the jail as well.
I was called a ranting prison activist by Fox 4 News who claims to be in your corner and investigating every story seriously but they were in the corner alone and never followed up on any of the stories but were full of insults towards me:
FOX 4 Now - WFTX Viewers flood Fox 4 with comments on Lee County ...
Ironically, one jail activist who adamantly opposes the mail crackdown,
Marian Scirrotto, sent us this scathing nastygram, blasting Fox 4
This time there are witnesses who are coming forward, An Attorney who is not turning a blind eye to the corruption here and media coverage...
The Saddest part is that this man did not have to die had they listen to me years ago, I blame the media and the agencies that were fully aware of what was going on in the jail.
Christie's death has brought out more former inmates and former Co's ready to tell what was done to then and others during their stay at the LCSO's Hotel California, That is if this gets the attention His death has due ?
One witness said :
"We could see him from our cell. he was covered in pepper spray and they sprayed him again."
Witness says guards brought in two foggers to gas Christie's cell, then took Christie out of the cell, strapped him in a restraint chair, and sprayed him three more times.
"You could see his whole face was blue almost purple. He was gasping crying that he can't breathe. He can't breathe, he's having chest pains," described by the witness, "It's over an hour before the nurse came up she tested his oxygen level. It was only at 87 percent. A few minutes after that they took him out."
This case was so low profiled that only people who watched WINK know about it, It was never been reported on any other media outlet, Until recently..
It is so low profiled that the State Attorney Office didn't even inform the Judge that Mr. Christie had died and he was charged with his offense after his death, than when he didn't appear at pre-trial diversion or in court the Judge placed a Bench Warrant on him for failure to appear and revoked his bond:
This Lee Clerk info has been updated since, This is what was posted:
|
Docket Information
|
| Docket Date: |
Event Description: |
| 3/27/2009 |
In Custody, |
| 3/28/2009 |
Record of First Appearance and Booking Report Filed, |
| 3/28/2009 |
Provisional Appoint of PD by Court Pending Further Review, |
| 3/28/2009 |
Other, SAO offered 20 days LCJ, Def declined |
| 3/28/2009 |
Stay Away From Place of Arrest, Howard Johnson, 13000 N Cleveland Ave, North Fort Myers, FL |
| 3/28/2009 |
Certificate of Compliance/FCIC/NCIC Requirement Filed, |
| 3/29/2009 |
Bonded Out, |
| 3/30/2009 |
Case Opened by Booking Sheet, |
| 4/2/2009 |
Contact Attempted for Indigent Status Screening Filed, |
| 4/2/2009 |
Pretrial Disclosure Regarding App for Indigent Status Filed, |
| 4/3/2009 |
Copy of Surety Bond Filed, |
| 4/14/2009 |
Arraignment (Judge:Sturgis, Radford R), Time - 08:00 |
| 4/15/2009 |
Commitment Form Sent to Judge/Magistrate, RRS for BW amount for Diversion / FTA |
RRS- ? I think: Retain & Revoke Security Bond ?
BW - Bench Warrant
FTA- Failure to Appear
3/29/2009- Bonded out ? NO; he was taken out by ambulance and I'm sure EMS didn't pay his bond and bond wasn't filed until after he died...
07/17/09-
I have made an error and must correct this and apologize: EMS did not bond out Mr. Christie, Mrs Christie did after she was refuse to see her husband while in the ER, The deputies told her to bond him out and them she could go in to be with her dying husband. 30 days later, She received a notice in the mail that her husband was to return to Lee County, Fla. and surrender himself to LCSO for a active bench warrant.
LCSO and the Clerk of Courts was in fact Stuck On Stupid...
For more information, Contact me !
I have years of letters and files ..
Medical Examiners Report :
Christie Death ruled Homicide caused by the Lee County Jail....
''They were joking about the whole incident, that who's going to die today, just laughing about the death of this man, in general."
A medical examiner ruled homicide in the case of a 62-year-old, Nicholas Christie, Ohio man who died soon after a late March stay in the Lee County Jail,
pointing to restraint and pepper spraying by officers as factors in his death.
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.
Numbers from Lee jail logs do show use of force reports have been increasing. Such reports have spiked 70 percent since 2005.
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.
Though a report for this case would not be included because it’s an active investigation, the office estimated that the request would cost more than $2,293 to fill. Regardless that these are public records and as taxpayers we should be entitle too.
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.
This is not the first or last time a tragedy will occur at that jail, When I went to Internal Affairs in 2007 about the letters of complaints from several inmates, Sgt. Giachetti and Lt. Mahler claimed than they would investigate, During the interviews with Joseph X ., IA : Lt. Norma Mahler told him he could not of seen what he saw, He disagreed with her but was told again " NO; You didn't ", It eventually became clear to the inmate that for his safety, He seen Nothing !
Several former inmates, CO's and Deputies are willing to come forward and some are afraid of retaliation, Which I personally have endured.
Over the course of 4 years, I have contacted the jail about the inhumane treatment, Racketeering and Abuse of the civil rights of the inmates. I spoke with Major Waite more times than you can imagine with no resolution to the severe issues. When Major Ellegood took over Waites role with the jail, I found him more professional and Mannerly, However, Still no corrections to the problems .
Eventually, I began to get mail from the women and their stories were not much different, They were refused toilet paper, request and motion forms, The treatment of the ladies was not as abusive physically but more mentally. In one case an inmate had 30 days to appeal a forced plea, She was refused the motion forms and was unable to file. One inmate was maced in the face until she became legally blind, and the same as with the men , When commissary was delivered, shortly after, shake downs were done and most was confiscated as contraband and placed back in to inventory for re-sale, Legal papers were taken and destroyed.
I wish I could post every horror story that was sent to me, That I have ; But there are too many to count..I tried to help to the best of my ability by use of the proper channels but soon I realized that not only did they not care but refused to deal with the issues and condoned this behavior. Case workers for the inmates rights are refused to enter the building
To insult my intelligence, was unacceptable..I am fully aware that most people in the jail have committed crimes, But the presumption of innocence before conviction is not allowed at the Lee County Jail, Most inmates have yet to be charged or trialed while they are at the county jail, There are some people who are innocent and just as a reminder : In the Cristie case There was a active B.O.L.O on this man and the LCSO did not perform the correct procedures.
Their actions and the CO's of the jail are to blame for this mans death....This must stop NOW !
LCSO; Larry King said that homicide does not mean criminal, I disagree: It is criminal and It is Murder, Premeditated Murder...
Those guards are fully aware of the effects of Barrel Mace, Tazers, Rubber bullet guns and any other tools of assault.
If someone can be charged with assault with a deadly weapon/ firearm, that was a simple car accident, than not only are the guards responsible for his death but their superiors, As accessories to commit Murder for encouragement of this horrific behavior that they knew full well what was going on in that jail...
Sadly, The media also knew and never even followed up to verify or report.
Sgt. Giachetti and Lt. Norma Mahler : YOU both are also Guilty !
I personally told you both and did nothing to protect the safety of the inmates and their lives.
Unfortunately; No one will be ever defend the rights of the inmates, innocent or guilty !
This is just 2 other examples of their lack of communication between the jail and the health care providers...
Roy Van Green’s family may never know why he became so delusional behind bars that he babbled about the end of the world.
All they know is that he died on Oct. 18, 2000, after suffering a heart attack in the Lee County Jail’s medical unit — a heart attack blamed on blood clots caused in part by his “immobility.”
“You don’t just die in your jail cell with massive blood clots without somebody knowing about it,” said Green’s stepson, Don Blackburn. “It’s not like they come on in 10 minutes and kill you. Somebody wasn’t paying as close of attention as they should have been.”
Roy Van Green’s family has serious questions about Prison Health Services, the private company the sheriff’s office contracts to provide health care in the jail and stockade.
“If nothing else, his civil rights were violated by being denied medical care,” said Green’s younger brother, Dewayne Green, 52. “The whole damn system failed as far as I’m concerned. “
The sheriff’s office wouldn’t discuss the case, citing patient confidentiality laws.
Neither would Lawrence Pomeroy, Prison Health Services’ senior vice president for marketing, who said it’s against company policy to discuss “inmate-specific cases.”
Pomeroy would only say that PHS’ policy “is to provide and ensure access to necessary, appropriate health care services consistent with community and national standards of care.”
Roy Van Green was 59 and had worked for decades as a carpenter when was arrested on Dec. 6, 1999, at his North Fort Myers home after allegedly threatening a neighbor with a rifle.
Unable to post his $15,000 bond, Green languished in jail for months as he waited for his case to go to trial.
But a couple weeks before that was supposed to happen, Green’s behavior changed dramatically. There were reports that he stood in his cell for days on end without sleeping, went for weeks without having a bowel movement, had to wear diapers because he couldn’t control his bladder and talked about how the number 11 meant the world was coming to an end.
According to Dewayne Green, Roy was “happy as a lark” a few weeks before his trial date because he’d been told the charges against him might be reduced.
But Dewayne Green believes something happened to Roy at the stockade.
“There is a lot of mystery around what happened at the stockade,” Dewayne said. “... He called me, and he was all screwed up. It was like bits and pieces, pulling teeth to try to understand him.”
Roy Green went on trial on Aug. 23, 2000. But midway through the proceedings, Lee Circuit Judge R. Thomas Corbin stopped the trial and ordered that Green be evaluated by a pair of psychologists.
Court transcripts show that when Corbin held a mental competency for Green hearing on Aug. 31, 2000, he wanted to know why Green was not in court.
“He’s over at the jail on medical,” a bailiff told him. “They said he was unable to stand and unable to come over at all.”
“Were they going to send him to the hospital?” Corbin asked.
“They didn’t advise that,” the bailiff said.
Two psychologists then testified that Green was incompetent to stand trial.
Psychologist Paul Kling told Corbin that Green was suffering from delirium and had told him he was “hearing voices.”
Kling said Green’s problems could have been caused by anything from a head injury or a stroke to a disease, a chemical problem or a liver ailment brought on by medicine prescribed for a bout with the shingles.
Corbin declared a mistrial and noted that Green had seemed pretty “bizarre” during the first half of the trial.
Green was sent to Lee Memorial Hospital three days later and stayed there four days. But according to his medical records, doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong.
The records show Green had a fever of 102 degrees when he arrived. Doctors noted he had a history of seizure disorder, alcoholism, diabetes and hypertension.
“He confabulates significantly and therefore I am unable to ascertain information or get a decent review of systems,” one doctor wrote.
Medical records show Green was put on several medications while in jail, including Flomax, which is used to treat an enlarged prostate; Flagyl and Cipro, which are for urinary tract and abdominal infections; and Minipress, which is for high blood pressure.
“Not sure why he’s on this,” a doctor wrote of Minipress. “He probably does have a history of hypertension.”
According to their manufacturers, some of the drugs can have serious side effects — such as rapid heartbeat, dizziness and blood disorders — when taken alone or combined with other drugs.
“Some of them have bad side effects,” Blackburn said. “I still think they were a contributing factor to the blood clots.”
On Sept. 18, 2000, Corbin ordered that Green be put in a mental institution as soon as the Florida Department of Children & Families could find a bed for him. But that didn’t happen because of lack of space.
Dewayne Green said one of the last times he saw his brother, Roy showed him what he said was a rash.
“I said, ‘Damn, that looks blood red. It looks like a blood blister,’” Dewayne recalled saying. “I said, ‘Are you sure it’s a rash?’ He said, ‘That’s what they said it is. They’re rubbing it with cortisone.’”
Dewayne believes what he saw were signs of blood clots.
“If you’re a doctor and you’re looking at this man, you ought to know what it is,” Dewayne said. “That wasn’t a rash.”
Roy Green began complaining of chest pains at 6:05 a.m. Oct. 18, according to jail records. He was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital and by 7:05 a.m., he was dead.
According to the Lee County Medical Examiner’s Office, Green died of a heart attack brought on by blood clots that were “due to or a consequence of” his immobility.
The sheriff’s office issued a press release the day Green died saying he had “an extensive medical history while in custody.”
Blackburn doubts he’ll ever know what really happened to his stepfather. But he says he’s got a hunch.
“I think that because he was turned over to the Department of Children & Families that the jail personnel relaxed their care because he was now somebody else's problem,” Blackburn said. “I mean, realistically, how could someone develop enough blood clots that would suffocate them to death and daily medical personnel don't notice it? Give me a break.”
On November 30, 2001, Michelle Goebert, a pregnant inmate in Lee County, Florida, was taken from jail to the hospital because she had been leaking amniotic fluid for eleven days. Two days later her fetus’ heartbeat stopped,doctors induced labor, and the child was stillborn. Goebert filed a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action against the county’s sheriff, the jail facility commander, the jail doctor, and the jail’s medical service provider, alleging deliberate indifference to her serious medical needs in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Read the civil suit case file :http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200610606.pdf
My questions would be : Who was in charge of the jail back in 2000 and 2001, We know Mike Scott was not the sheriff then but was Col. Michael Waite in charge of the jail then ?
After internet research, I can not come to a conclusion without calling LCSO and asking public information, However, I will make that call and request the public records...
The Militarization of Our Police....
BEFORE !
CLICK FOR THE VIDEO
*Note: This is not a general blanket statement about police. We know there are many more decent, hard-working police officers than not and we respect you and what you do....
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Check it out :
Best of Luck to Chris Shoap and his family, Wishing you the very best, You were one of the good guys..
A former Lee County sheriff’s lieutenant has been reinstated as a sergeant.
Lee Bushong was initially demoted for sending a profane email to members of his unit.
He was then fired after confronting other deputies regarding his demotion.
Bushong appealed his firing and the Sheriff’s Civil Service Board was to hold a hearing on the case Tuesday.
Bushong’s reinstatement comes on the heels of testimony given by Capt. Scott Ciresi during Ciresi’s civil service hearing last week, said sheriff’s spokesman Tony Schall.
Ciresi had been appealing his demotion from major, resulting in a $21,000 a year pay cut.
At that hearing, a comment made by Bushong to Ciresi was disclosed for the first time, Schall said.
Coupled with ongoing discussions and information revealed between attorneys in recent weeks, it was determined that Bushong’s discipline would be amended, Schall said.
Bushong is rehired as a sergeant in the sheriff’s Patrol Division and must pass a fitness evaluation before returning to duty, Schall said.
Maybe this is Mike Scott's way of deviating attention away from the death of Nick Cristie ?
Today's Civil Service Board Hearing was worst than yesterdays...The Abuse of Mike Scott's power was so clear that he is obviously above the law and had the backing of 4 to 1 board members. 05/27/09
“There is just cause for the demotion to the rank of captain,” said sheriff’s Lt. Jim Brown, board chairman.Scott Ciresi’s demotion from major to captain, resulting in a $21,000-a-year pay cut.
Only board member Chris Arey, a detective, dissented. “I don’t believe he was demoted correctly,” Arey said.
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.
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And That is That : 3 out of 3
LCSO investigations done by LCSO Internal Affairs have ruled: " All 3 shooting deaths were Justified Use " and supported by the State Attorney Office
The last IA report that we have been waiting for since February has come back on the known Mentally ill man, Guy Petrey of Bonita Springs...
"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.
Sheriff's Sgt. Eric Nalewaik had no way of knowing the weapon Guy Howard Petrey, 47, was pointing at him February 12th was a BB gun that resembled a 9 mm Smith and Wesson pistol, said Kevin Smith and of course The
State Attorney Stephen Russell agreed with the findings.
"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.
I have a problem with these finding besides what is obviously clear that he had a mental illness when the dispatcher called Nalewaik, a deputy of 11 years who had training in confronting mentally ill suspects. He was joined by Maj. Gil Allen, at the time a captain and a district commander; Lt. Traci Sonier, the assistant district commander; and Deputy Jeffrey Dektas.
4 Deputies against 1 known mentally ill person
Nalewaik who supposedly had training with the mentally ill should of known how to handle this call when dispatch called him , It's not like they walked in and found him pointing the BB gun at all 4 of them..
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.
In the mean time :
Steve Russell said " No charges will be filed " Makes you wonder how Russell will rule with the Homicide / Murder of Nick Cristie , The inmate who had an active BOLO on him, That was tortured to death..
We waited 6 months for this to close out, Now How long will it take to explain away a premeditated Murder by guards at the jail ?
I'm sure they also will be cleared of any wrong doing,
Maybe Mr. Cristie had a deadly Honey Bun in his hand at the time !
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"Human Being got a candy bar in the Lee County jail"
" Murders get free pass and an Internal investigation "
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 !
My advice to those who serve and protect with integrity and honesty is to never lower your standards and moral , Do you job well and don't get involved with the politics.
Stay safe and keep your self respect...Once you follow the lead of those who are party to bad behavior, You'll make that choice of the loss of integrity.
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Inside sources are tell me that raises are being given out and not just with the re-organization of the department .
As I recall ; Not long ago Mike Scott said with the budget cuts that pay increases would not happen last year and this year..
" Just to be clear, I am waiting on conformation and a public quote by the Sheriff to print. As soon as I receive this , I will complete this.."
In a memo issued on January 29,2009, to all Lee County sheriff's employees,
From Sheriff Mike Scott said economic constraints may soon force a hiring freeze.
The memo states a hiring freeze is anticipated and some employees may shift in their responsibilities, though nothing official has been decided yet.
"In short, we will increase our focus on core services relative to public safety while decreasing our investments in ancillary interests that are not specific to our primary charge," Scott wrote. "Benefits are sacred and while
your job function may change, both will be preserved. A hiring freeze or a near equivalent is anticipated, further insuring that you maintain workload and stability."
Employees at the sheriff's office did not receive raises for the 2008-2009 fiscal year in an effort to save money.
The sheriff's department, as of Jan. 15, has a total of 1,541 employees, with 1,040 of those sworn and the rest civilian.
The budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 will be submitted in June and must be approved by commissioners in September 2009.
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On a funny note :
This was a comment in the Naples News posted 4/22/09,
ROF, LMAO...This is the best comment ever !!!!!
Ferrante: "I'm taking my ball and leaving Mikey."
Scott: "Oh no you don't Charlie, that's my ball and you can't have it! Give it back!"
Ferrante: "NO!"
Scott: "I said give it!"
Ferrante: "MOM!"
Scott: "PRESS!"
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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.
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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.
This is what was said in 2007 when she was asked about the over crowed justice system:
From January to June 2007 , 1505 felony cases ended in forced pleas and 49 went to trial while 5856 misdemeanor cases ended in forced pleas and 45 went to trial according to Charlie Green Clerk of Courts for Lee county.
Kelly Worcester of the Felony head of the State Attorneys office said " It's all strategy , it's a dance and most defendants know that "
Now, 2009 and nothing has changed, the system is so badly over crowed that all the Public Defenders and Private attorneys will do is Plea deals..No one gets fair justice ! You either take the deals offered or they'll make it worst and only offer Prison if found guilty.
Guilty is the only verdict our Judge know and for those in the Domestic Violence Courts are not issuing Protection Orders for victims, Depending on Who did the victimizing..
All I can say is:
1) Never give any statements, Somehow they will be used against you !
2) Never waive your Speedy Trial rights, or you'll sit in jail for years before trial !
3) If your Innocent, Fight, Kick and Scream and never allow them to violate your rights !
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Just when you think maybe it's over and LCSO hits the headlines again ! This time a deputy is Fired...
Lt. Lee Bushong, 34, a 10 year veteran, was demoted after sending a threatening e-mail to employees, and was fired after calling one of those employees and swearing at him, according to internal affairs reports.
It started in late January. Bushong, reports said, sent an e-mail warning his employees in the Intelligence Unit against taking consecutive vacation weeks. In the e-mail, the investigation indicated he singled out Deputy Steve Drum, who took time off to tend to a child after surgery.
Bushong also told employees he would, "hang a small portion of your (expletive) on my wall for decoration" if the directive wasn't followed.
One of the employees forwarded the e-mail to superiors.
Bushong was questioned, and admitted to sending the e-mail, agreeing it was unprofessional. He was found to have violated the agency's policies with improper conduct and insubordination by abusiveness, and was demoted to deputy.
Then in March, another investigation was initiated after it was alleged Bushong called Drum, swore at him repeatedly and called him names. Bushong later said he wanted to ask Drum why he didn't follow the chain of command.
Per agency policy, employees are to be placed on paid administrative leave pending outcome of an internal affairs investigation. Orders were given to Maj. Scott Ciresi to inform Bushong he was being placed on leave while he was investigated for his conduct toward Drum.
However, the report states, Ciresi passed off the duty to a lieutenant. There are conflicting statements, but somehow, three other lieutenants came along to help deliver the news to Bushong, who was cleaning out his office. One of those, Lt. Shane Hingson, had been involved in an earlier dispute weeks prior with Bushong, Capt. Dominick Ferrante (who later resigned) and Capt. Gary Kamp.
When the three lieutenants arrived, Bushong became upset. Hingson eventually summoned Ciresi because it was "getting ugly."
It was later determined Ciresi "mishandled" the situation by allowing the lieutenants to deliver the news to Bushong, but no formal investigation was conducted.
Ciresi was later demoted from major to captain, although the reason given by the sheriff's office was it was part of the agency's restructuring.
On March 25, Bushong's second internal investigation determined he was abusive to Drum, but did not find he was insubordinate to the three lieutenants. He was fired Friday.
Bushong is appealing the decision; In a statement, Sheriff Mike Scott said, "It is always regrettable to part company under unfavorable circumstances; however, inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated."
Inappropriate & unprofessional behavior is normal activity at the LCSO, Mike Scott himself could not even reply to emails without being rude & unprofessional
This is a copy of the only response of 3+ years of emails:
-- On Tue, 7/8/08, Mike Scott .. wrote:
From: Mike Scott ..
Subject: Re: Questions
To: comments2marian@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 10:13 AM
Frankly ma'am...you rant and rave too much for me. While I regret that you have not found the answers and results you are apparently looking for, our agency has investigated all claims and rendered fair and impartial decisions.
I read your inflammatory message over the weekend and see no need to engage in a volley of e-mail; therefore, consider this my final communication with you.
Mike
You can read the guest opinion from Mike Scott in the F.Y.I section, This also has a tone of arrogance..
______________________________________________________________
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.
The intelligence unit Bushong oversaw included the gang unit, homeland security, crime tracking, career support and Crimestoppers. Bushong also is a member of the regional Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Served our country, earned all of his promotions and has been labeled as a hero for saving lives.
And Now we Have the reasons :
Sergeant Ryan Bell, A grievance was filed against Lee County Deputy Chief Charles Ferrante after he transferred a sergeant and then reportedly intimidated that sergeant.
Filed by Sergeant Ryan Bell, the grievance claims Ferrante threatened his job and career after Bell was investigated for actions taken against a co-worker in the forensics unit.
Bell’s Hired Fort Myers attorney Wilbur Smith who said Bell was a forensics sergeant in November when he had a disagreement with a chemist within the department. The chemist then went to Ferrante, who transferred Bell to the road patrol unit.
Knows that Internal Affairs won't help him but if you call an attorney, You'll get attention. I do Love that all the same names I have heard over and over are listed in his complaint, You can read the PDF at:
http://www.news-press.com/assets/pdf/A4130126310.PDF
To: File
Thru: Captain James Leavens
From: Lieutenant Kathryn Rairden 93-148
Date: September 17, 2008
Ref: IA-2008-024
8. Falsification of Official Documents:
Balke stated Sergeant Bell had Crime Scene Tech - Randy Eubanks remove Corporal Mike Detar's name
from Crime Scene reports for the purposes of hiding the information from the Media.
Randy Eubanks stated he was told to remove Detar's name from the report, but the comment typed by
Sergeant Bell stated "She has never overtly accused Detar; she has only implied that he may have done this.
Therefore we should leave his name out of the report." CST Eubanks stated he did not have a problem
removing Detar's name from the "Suspect" section but refused to remove his name from the report entirely.
CST Eubanks stated he did not recall being told to remove the name for the purposes of "hiding" the
information from the Media.
Sergeant Bell stated he did not have CST Eubanks remove Corporal Mike Detar's name from a Crime Scene
Report for the purposes of "hiding it from the Media."
Conclusion: This is not a falsification of official documents, but rather a perception issue. There were
extenuating circumstances surrounding this case that once explained, made sense to CST Eubanks. It does
not appear as if the explanation was ever forwarded to the Crime Scene Manager, Harry Balke. The only
place Detar's name was removed from this report is as the listed "SUSPECT," which at the time there were
several.
Direct Link:
www.nbc-2.com/News/documents/090310_IA_balke.pdf
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.”
Charles Ferrante Did Not say : Give it to me, But she felt threatened in some way in her opinion. Good thing Abbi wasn't sexually assaulted or beaten by him because that would of been dismissed by the Sheriff and Internal Affairs, criminal charges would brought against her for some reason by the state attorney and turned on her . She may want to read about sexual violence ...Just in case !
Sheriff Corporal Mike Scott,
Motorcycle traffic cop and local news traffic reporter..
Could not even pass the Sergeants exam, Doesn't really know what his job description is or how to work his way up the chain of command. However, Was elected because his face was known to the public and Surely was carried and advised by Charles Ferrante who had the knowledge.
Mike Scott should explain to the public what happened and why he contradicted himself in the course of a weekend.
On Friday Scott praised Ferrante for his service when announcing his No. 2’s retirement. " His second-in-command goes out on top.“After 20 years of impeccable service " and excellent performance reviews..
Than the story changed the following Monday. Ferrante was placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
Oh for crying out loud: Does anyone with any authority see this or question it ?????
BOCC; Wake up and forget about the Red Soxs for a while .
Complaints have been filed for years and no one has done a thing, No ONE !
The Good Ol Boys need to be stopped.
Sheriff Corporal Mike Scott needs to hold a lot of accountability concerning his department and should also be investigated for all the wrong doings that he has done.
Just this year alone there have been more issues with this department than ever. High ranking Brass are falling like a house of cards, 3 deputies have shot people and the departments corruption leader seems to always point the finger and never take any accountability for his or their actions. Mike Scott has done things for high ranking brass that were unethical and illegal, He has covered up for deputies that have committed crimes, domestic violence, abuse of power, sexual assault, and violation of policies and procedures, With the State Attorneys Office backing him ( More Good Ol Boys ! ).
Who is Mike Scott covering up for concerning the release of the names of the 3 deputies involved in shootings, Is it that maybe one or all have already been in the spot light before ?
Scott has no problem releasing the information on the investigations concerning the Brass that was thrown under the bus, But refuses to tell us who the gun slinging 3 are.
Just this month alone LCSO seems to be the topic of news with high ranking brass going down, and being investigated by LCSO internal affairs, Who I personally feel is not worth their titles to handle these indiscretions of this department. This department needs to clean house with an outside investigation and Mike Scott also on suspension pending the outcome, If these Deputies have done such wrong, Surely they learned it from him.
In the last 4 weeks I have written on each topic and Since then I have seem more abuse of powers with the department just out of retaliation for my right of freedom of speech, My family has received 5 tickets, 1 warning, 1 fix it ticket and I personally was with my son during a " Random " pull over : On Friday the 13th we were on our way to work and seen the LCSO car some distance before we pass him, sure enough he whipped around and the lights went on; My son who cares more about his car then his toe nails, pulled over and we were approached very politely by an announcement of LCSO, no reason for the stop just asked for all the information. When the deputy returned to the car he ask to search and I replied NO, there was no probable cause for the stop or search, after waiting a few minutes, 4 deputies and a dog later, we were ask to exit the car ( I was wearing my And Justice 4 All shirt , LOL) , they search my son but not me, pulled him aside and he agreed to the search. I was never searched, not my handbag or my grand-daughters back pack. All the deputies were very mannerly and respectful and we were sent on our way.
Now, Not for nothing but wouldn't you think knowing how this department is and having issues in the past with them, that anyone in my family would be stupid to do anything illegal ?
We wear our seat belts in the house watching TV..I will not allow that department ever victimize my family again. I have had enough with their lies and cover ups and we are squeaky clean, For the last 2 years this department has violated my family and I refuse to ever let him do it again.
I just hope with Brass going under the bus that one of them tells the truth and releases information of Truth on how things really work there and how the IA department is just as involved, they have no integrity or self respect, they chose to victimize victims of officer involved domestic violence, sexual assault, abuse of powers with their badge and hide behind the blue wall of silence.
When the Truth does come out , will there be vindication for the their victims ? Probably not in the public eye, However, Those victims will finally be Free of Fear.
For more information on some of the news stories, go to F.Y.I or you can contact me at : comments2marian@yahoo.com
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Live life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders & says "Oh shit... she's awake!!!"
Lance Cpl. Dennis J. Burrow
EOW ~ 20 years ago
