Sheriff Johnson

I’m sorry that this blog is so incredibly long. Please bear with me on this, its pretty important to me.

On November 15th, 1985, I came to work at the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office after having served as a Law Enforcement Specialist in the United States Air Force for six years. Joining the Sheriff’s Office, after having grown up in Jonesboro, was a fluke. I had applied with Clayton County but they had a hiring freeze on so I kept looking.

On the way to Newnan to apply for a job, I happened to pass the Sheriff’s Office which sat where the Fayetteville Holiday Inn Express sits now. On a whim, I stopped in to ask for an application. A Jailer was sitting at the desk and gave me an application. It wasn’t very lengthy, so I filled it out in a few minutes. I turned it in to the Jailer who I later came to know as Sally Mowery. She took it, looked it over, and asked me to wait a minute. Being in no particular hurry, I agreed.

A few minutes later, a man I later grew to know as Butch Hall (the Chief Deputy), came to the lobby and asked if I had time to take a test; it would take a couple of hours. I said yes, and some 20 minutes later had finished the test. I was stunned it had taken so little time and sure that I had failed. I turned in the test and waited to have it scored. It was not until nearly 20 years later that I learned that I scored a 97 out of a possible 100.

Chief Hall got the results of the test and asked if I had time to take a polygraph. Again, being in no particular hurry I said sure. He hooked me up to the machine, asked me a bunch of questions, and ran about 30 feet of paper with squiggly lines on it. He looked at it and off he went trailing the paper behind him.

A few minutes later he came back and asked me to follow him. I did and winding our way through the building he led me into an office and left me with a man sitting behind a desk. I had no idea who he was, yet answered his three questions. He asked me where I was from and I replied Jonesboro. He asked me why I wanted to be in law enforcement and I replied that I wanted a job where I could make a difference every day. The third question caught me off guard, but I later came to understand its significance. He asked me if I thought I could treat people fair and I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind—yes, absolutely. The man behind the desk looked me in the eye for a minute, smiled and stood up and shook my hand. Chief Hall came back in and asked me to come with him. Walking up the hallway, he looked over his shoulder at me and said, be here on Monday at 8:00 a.m. and we’ll get you some uniforms.

That happened almost twenty three years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. The man behind the desk, if you haven’t figured it out yet, was Sheriff Johnson. In the years since that day, there hasn’t been a single instance where he has let me down in any fashion. I hope that at the end of my career, I will have lived it exactly like him; honest, sincere, and absolutely dedicated to the community where I live.

I say that he has never let me down but I can’t say the same thing about me. A few years into my career, I advanced rapidly and I’m proud to say, never at the expense of another person. During my career, I was learning new things and didn’t always make the right decisions and trying to appease many different people, I took the easy way out and was untruthful about a couple of thing that were relatively insignificant (at least to me at the time). The problem wasn’t really about the circumstances themselves, but the fact that I was untruthful. My untruthfulness was detected by someone I didn’t even work for--Major Wayne Hannah. He was someone who I had always admired because of the way he carried himself and treated everyone he encountered. In the end I was demoted from Captain to Lieutenant and sent back to doing the same job I had been doing in Field Operations—Administration.

Now I’m not proud of what I did; it was senseless as well as pointless. As much as I was embarrassed at being demoted, I was ashamed because I knew that I had let Sheriff Johnson down. That bothered me more than anything else. Tonight, as I sit here writing this, I still feel ashamed and even more determined not to ever let that happen again.

A few months after my demotion, I desperately needed a change of scenery and I asked for a transfer to the Traffic Enforcement Division. Without any hesitation, the man who knew the intimate details of my disgrace, the man who brought departmental charges on me, took a chance. Major Wayne Hannah, who along with Sheriff Johnson, are the two most honest and sincerely dedicated men I know. In my life, there are three men, after Christ, I admire above all others—my late father, Randall Johnson, and Wayne Hannah.

Now before you jump to conclusions, my faith is ever present, my Father is with our Father in heaven, Sheriff Johnson is retiring, and my relationship with Wayne Hannah is already established. I would work with Sheriff Johnson until my last day on earth, but reluctantly I can’t deny his desire to enjoy his grandsons in retirement.

Wayne and I discuss how to really help the Sheriff’s Office prosper and encourage the best in everyone here. Funny thing, he hasn’t discussed with me even once what his plans are for any one individual once he takes office. As for me, I suspect strongly that I will pretty much continue doing what I do now and that’s fine by me. So by sharing my story with you, I gain nothing from them.

Let me tell you some things about Wayne Hannah that it is not in his nature to do. Except for Sheriff Johnson, I have never worked with or know anyone who possesses the personal integrity he has. To lie or be disingenuous is not in his nature. Despite the consequences, he has always been a beacon for truth and honesty. He is the first to recognize the danger to our profession that the cancer of dishonesty is. Knowing and understanding the importance of this to him and you will have found a friend and supporter for life.

I have heard since this political season has begun, that some have tried to label him as being “too much by the book.” The first time I heard that, my initial response was so what. The more I thought about it, the more I realized what those who might say that intended. So allow me to elaborate. He is a by the book person but what separates him from other is the book itself. He believes in a nearly primal manner that having rules and regulations is essential. I know of no other person so dedicated to achieving a consensus in the decision making process. His rule book as Sheriff would be the result of collaboration from all levels, from civilian staff, to Detention Officers, to Deputies, up to Division Directors. He does not believe in dictating terms, but leading people to make the right decision. His rule book would put that philosophy into effect department wide. It would provide structure that allows for appropriate independent thinking and problem solving.

As far as rules go, I can’t fathom why anyone would desire an environment, where rules were loose and enforcement arbitrarily applied. Nothing is more destructive to an organization as having policies that are ignored and unevenly applied. Everyone should know what is expected of them and when a transgression occurs that they will be treated fairly and consistently. That is the case for those who Wayne leads and not necessarily so for others at the Sheriff’s Office.

You will never find Wayne Hannah making promises he can not keep. He will always be consistent. He will always be fair. For him, fairness includes the strong desire to be an active listener and a willingness to acknowledge mistakes and move forward.

I don’t want to be misunderstood. My most fervent professional desire is to see the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office as the ultimate role model for Sheriff’s offices across the nation. I think Wayne shares that desire as much as Sheriff Johnson. Why we are not is open to debate. On some level it has to do with some folks having a personal agenda that doesn’t necessarily coincide with this goal.

Sheriff Johnson is one of the most trusting men I know. He is blessed with a staff that manages to come through despite the odds against them. Most are not the types of people who run to him when they have a problem. Because of this, Sheriff Johnson has from time to time not been served as well as he should have by some of those he has entrusted with command and leadership responsibilities. I suppose I can understand why someone who has not lived up to their responsibilities would not go and confess to him. When something goes awry, his dedicated staff invariably comes through. You can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice when he has been let down or disappointed.

Wayne…well he has always kept Sheriff Johnson’s expectations and those of the community in the forefront of his thoughts and actions. To him there is no conflict; what is good for the community is good for the Sheriff’s Office and what is good for the Sheriff’s office is good for the community. I’ve heard Wayne say it many times--this county (meaning Fayette) is who we are. We’ve got to do right by them.

His passion to serve our community is second only to Sheriff Johnson. He is involved, and has been involved in so many different partnerships and relationships to serve out community that I couldn’t possibly list them here. You won’t find that commitment from any other announced candidate, at least prior to them announcing their intention to run for the Office of Sheriff. One example might be support for charitable organizations. Wayne has been an active and enthusiastic supporter of Special Olympics for more than 15 years. Dave Simmons’ has served on the Board of Directors for his neighborhood Home Owners Association since 1998 I think. One candidate has not involved himself in any charitable organization that I am aware of except for having recently joined a Masonic Lodge. Another might be a Mason, I’m not sure. He has however involved himself this year with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life for the first time and I am proud for him. I don’t want to forget to mention that he is truly a family man and very active in Church. I admire and respect that.

Its time to stop, so I’ll wind down… I don’t make any secret that I think that Wayne Hannah will make a great Sheriff. He will carry Randall Johnson’s legacy with him and honor it by taking us to the next level and work tirelessly to preserve our peaceful way of life. He won’t tell you these things about himself but I will.

Dave Simmons is, in my opinion, sincere in his desire to serve out community. Despite this apparent desire, I could not disagree more strongly that ideas and strategies that served Detroit would work here. Detroit and Fayette County are too dissimilar for that to be the case as Mr. Simmons would suggest. Others seem to know him better than I, but he has been out the game for a long time. He is pretty much the same age as Sheriff Johnson. Sheriff Johnson is already drawing social security and moving into retirement. I don’t know about social security for Mr. Simmons, but I definitely believe retirement should stay in his future.

Barry is exactly what many people have described him to be—a nice guy. He is personable and easy to like. He has untapped potential that, with Wayne’s leadership, would flourish and perhaps one day be an great candidate to become Sheriff. At the risk of alienating him, I am compelled to say that I can’t understand why he is running now. I agree that he has the right to run—anyone does.

Why am I confused? I bought a house and moved back into Fayette County last year after an absence of four or so years. A week after I moved in, I was stopped in the hallway by a member of the department and asked if it was true that I had just bought another house and moved back into the county. His jaw dropped and he said why would you do that, if I could I would sell my house and move as far south out of the county as I could. I didn’t know what to say. The next week, Barry announced he was going to run for Sheriff. I don’t know, but after the election, but if Barry is not elected, I hope he stays. We need him.

Tom Mindar, what a situation. I have never once had a conversation with him where he wasn’t pleasant and respectful given our professional relationship. In our personal encounters I would not have ever imagined he would have such enmity for me. Not working with me directly, I seldom had reason to interact with him, but when I did, I recall nothing odd. He first discussed running for Sheriff with me about a year or so before Bruce Jordan left the Sheriff’s Office. He asked for my support, and while surprised and flattered at being asked, I wished him the best in a non-committal way. At that point, Bruce was still at the Sheriff’s Office and was hell-bent on becoming the next Sheriff. I didn’t need him coming down on me for supporting Mindar, so non-committal was the way to go.

Well, I make no secret about it. Tom Mindar as Sheriff of Fayette County would be a disaster. It’s no secret that he now regards me as an adversary. I am not afraid to put my name on my thoughts. He has castigated me, berated me, and attempted to induce me into stepping into the boxing ring so that he could “settle” our disputes in the only manner he sees appropriate –brute force.

Lest you wonder how I know these things about him when I’ve just said he was pleasant to me in person? In one of his anonymous postings on the Citizen website, he made the statement that I could not hide behind my computer. That’s right, I am pretty computer literate. When you use a networked computer to access the Citizen website, it leaves a footprint right at the entry to the website. Plus his e-mail postings had information that only he and I knew.

I will grant Tom his sincerity. He is absolutely committed to law enforcement in Fayette County. He simply does not have the experience and temperament for the Office of Sheriff. I really changed my perception of him as he demonstrated time and again why he should not be Sheriff.

Examples you ask, just one and I’ll call it quits. What type of leader obtains a Sheriff’s Office budget, including personal salary information, and shows it around the Sheriff’s office and pointing out specific people and their salaries all the while saying that when he becomes Sheriff he would fix that. Tom Mindar did and after I complained to Sheriff Johnson about it on behalf of the folks I work with, he told Sheriff Johnson that he didn’t know it was a problem. Just one example…but pretty typical of the types of decisions and judgments he has made since announcing he was running for Sheriff and not surprisingly the list goes on and on.

I’ll close now with one parting observation. When I was 12 years old, I became an Explorer Junior Deputy at the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office and stayed active in that organization until I joined the Air Force. Shortly after joining the program, I met Sheriff Robert Deyton. Innocently, I told him that one day I was going to be Sheriff of Clayton County. He laughed and smiled and said that he hoped I’d wait until he retired. Being 12, I said sure.

Since I was 12, I have always wanted to be Sheriff. I remember the day that dream died. It was January 20th, 1997. I was feeling a lot of self pity for myself. A few months before I had been demoted from Captain to Lieutenant for the incident I described earlier. I was in a reflecting mood and trying to overcome the shame I had felt for letting down Sheriff Johnson. Wayne Hannah had given me the chance to redeem myself. I had a mission to be better than before, better every day. I continue that today. My dream died because I didn’t deserve it any more. I’ll never deserve to be Sheriff because of my actions then. I’ve tried to live my life to deserve the second chance I received. I have and I will, I just will never be Sheriff.

What ever you think of me, please realize this is me speaking. I have not asked, nor did I intend to ask permission to write this.

Fayette County is important to all of us, please use your best judgment and support the person you think best can fill the shoes Randall Johnson will leave.

Thanks for being patient.

According to Bryan Woodie...

Submitted by CI5835 on Fri, 05/02/2008 - 12:25am.

He came to work for the department on Nov. 15 1985 and his dream of being Sheriff died on Jan. 20 1997, a little more than 11 Yrs and 2 months into his career. This is a little more than a few years into his career. With that in mind I would like to know just what exactly this man, a man who was hired in a matter of hours under an antiquated hiring process, actually did that caused hom to believe he no longer deserves or to use a better word worthy of being Sheriff, ever?? Just what was he untruthful about? Just what did he do? Was he entitled to a second chance?

Whoever the next Sheriff is surely will be asking these questions if he doesn't already know the answers. I mean, don't put it out there unless you want to tell all. Just how many of the current staff in leadership positions were hired under these sort of hiring procedures? How many obtained a higher education before being hired? How many have sought the higher education they were lacking over their many years in the department?

A professional department recognizes professional individuals, not only those who are professional in their training and experience, but in their education as well. It is difficult to believe that neither of those running who are already part of the department do not have a college degree? With their many years in law enforcement and all the time in the world to complete one??

I think it is time for the department to re-evaluate where it stands in terms of professionalism. It takes more than just training, experience, leadership qualities, and a highschool diploma to lead a flagship 21st century LE agency.

Dave Simmons possess the necessary training, experience, leadership ability, and higher education to take the Sheriff's Office to a new pinnacle of professionalism. With Dave we will get a department that no longer relies on the well established and recognized good-ol boy system that is still in place in the FCSO and Fayette Co. in general.

With Dave Simmons we will have a true professional running a professional department. It will be a professional department that practices the community policing philosophy in order to identify problems and respond to them effectively. This philosophy will be recognized by all members of the department and at all levels. I believe it will be a department that is truly responsive to the needs of the community where the Sheriff's door will always be open.

Support Dave Simmons for Fayette County Sheriff and don't forget to vote on July 15.

This was written without contacting Dave Simmons or gaining his approval. Dave has my support!

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Does a college degree really ensure professionalism?

Submitted by Tom1939 on Sat, 05/03/2008 - 5:15pm.

Dave Simmons' professional mentor and endorser for the office of Sheriff from the Detroit police department, Ike McKinnon, has a PhD. Dave Simmons has a Masters degree.

Was disgraced Detroit police chief, Ike McKinnon, the only person from the Detroit police department that Simmons could contact to speak for him down here? This suggests that Dave Simmons is using Ike McKinnon as a professional character reference. They do go back a long way. Dave Simmons was Ike McKinnon's Chief of Staff until Dave Simmons retired in 1996. Then, McKinnon suddenly stepped down as Police Chief the next year in 1997. But, of all people, why would Simmons use Ike McKinnon as an endorser for the political office of sheriff?

Lets examine the example Ike McKinnon set for his police executive pupil, Dave Simmons. Below is information from a Detroit Free Press article published on November 19, 1999 about Dave Simmons' professional mentor and law enforcement executive role model, Ike McKinnon:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
POLICE DRAMA THE CASE OF A SINGING SERGEANT WIDENS RIFT BETWEEN MCKINNON AND NAPOLEON. ANOTHER DISPUTE EMBROILS OLD PALS
Detroit Free Press (MI) - November 19, 1999
Author: JOE SWICKARD FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

They were so tight that their names got run together in a single breath, Ike-n-Benny, like a baseball announcer calling a silky double play combination.

But now Detroit Police Chief Benny Napoleon and Isaiah (Ike) McKinnon, his predecessor, haven't spoken to each other in months.

Hovering over the men are two sensitive police matters that not only have caused a personal strain, but have prompted investigations tied to McKinnon's tenure as chief.

The controversy strikes at McKinnon's reputation as a squeaky clean reformer credited with restoring vitality and integrity to a department stained by corruption.

It has reached a point where McKinnon took lie-detector tests to bolster his version of a dispute with Napoleon, who once watched McKinnon's back as his bodyguard.

The difficulties began with a police promotion test scandal that broke near the end of McKinnon's administration. Napoleon succeeded him in July 1998. The probe has continued under Napoleon, and has centered on officers close to McKinnon.

McKinnon and Napoleon also are entangled in controversy surrounding the career of police Sgt. Catherine Mortiere, one of the officers under scrutiny in the exam case.

Police internal affairs officers investigated allegations that Mortiere, a close friend of McKinnon, received favorable treatment and did not work during duty hours. She was assigned full time to a department band. She also attended college full time, with McKinnon's approval.

McKinnon acknowledges that. Both say there was nothing improper about the arrangement.

But there's a difference of stories as to what happened when Napoleon took over as chief. McKinnon says Napoleon agreed to let Mortiere keep attending school during duty hours, as long as she made up the time. Napoleon says that's not true...

Mortiere, in an interview, said she's being unfairly targeted.

"They are on a campaign," she said of the current police administration. "I don't know why ...I know of no other person subjected to this."

The interviews with the Free Press are the first time that McKinnon , Napoleon and Mortiere have spoken at length about the controversies.

Pleasing Dennis Archer

Mortiere, 34, began her career in May 1989 as most officers do, patrolling the streets. But her career took a dramatic change in May 1995, when she sang at a policeman's funeral.

Hearing her, Mayor Dennis Archer turned to McKinnon and asked if she was part of the Blue Pigs, a pop music group that performs as part of the police community relations efforts.

McKinnon answered that she would be. Mortiere and another female officer became the first women assigned to the group...

Mortiere said that after joining the band she was dogged by talk of special treatment and privileges.

In 1997, Mortiere suddenly had other worries.

She was among four officers with close ties to McKinnon who registered extraordinarily high scores on a promotional exam. Four other officers also came under scrutiny. Two hundred points were possible. Scoring 100 is considered good; above 150 is remarkable. Mortiere scored 195.

A federal grand jury was empaneled to look for possible cheating. Mortiere, who had scored in the high 80s on her first try at the test several years earlier, said she convinced the grand jury that she earned the 195 score through study and ability. But the investigation ended in midstream when a U.S. appeals court ruled that the federal system had no jurisdiction in such cases.

Detroit police picked up the probe. This month, police officer Jose Hardrick, 37, was charged in the case. Hardrick, a 6-year employee who served as one of McKinnon's drivers, is accused of cheating and faces a felony charge of misconduct in office. He said McKinnon provided study materials to him.

McKinnon has acknowledged providing the driver with study material for the test.

The former chief insists he has done nothing wrong with any officers who took the test, and said he is weary of the cloud over him.

"I'm tired and upset, and I am dismayed that my name continues to be associated with a promotion exam…," he said.

McKinnon is now a professor at the University of Detroit Mercy.

In April, McKinnon asked his lawyer, former Recorder's Court Judge Justin Ravitz, to set up a polygraph exam. As a rule, polygraph results are not allowed in court, but authorities often use them as investigative tools...

On duty but at home

Running parallel to the promotion probe was an internal affairs inquiry into how Mortiere spent her days while assigned to the Blue Pigs. She remains assigned to the band.

Internal affairs checked out reports that Mortiere was taking classes at Detroit Mercy during duty hours, and tailed her on six days between December 1998 and last February.

According to surveillance reports, Mortiere spent long hours at home, missed a Blue Pigs performance, visited a doughnut shop and an antique store during duty hours, and went to Detroit Mercy during her shifts.

Internal affairs asked the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office in March to seek a felony warrant against Mortiere for collecting pay for times she didn't work. The request was rejected because of insufficient evidence.

Mortiere scoffed at the surveillance report, calling it inaccurate and incomplete: "This is a lie. They weren't following me all this time.... Please, they are selective in a lot of things."

When called in for questioning, Mortiere told internal affairs that she did nothing wrong. She said she had her supervisor's permission -- under Napoleon's administration -- to practice away from the office.

She also said she had renewed permission to attend classes during duty hours.

Pressed by investigators to explain how she could attend school on duty hours, she said McKinnon had authorized the arrangement and it was approved by Napoleon after he took over.

In an interview with the Free Press, Mortiere said she did not cheat the city and gave a full week's work: "I put in many more hours than I was paid for."

Napoleon's permission came in September of 1998, she said, when McKinnon "made a call to Benny Napoleon in front of me."

She said she heard only McKinnon's end, but is certain that he was talking with Napoleon.

McKinnon , too, insists that he spoke with Napoleon and that the new chief approved Mortiere's attending classes as long as she made up all her required time on the job.

McKinnon , in a sworn statement given as part of legal proceedings in the promotion scandal, said he remembered the call vividly. He said Napoleon "had no problem" with Mortiere's school schedule as long as it did not interfere with her duties.

McKinnon said it was an accepted practice for officers not assigned to street duties to take classes if they made up the hours.

"I can state, without shame, that I did this and many other officers did so as well," he said in the affidavit.

Speaking with the Free Press, McKinnon said Mortiere is a friend, like dozens of other officers, and that she got no special deals or favors.

Napoleon -- who earned a law degree while working full time on the force -- rebuffed McKinnon 's recollection, saying he knew nothing about this scenario until internal affairs questioned him.

Napoleon said McKinnon "doesn't have a vivid recollection" of the phone call because "it never happened."

Napoleon said that McKinnon may have mentioned at some time that Mortiere was getting a doctorate, "but that's a far cry" from getting permission to go to school on duty times.

As far as granting such permission, Napoleon said, "I have never done that. I am not going to grant her permission to do something that I have not authorized for anybody else."

Napoleon said lawyers representing Mortiere have scrutinized his academic pursuits and time records, trying to catch him violating department rules, and found nothing amiss.

"The lawyers went over it class by class and day by day," he said.

McKinnon , wanting to strengthen his account, took another polygraph exam on Oct. 4. The results were inconclusive. So McKinnon took another exam the next day, and was found to be "truthful to the relevant test questions." All three tests were administered by the same examiner.

Napoleon said he is still puzzled that Mortiere and other members of the Blue Pigs were allowed to practice alone at home.

"None of it makes any sense to me as a manager," Napoleon said. "If you are in a group, you should practice as a group."

Napoleon determined

As the promotion exam inquiry continues, Napoleon said he is determined to find out whether the process was tainted.

"There is reason to believe something improper happened."

He said the high scores are more than unusual, especially because some officers of modest achievement suddenly turned stellar.

"Unprecedented is the word for it," Napoleon said. "Luck has nothing to do with intelligence. Life experience and human nature argues for consistency. People tend to be consistent."

As part of the probe, the police department got court orders to have five of the highest-scoring officers take reading comprehension tests. Mortiere went to court to block the test, saying it was an invalid measure of her abilities and part of continued harassment of her as a woman....

JOE SWICKARD can be reached at 313-223-4557 or at swickard@freepress.com.
Caption: Photo HUGH GRANNUM/Free Press file photo; WILLIAM ARCHIE

In 1995, Benny Napoleon, left, was on good terms with his boss, Detroit Police Chief Isaiah McKinnon.
Catherine Mortiere: Did she get favors under the old chief? And what did the new chief know?
Memo: CORRECTION RAN DECEMBER 1, 1999
Edition: METRO FINAL
Section: NWS
Page: 1A
Correction: A Nov. 19 article about the Detroit police promotional exams should have said that on the 1994 test Sgt. Catherine Mortiere scored 87 percent correct.
Index Terms: DISPUTE ; ISAIAH MCKINNON; BENNY NAPOLEON ; FAVORTISM ; ACCUSATION ; INVESTIGATION ; TEST ; POLICE ; SCORE
Record Number: 9911190166
Copyright (c) 1999 Detroit Free Press
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If Ike McKinnon is the person Simmons' views as a respected peer and someone to use as a professional character reference what does that suggests about Simmons? Knowing that Ike McKinnon is damaged goods and not worthy to be any law enforcement officer's character reference, did Simmons attempt to decieve the public by using McKinnon believing no one down here would know McKinnon's troubled past? It should be noted that shortly before Ike McKinnon stepped down as Detroit Police Chief a Detroit police Sergeant met with McKinnon at Mayor Dennis Archer's office to demand McKinnon leave his wife alone. Again, I ask the question, does a college degree really ensure good judgment and professionalism?

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Thanks Tom1939: Re Detroit Cops

Submitted by skyspy on Sat, 05/03/2008 - 9:33pm.

Wow, what a sad long history of a troubled good old boy police dept.!!

The beat goes on. No wonder Detroit has such high crime. The more I read of the corruption that was allowed to flourish in that dept. the more disgusted I become.
I still say that dirty cops are the absolute dregs of society and the downfall of a safe community.

Whether it is fair or not I think that the men and women who take a oath of office to uphold the law, should be held to a higher standard.

Keep it coming Tom1939, if you had not brought this information to our attention most of Fayette County would have blindly trusted whatever a candidate said about themselves.

The taxpayers of Detroit were neither served or protected.

We really have been sheltered here in Fayette County.

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Captain Woodie, Sir

Submitted by THE BOSS on Fri, 04/25/2008 - 3:00pm.

Thank You,
You are a good person, I know this personally.
And as for your mistake, we all make mistakes. That is how we learn, from our mistakes, it helps make us better people, like you.

Some people don’t understand boxing is an “I” sport.
And we all know there is no “I” in TEAM.

PS
Ah, tomato juice, I take it everywhere.

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No "I" In Team

Submitted by NUK_1 on Fri, 04/25/2008 - 3:22pm.

There is a ME, which is the same. Haven't they come up with some newer cliches and catchy slogans?

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nuk or NUK_1 ?

Submitted by THE BOSS on Fri, 04/25/2008 - 5:11pm.

Some people have to go to Chicago and back to make a point.

I believe my point was made.

Thanks for all the help!

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My Opinion of Bryan Woodie

Submitted by Thomas Mindar on Thu, 04/24/2008 - 1:52pm.

I would like to take a second and answer some of the accusations that have been directed my way, again, from Bryan Woodie.

First off, I have never attacked Bryan Woodie. I have only defended myself everytime he has either written his own opinion or gotten one of his friends to write about me. Its a shame that Bryan hasn't learned that this MUD SLINGING that he is doing isn't doing the Sheriff's Department any good at all.

I do have a personal opinion of Bryan Woodie and I don't feel the need to post it. Yes I have defended myself and I will continue to do so as long as I am attacked by him. Bryan Woodie likes to "play the victim" and appear to be wrongfully attacked. But, thats not the truth.

Bryan Woodie has openly admitted sharing his views of what he thought about both Barry Babb and myself on several occasions. He has even admitted stating his opinion "to a friend", someone that has never met me and doesn't know me, and that "that friend" posted his opinion of me on this sight. But, as soon as I addressed this situation, Bryan Woodie drawed up with a look on his face of surprise like he was unjustly jumped.

I don't hold much respect for people that do this. To be honest, I don't hold ANY RESPECT for someone that does that type of activity. I have yet to see a single post on here where Bryan Woodie has stated ANYTHING good about me. That should be indication enough that it IS PERSONAL for him. Again, I have only responded back after every attack that he has committed.

Bryan Woodie would have you believe that I am some bully out here looking to destroy the department through my own arrogance. What I ask of the public, the very citizens that I protect everyday and would go the extra mile for, is to do just a little research.

I would like the public to go to the Fayette County Sheriff's Department and ask any five employees what they think about me either as becoming the next possible sheriff, or as an employee in general. The reason why I ask you to do this is because these are the people that work for you, the public. These are the people that come to your house when you have been victimized by criminals overrunning our Shopping Centers and neighborhoods. THEIR OPINION SHOULD MATTER AND DOES MATTER.

The changes that I would make if elected are positive changes. I am currently stating these changes very openly and I am not trying to hide any of my plans. I don't want the public to think that if I was elected, that I would simply "take over the desk" and just sit behind it as the NEXT GUY.

The disaster that Bryan Woodie refers to that if I got elected is called CHANGE. The department, under Randall Johnson, is being run very well and is an example to any other agency in the State. Though matter who is the next Sheriff, there will be change. Each candidate has their own ideas for where the deparment needs to head.

I personally believe now that Randall is leaving, the county needs a NEWER, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE on how to handle the growing problems that are occurring. If Sheriff Johnson was to stay, we could deal with these problems the same way. BECAUSE OF RANDALL JOHNSON and his excellent leadership and direction. The next sheriff can't come in and run the department the same because the next sheriff WON'T BE RANDALL JOHNSON.

I will agree with Bryan Woodie on one thing, I also would retire under Sheriff Johnson if it were possible and would never regret backing out. But, thats not going to happen.

Let me give you an example of what I stand for and believe in. I was recently speaking with a high level officer of another department in the area. We were talking about an ACTIVE SHOOTER at one of the schools in the county. I won't name this individual because of what I am about to tell you.

He told me that if there is an active shooter, he would remain outside of the school until at least TWO other officers arrived before making an entry. He even said that if it took TEN MINUTES, he would wait. He told me that I wasn't using common sense and that there were safety issues involved and that the first arriving officer should NEVER GO IN ALONE.

What that means is that if there is a person, in one of our schools, ACTIVELY SHOOTING CHILDREN, then he would wait until two other officers arrived before making an entry and confronting the threat. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I argued that I would never wait ten minutes while children are being executed just because of safety issues.

People, we sign on to put our lives in danger. Not to commit suicide, but to defend those who can't defend themselves. I told this particular supervisor that I would deal with getting fired later, but I wouldn't hesitate to enter that school.

If you ask anyone that knows me and how I work, this is what I do and this is what I have done. I stand for action, accountability, fairness, self-defense and most importantly, those that can't defend themselves. This will bother people from time to time and especially bother those that DON'T represent these issues.

I want you, the public, to keep an eye out for the desperate acts of those who would attack a candidate under the pretense of being a victim. Bryan Woodie, you can continue to attack me with these accusations and opinions as long as you want. I WILL CONTINUE TO DEFEND MYSELF everytime you do. I will also be the better man and NOT ATTACK YOU. I want to say good luck to the other three candidates: Barry Babb, Wayne Hannah and Dave Simmons.

May the best man win. Thomas Mindar

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10 Feet Tall and Bullet Proof???

Submitted by skyspy on Thu, 04/24/2008 - 11:53pm.

You would rush into a dangerous situation and get yourself killed. This statment alone speaks volumes about why you have not been given any managment responsibilty.

I'm just a poor dumb average taxpayer, I don't know anything about law enforcement, except for being on the wrong side of speeding tickets; and even I know that as an officer you can help more people if you stay alive yourself. Follow protocol, the rules most of the time are there to help you. For example always have your security camera running in your car to record any interaction you have with citizens. It protects you from false allegations.

Kid, I like your enthusiasm, you hate criminals as much as I do, but that rookie ego chip on your shoulder needs to mature a bit. I think if you keep your enthusiasm for fighting crime 10-15yrs from now you will make a great sheriff.

I feel sorry for whoever wins this particular election. Clayton-crime-county is imploding, and I think if we experience an increase in crime the new Sheriff will get the blame for all of it. Whether that is fair or not I think people will judge whoever wins very harshly. I think the person who wins this race will likely be a one term Sheriff through no fault of their own.

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Mindar, Babb and Hannah....

Submitted by Sick of Fascists on Thu, 04/24/2008 - 9:19pm.

Mindar, you are simply too young and hot-headed. You might have good ideas, but you don't have proven leadership abilities. I have asked several deputies....they all support Wayne Hannah as the most qualified candidate. Barry Babb is seen as a really nice guy, but just not experienced enough. Mindar is seen as a not really nice guy who is not experienced enough. As for Dave Simmons, he doesn't know the department, and has not worked his way into the position of Sheriff. He may or may not know innercity police needs. Uh, not really relevant to Fayette County. Please, drop out now, and support the truly qualified candidate, so you don't leach off any of his votes....that candidate is clearly Wayne Hannah.

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So have I

Submitted by NeedtoKnow on Fri, 04/25/2008 - 9:36pm.

I have asked several deputies....they all support Wayne Hannah as the most qualified candidate.

Huh. Not those I've asked. I've heard that Babb has strong support within the department.

I agree with you about Mindar and Simmons.

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What makes a Great Sheriff

Submitted by 1VeteranKnight on Thu, 04/24/2008 - 9:03pm.

Thomas,

I will start with regrets that we have never met. I can only comment about you from your postings. This certainly is not enough to judge you. But you want to be a Sheriff in Fayette County, a legacy earned by Randall Johnson. You believe yourself to be the best man. What can I see that gives me any hope that you are....the best man. A leader in Law Enforcement is earned not just elected. I believe I can read between the lines enough to see who the leaders are and who should follow. You have far to go, stay with the department learn as much as you can and seek the wisdom of those leaders who have made the difference, maybe then you can be a leader. It has taken me 35 years in Law Enforcement to see a clear track to leadership, it does not come easy nor quick. Support the clear candidates maybe this will give you a path to leadership for the future. This is still my county and I do wish the best man wins, I see only one great leader for Fayette County and he is Wayne Hannah.

1VeteranKnight

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