Handicapping the sheriff's race

The Crime Dog's picture

It's really gonna come down to Wayne Hannah and Barry Babb.

Thomas Mindar just isn't experienced enough and has no supervisory skills despite his 9+ (I think) years in law enforcement. But aggressive cops like him are important in Fayette and hopefully he'll be able to stick 'round.

David Simmons does have his heart in the right place but seems to be overstating Fayette's crime problem in a bid to scare folks into thinking he's the answer. The Detroit police scandal's hanging over his head and he's come forward with no good answers other than to have one of the corrupt dudes ON HIS WEBSITE with an ENDORSEMENT!!! Bad call and one that will cost him perhaps any future elected office in Fayette.

So to the nitty gritty. Hannah or Babb?

Hannah's pretty much done it all at the SO. Head of Patrol division previously and head of training/traffic currently. I think he's been in investigations also. A cool-headed dude who won't take no 'gruff, and those are characteristics we need to maintain in Fayette.

Babb is also quite cool-headed and honest, so trait-wise it's almost a toss-up between him and Hannah in that regard. He does have the advantage of current leadership in the patrol division, which is the most crucial crime-response unit in the county. In other words, he knows what our problems are NOW and is most likely to have specific answers to them.

It should be said the few SO guys I've whispered to lately have indicated that the rank-and-file members of the SO are leaning toward Babb. That weighs a lot too.

HOWEVER it would be a travesty if we were to lose either Babb or Hannah because one of them won and the other lost. Sure anybody can be "replaced" per se, but it would be a loss either way if either were to part ways with the SO.

What is everyone else out there hearing?

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Submitted by CI5835 on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 11:47pm.

How about Wayne Hannah understating the crime problem?

Anyone who doesn't believe Fayette Co. has a crime problem has their head in the sand...in Iraq.

Anyone who says Fayette Co. doesn't have a crime problem is either very naive and actually believes it, or has a political agenda. I mean if your opponent is saying one thing you obviously have to disagree, you can't appear to be the same candidate now can you?

How about the rash of smash and grabs for flat screens in Fayetteville restaurants, how about the record number of burglaries and home invasions on the north side of the county, how about the smash and grab at Autrey's, or the many larcenies at the Pavillion and other shopping centers? How about highschoolers being involved in gang related beat-ins and armed robberries, remember the guy who got robbed for $10 at the ATM in Banks Station? Oh yeah, and how about the many local dealers being ignored by the DTF because the agents are out showboating with the DEA all over the Southeast??

Over stating the crime problem HA! Speak to some of the folks who have been victimized and I think they will tell you a crime problem surely does exist in Fayette Co. and that Dave is not overstating it.

Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 05/02/2008 - 7:55am.

Here are some questions for your retired friend.

If your little buddies resume accurate and he was actually a "top official" with Detroit PD:

1. Was he in the court room when a U.S. District Court Judge Paul Gadola yelled at the "top officials" of Detroit PD for 90min. ??
As reported in Detroit Free Press 8-28-1992:

A U.S. District Court Judge at the trial of Chief Hart who was convicted of embezzling drug funds that were intended to be used to fight crime. He also was accused of income tax evasion and fraud. At this trial a U.S. District Court Judge accused all of the "top brass" at the PD of acts of omission. Meaning they knew a crime was being committed and they looked they other way. This is according to court transcripts and the article in Detroit Free Press 8-28-1992

Ask your little buddy why he looked the other way? Why did he look the other way when his fellow officers in the undercover drug unit lives were in danger because the drug money that was supposed to help them do their jobs was missing?

2. Why did he look the other way when the bills weren't being paid for the safe house that the udercover officers use? Again putting fellow officers lives in danger.

3. Why did he look the other way when Chief Harts wife used the police jet to fly to california on personal buisness? As reported in Detroit Free Press 5-8-1992. Talk about an outrageous abuse of tax dollars, UNBELIEVABLE!!

What did simmons know, when did he know it, and more importantly why did he look the other way when he saw criminal activity? It is especially troubling that he was willing to allow other officers lives to be put in jeapordy and still do nothing.

Maybe he was never a "top official" at Detroit PD, in which case his worst crime is a "spruced up" resume.

Forbs.com has recently named Detroit the "least desirable place to live" because of high crime. They have always had high crime. Why would we trust our relativly safe quiet little county to someone whos previous techniques for fighting crime don't work? Based on statistics alone. If anything they are doing in Detroit to fight crime worked they wouldn't have the dubious honor of being labled the worst place to live.

Why would we chose someone who has been retired for 12yrs? Why would we chose someone who has been x-raying handbags at a government building in downtown Atlanta? My 17yr old neighbor just got a job doing that for the summer. I'm not impressed with the CPP behind his name all cops have to be certified. The last 8 rookies PTC hired off the street are certified too. I wouldn't vote for any of them for Sheriff either.

This crimes that you mentioned like the smash and grab at Auterys did happen, what you failed to mention is that they have been arrested and charged. I don't know when the court date is, but it should be coming up shortly.

As to the "gang" fight in the bathrooms yes we did have one incident last year.

Compared to crime that is off the charts in Detroit, this is still looking pretty good.

Why would we chose someone who looks the other way when they see a crime, any crime?

Submitted by CI5835 on Fri, 05/02/2008 - 1:09pm.

Simmons a crooked cop. I cannot and will not speak for Mr. Simmons, I can only speak from my perception of the man as a person, judging by my understanding of his chacter and his Chriatian faith.

As to your false logic reference Detroit being the least desirable place to live and having high crime, Detroit has always and will always have high crime. Dave is not a miracle worker and the dynamics of Detroit are completely different from the dynamics in Fayette Co. It doesn't mean the techniques used in Detroit are inneffective because there is a lot more involved in criminal activity than the proactive and reactive actions of the Police. This does not mean the strategies Dave will use here will not work. You cannot compare Detroit to Fayette Co. because there is no comparison and you know it.

As for the CPP, this certification is completely different than the GA POST certification that all peace officers in GA must possess. By the way Dave is also POST certified, which meaning he will not have spend valuable time completing the Basic course when he is elected.

Does it make it all better that the perpetrators in Autrey's break-in have been arrested? ABSOLUTELY NOT! You have no idea of the mental anguish Ben went through because of that incident. Mr. Autrey is a friend of mine and I do know. You do not understand the time, money, and effort he had to spend to get back to normal again. The replacing of the damaged property, the inventory that had to be accounted for to the ATF, the lost revenue from being closed at one of the busiest times of the year, the feeling of worry because his weapons were now out on the street...and many still have not been recovered. So no, just because they were arrested does not mean that everything is all good.

Tha gang fight was an isolated incident but part of a larger problem. Do you know why the bathrooms were locked down? It wasn't just because of the fight. It also had to do with writing on the walls, people taking #2's in the sinks, and rubbing feces on the walls; but the public didn't hear about all that now did they. There are gangs operating in the schools and in Fayette Co. as a whole. Have you ever heard of YNT (young 'n thuggin) or YMF (young mafia family)? I didn't think so. You have never heard of them because the Fayette Co. SO does not want you to know. These are two rival gangs with hundreds of members in Fayette Co. schools and the county at large. One is alligned with the Bloods street gang, the other owes their allegiance to the Crips. Just how much crime are these gangs responsible for? We do not know. We do not know because we are not combating them. If we don't stop them soon, well I don't think you want to see what will happen if we don't stop them. Hannah is not going to do it, Babb is not going to do it, and Mindar definitely is not going to do it. The only candidate with experince combating youth gang activity is Dave Simmons. He knows how and he knows exactly what needs to be done to accomplish this.

I truly believe Dave did not, does not, and will not look the other way when he sees crime. As I already know from the gang activity alone, this is exactly what the current administration is doing.

Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 05/02/2008 - 1:41pm.

My opinion is based on reports from Detroit Free Press, and I sited the dates when I asked the questions. I didn't dream it up I have read the reports and referenced them.

I have made my decision.

The local officers that are running are still active in law enforcement and they have not been investigated by the FBI or the U.S. Justice dept.

I guess what I'm saying is better the devil you know than the one you don't. I don't think they are perfect, but I do think either Hannah or Babb will be a better choice for our county.

BPR's picture
Submitted by BPR on Fri, 05/02/2008 - 8:05am.

Did you see the ad online yesterday for Dave Simmons?

I am with you all the way, maybe he will move back to Detroit. BTW why did he leave Detroit?

Thanks for your information, we need it.

Have a great day!

_______________________________
We Will Stand


Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 05/02/2008 - 8:16am.

I hope you have the day off. It is very nice outside right now.

We don't need any failed crime fighting techniques from Detroit. If anything we should be sending some of our cops there to help them out.

They have been named the least desirable place to live because of high crime and we have low crime here. Obviously what we are doing works. Maybe Sheriff Johnson could give them a few tips.

Have a good day.

Submitted by NeedtoKnow on Fri, 04/25/2008 - 9:42pm.

I hear Babb has quite a bit of support within the dept.

But I'm with you. Right now, we are out 3 really good cops, due to the campaign. I would hope that as soon as possible, we'll have one (Babb!) back as Sheriff, and the other 2 back in place, or at least gone without really hard feelings.

Please, guys. Please. Don't let this get ugly. It really doesn't have to be.

Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 04/25/2008 - 12:02am.

We the innocent taxpayers of Fayette County can't afford to lose either Hannah or Babb.

I hope that you two can come to a gentleman's agreement, no matter who wins you both stay. We are already losing Sheriff Johnson, we can't afford to be short 2 top cops. Clayton-crime-county is imploding we need you both. Please work it out. I know you don't really need us,(since many other law enforcement agencies pay more than we do) but we need you. Both of you.

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