Archives 4/1/08-4/30/08
|
In regards
to OLD SCHOOL 3/6/08, Does anyone know why
Wayne Honeycutt left the Roane
County school system to go to
Illinois in the first place? Seems
like someone should have checked
that out before hiring him........ The following
comment is in regards to Joe Webb's
story "A Word on the School Board
Election"
It is very disturbing to see the
number of local professionals
out drinking and such in front
of our children. Is there not a
written policy that states that
Teachers and other education
officials cannot conduct in such
a matter. What are we to tell
our children about this? I
think maybe our morals in this
county are a little too lax in
every area not just one
department.
Just Wondering about such. 4/26/08 The reason Jimmy Davis got thumped and the others did not is simple. Davis is not covered under the Sheriff's Merit Board System and the others are. Davis can't appeal his demotion to the Merit Board. Besides he is on his way out. Wackenhut is it? This is the way it works at the ol LCSD. As long as you follow the leader nose to butt, you're in. Remove nose from butt, your out. 999 4/24/08
William: Comparing the Misty
Cosner case to the Callie Rogers
Elder Davis case is like apples
and oranges. As far as I know,
this is the first time Misty
Cosner has ever had a "run-in"
with the law. This can not be
said for Davis. She has had
several incidents with law
enforcement in the past. Mr.
Davis knew all about his wife
and her "run-ins" when he
married her. He knew who
protected her and how her
illegal activities were covered
up or just plain disappeared at
the LCSD. Maybe, just maybe,
this is why he was
demoted. Maybe, he was warned
and just didn't take the advice
given to him. No one knows the
answer to this, but Mr. Davis.
Let's just sit back and see what
our DA does now.
BINGO 4/24/08
To William,
The answer to your question is
simple. Get a copy of the
county policy manual and you
will see on the first page at
the bottom, it says the county
reserves the right to apply
these policies or not to
situations they deem
applicable. I am not quoting
exactly but it is something like
this and the general idea is
they can apply their policies to
one person but not the other. It
also says there is no standard
of punishment. You can be wrote
up for coming to work late and
then the next person fired.
There is no scale to which they
can be held to. They decide
what punishment you get and in
what order. Just ask around and
you will see how easily one
person can get written up and
another just a verbal warning.
Now what do you think about them
apples?
-Chips and Salsa 4/24/08
I would like to know what the
Cosner woman did to this
helpless child to cause those
injuries? If its what I'm
thinking ,,, may GOD help her
Anonymous 4/24/08 If Misty Cosner pleads guilty of something, does her husband get demoted like Davis? If no why not? How can different policies apply to different people? Sheriff Tim Guider, we are watching to see what you will do. Election 2010 will be here soon enough. William 4/23/08
I
notice that often times, the
stuff on the blog is depressing
or angering. I would like to do
something different and share a
positive thing. I'd like to
start out by saying that except
for being a customer, I have no
relationship to any of the
parties or businesses involved.
Until auto zone came to town, I
was forced to drive out of
county for parts. I can't afford
NAPA prices, and a string of
problems with advance got me to
the point that I refused to ever
deal with them again. (And, its'
not just me, I know several
others who feel the same way.)
So,
I have had a broken wrench
laying in my vehicle for a few
months now. Its' supposed to be
a "lifetime guarantee" thing,
but I bought it on sale as part
of a kit, and I didn't spend
much to start with. As a result,
it hasn't been a priority.
Today (Tuesday the 22nd), I
needed to get a part, so I took
the wrench to auto zone,
forgetting I bought it from
advance. They immediately
recognized that it wasn't one of
theirs, and told me it was from
advance. I started looking for a
garbage can, because I would
rather throw it away then go
down there and exchange it for a
(maybe) free new one. This is
when one of the store managers
stepped in and offered me one of
theirs as a replacement.
Seriously.
They
honored another store's
guarantee, when the item was
obviously of poor quality to
begin with.
I am
NOT saying go dig all your stuff
out from where ever to go to
Autozone in Lenoir City, because
I am certain they'll have to
draw a line somewhere. But I am
saying that I have their
customer card, I buy things
there once a month, and they
valued and respected me enough
even as a low end customer to
fix a problem I had with
another companies' product to
keep me from having to deal with
them. THAT is customer service,
and I wanted everyone to hear
that they did right by me. Which
is becoming increasingly scarce
in this day and age. No arguing,
no reading of fine print, no
"Sorry, that's all we can do."
They saw a problem that wasn't
even theirs, and they fixed it
because I am a customer.
They
maintain this level of service,
I will be a staunch supporter of
theirs until they carry
spacecraft parts and I am too
old to turn a wrench anymore.
lol
Satisfied Customer 4/23/08 Is there anybody who doesn't really know why Mayor Brookshire, Judge Terry Vann and some of the councilmen want control of the treasurer's office? Just in case some of you don't know, let me tell you. They want control of the money. As long as the treasurer is elected they can't tell them what to do. But if the council appoints the treasurer they can also fire the treasurer if they don't do what they tell them to do. It's just that simple. That's why they ran Debbie Cook off. They couldn't tell her what to do and she wouldn't kiss their butts. Now they are afraid they might get somebody else elected who wouldn't kiss their butts. The voters better wake up and
smell the roses. If that bunch of
crooks gets control of the money,
it's all over for Lenoir City. Vote no on any charter change.
Small Town Politics
Politics are everywhere and they influence just about everything. I do not know how many people are aware that recently LCUB was working on their union contract. While the union did choose a committee to do their negotiations, they did not choose to be railroaded by the very employees they chose. Having a General Manager who's son in-law is the Mayor is like swimming up stream, you can do it, but it is hard to say the least. Fred Nelson wanted the contract signed with no questions ask and that is what he got .The men as a whole did not agree on the contract in fact several of the men went to different council members and ask them not to sign off on the contract. There was at least 4 council members who agreed not to sign off on it or they lead a lot of men to believe they would not sign off on it. The day of the meeting with council, word was passed along at the utilities Fred Nelson said, the employees who show up at the meeting will be dealt with, please tell me how anyone can dictate who can and can not come to an open public meeting! Now, the reason the majority of LCUB employee's did not want the contract signed is because it gave the lineman a substantial raise over the next three years and thumbed it's nose at everyone else (Fred Nelson's other son in-law is a lineman). Understand, no one, wanted to take anything from the lineman, they just wanted a cost of living raise also. Gas, groceries, and utilities went up for everyone, not just the lineman. Fred Nelson had the audacity to compare the lineman with the soldiers fighting on the front line in Iraq and he minimize the National Guards involvement also. There was only one council member who voted against the contract and that was Tony Akins, I am sure it was because his nephew works in the gas and water department, but he gave his word and kept it. I know of one council member who use to work in collection and had this happened when he was employed at LCUB he would have cussed and shouted to high heavens. This council member also has a daughter that will be working down there before to long, that is the reason he sided with Fred Nelson. The citizens of Lenoir City are already paying his son and daughter in-laws wages. I know this letter will not change anyone or anything, but I want people to pause and think next election, do we want the same old people making decision for us? Just because someone has done something for more years than I like to think about does not mean they are the best person for the job. Get people in there that do not want their whole family's to work for the city, and do not owe any favors, someone who will listen to the people. I think it should be part of the charter of the city that no top officials should be related by blood or marriage, and no one official should serve more than TWO terms of office!!! Not happy 4/21/08 I just read in the scandal sheet a long press release from district attorney Russ Johnson how he has got caught up on all the cases left over from the last DA. Well I guess it is a lot easier to get through the cases when he cuts deals and reduces charges of a lot of the well known people who go through the court. He shouldn't be blowing his own horn too loud. Marketha Plumb 4/21/08 To One TICKED off Parent! 4/17/08, Let me guess, your child is one of those who is already a great ball player. Come on, there just kids. If they have any talent for the game it will come. Let them be kids and enjoy themselves. Been there done that 4/18/08
Do you know there was a slave
graveyard in the Eldridge farm?
I heard the development had to
move the bodies but where?
Maybe you can look into this and
find out. It was somewhere
across the rd from summit
medical or down from it behind
adesa.
Aren't or shouldn't things like
that be on a historical
register? And what is left in
this county from those days that
need to be on the register.
The bandit 4/18/08
Absolutely, police officers should be held to a higher standard of honesty and morality than the average Joe. In fact I think they take an oath to do so. These are the people who we must be able to trust. For instance, every time I read about certain officers making arrests or doing investigations I can't help but wonder it the arrest/investigation is legitimate or maybe another motive. That's just human nature. Credibility is everything and when it is lost, it's gone forever. Honesty first 4/16/08
If
know one has noticed that Parks
& Rec in Loudon is a joke! If
you have a kid that is playing
tee-ball you know what I mean!
They are learning nothing!!!
When you sign up to play ball
you think ok you keep score,
your called out, etc. But wait
your so wrong! They don't keep
score they don't have umpires
and better yet they cant even
play on the dirt they have to
play in the grass! Come on its a
joke I could play ball like that
in my own yard and teach them
more than that! Mark Harrell
better get his act together and
let these kids play true
tee-ball, because they are not
doing our kids any good! Thank
God SWEETWATER has a true Parks&
Rec not a joke of one! I am glad
that are tax dollars paid for
nice ball fields that are kids
can't even play on, maybe they
need to build one made out of
rubber & padding then maybe they
could play some ball.
One
TICKED off Parent! 4/17/08
To Brad
The District Attorney General
has the authority to ask the
Director of the TBI for
assistance to investigate an
alleged crime in his District.
Between September 1, 1998 and
September 1, 2006, I exercised
this authority fairly frequently
when I felt that more likely
than not a crime had been
committed and the allegations
were such that the resources of
the TBI were required.
In some instances, at the
request of a Chief of Police or
a Sheriff, I requested the TBI
to conduct an investigation of
that Chief or
Sheriff's department or
employee because the Chief or
Sheriff felt that an internal
investigation of wrong-doing
would look too cozy. That
procedure provided necessary
independence of the
investigation and was good
practice.
The TBI can, without the request
of the District Attorney
General, conduct criminal
investigations pertaining to
fugitives from justice, offenses
involving corruption or official
misconduct, organized crime and
a couple of other
instances. Acting without a DA's
request is not the rule and as a
practical matter doesn't happen
very often at least in my
experience. The results of the
investigation are presented to
the DA.
Drug investigations are a
separate matter.
Bear in mind too that the agents
often have worked with the
agencies. When an agency is
investigated, it is good
practice to be sure the agent
can be as independent as justice
requires. A good agent will let
it be known to his superiors
that he has a conflict of
interest due to familiarity and
will opt out in favor of another
agent. I feel this was problem
for me on one occasion.
If the DA refuses or neglects to
present the case to the Grand
Jury, then the Director of the
TBI or his designee can appear
before the Grand Jury.
The Feds generally require a
higher level of proof before
they will expend federal money
on an investigation particularly
when the allegations concern a
public official. Obviously,
there must be a federal crime
involved too. This was the
situation with Judge Austin in
1998. But persistence,
cooperative informants, good
work by TBI and my willingness
to initiate the investigation
and grant immunity from state
prosecution for the informants,
made the difference in 2005 when
we approached the Feds. Austin
is now in the federal
penitentiary.
The TBI's web address is
www.tbi.state.tn.us/ click
on "criminal investigations
unit" for further information.
I hope this is helpful.
Scott McCluen
For years, not afraid to sign my
name 4/15/08
Mr. Scott McCluen Sir,
It's obvious that you read or
have read entries on this blog
site. I don't understand your
statement "Unless
the Callie Rogers Davis case was
bound over from the General
Sessions Court to the Grand
Jury, it would not have hit my
radar screen and I would
not have likely known about it."
Are the citizens of this county to believe that you are that naive, when the cases against this woman have continued to go on for such a long time with more than enough "proof".
"You can fool some of the people
all of the time, and all of the
people some of the time, but you
can not fool all of the people
all of the time."
Abraham Lincoln
I do however agree with your
earlier statement "Wake up, use
your brain and keep a watchful
eye. The tail is waging
(wagging, I assume you meant?)
the dog."
It's high time the human sewage
that controls this county and
this country are railroaded out
of town!
Tom J 4/15/08
In Response to Turtle and From
the Inside Looking Out:
Unless the Callie Rogers Davis
case was bound over from the
General Sessions Court to the
Grand Jury, it would not have
hit my radar screen and I would
not have likely known about it.
In General Sessions Court,
I would have relied on my
Assistant District Attorneys to
follow office policy of
prosecuting those cases for
which we had probable case to
believe that the
defendant committed the crime.
This assumes we had witnesses at
Court to prove our case. In the
event we had proof problems and
needed to get what we could get,
the Assistant District Attorneys
were authorized to make a
reasonable plea offer consistent
with our general office policy
concerning plea
offers. Sometimes they
passed proposed plea offers by
me for prior approval in the
event they were uncomfortable
making a plea decision under our
office policy.
As a general office policy
concerning plea offers, I
felt, in any case, reasonable
minds could differ as to the
proper plea decision within a
rather narrow range of plea
decisions. All my assistant
district attorneys where given
full authority to exercise their
professional judgment within
this realm of reason.
If any of my assistant district
attorneys operated outside of
this policy or the realm of
reason, they would have been
held accountable, assuming I
found out about it.
If you ignore policy like
that, it generally catches
up with you and I would have
heard of it. If I had known
of any violation of policy,
I would have intervened with
that employee by
imposing appropriate
disciplinary measures which
I did use on other matters
from time to time.
If it was a Criminal
Court case, my senior
Assistant District
Attorneys would not have
pled a case low where we
could prove the case
beyond a reasonable
doubt and had witnesses
for trial.
Also, the same
above-stated general
office policy applied.
My senior Assistant
District Attorneys
sometimes
passed proposed plea
offers by me for prior
approval in the
event they were
uncomfortable making a
plea decision under this
policy. Often deciding
the proper outcome
involved much thoughtful
in-house debate.
Didn't know I had been "thrown
under the bus" on such a simple
case. I figured that strategy
would have been saved as an
excuse for later and more
serious cases. Prosecuting bad
check cases is not rocket
science.
Public record shows the Billy
Hall case went to trial which
ended in a hung jury. As a
result the case went back on the
criminal court docket for
retrial.
Records from the Criminal Court
clerks office show the case was
dismissed by the present DAG in
late 2006 or early 2007.
I don't think the other cases
occurred on my watch. If they
did, the above rules and
policies applied.
Scott McCluen
For years, not afraid to sign my
name.
04/14/08
If just some of the stuff written on this blog is true, and I believe it is, then why isn't somebody doing something about it? Is there no state agency that can come in here and cut through the corruption and put an end to this? They did it in Cocke County. Where will all this end? Brad 4/14/08
Buford,
Please explain to me why someone
who worked for Loudon County
would have to go to Blount
County to interview for a
promotion here? Sounds fishy to
me, kind of like the director
knew who deserved the promotion,
but since her best friend put in
for it too, she tried every way
to dig him out of it! He should
sue for sexual discrimination,
and possibly harassment if he
saw the dirty picture Ricky
talked about! Guess if she told
her buddies at Blount Co to pick
her friend, she wouldn't be the
bad guy that made the decision.
Sounds to me she is unfair and
has no _______. (Things that
Hillary Clinton likes to keep in
a lock box.) Please Buford, do
tell more about this situation.
Sounds to me that the two girls
are running their own little
spending empire without anyone
that would notice it. Cant
believe they haven't gotten rid
of the other male there, but I
think the director knows she
couldn't run the place without
him. That's o.k. though, he
will soon be a college grad and
will be far above the public
servant realm of unhappiness.
Jenny ~ Loudon 4/14/08
TO THE 2008 GRADUATING
CLASS OF LOUDON HIGH SCHOOL
I want to congratulate you all
on a job well done and for
reaching a milestone in your
lives. I hope you all continue
to grow and strive for success.
Especially to Rob, you've come a
long way baby, love you.
Michelle Fickey-Loudon, TN.
4/14/08
To: Jake 4/8/08
You wrote:
<<<My source says the car was
pulled over because there was no
license plate. The Loudon
officer was not cited because it
was a brand new vehicle. This
really isn't much of a
scandal.>>>
It's the only way the Loudon
County Sheriff's Department can
be defended any more: The old
"So-what-everyone-does-it?!"
alibi.
We've seen Bear Webb get rid of
two bad apples in the past 1-1/2
years. They have problems
(because they have humans) but
they like to solve them. No
attempts are made to cover
things up there.
David Divelbiss
Lenoir City 4/14/08
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. Ephesians 5:11-12 Fearful for our county, 4/13/2008 To: Get a Life... The officers should be punished because of their spouse's actions. They are officers of the law. They took an oath to uphold the law whoever the criminal is. They had the knowledge, they should have acted accordingly and didn't. I'm sure it was embarrassing to them...their wives should have thought about that! I am sorry for the officers that do a good job and put their lives on the line for the folks of Loudon County. You all are appreciated. Eyes Wide Open, 4/13/2008
In
Response to Mr. McCluen's post
I'd like to add a little bit.
First R Johnson our DA threw
McCluen under the bus in The
Callie Rogers Davis article in
the Sentinel. I'd be willing to
bet that McCluen never heard of
this case. If the citizens
would put two and two together
you will see that Jimmy Davis
was the reason she got out of
those bad checks four years
ago. I know for a fact that the
ADA's do not like to cross the
police department and they just
agreed to let her off the hook
if she paid them (Sounds like a
recent incident, Right?). The
only time this girl has gotten
charged correctly was in a Knox
County shoplifting case when she
pled guilty. She pled guilty to
that charge I am told and was
placed on probation. Mrs. Davis
has since been in trouble more
times than you can count on one
hand in Loudon county and has
gotten zero due to her
relationship with Mr. Davis.
Why do you think she married the
guy? This Christian girl
supposedly, would sell out her
own family to save her butt and
it's no telling how easily she
would sell out Aikens and Guider
if she had something on them to
save her own butt. Enough of
her though because this incident
has raised bigger issues with me
and should be a big concern to
Loudon Countians and how it
handles it's justice system.
Mr.
Johnson, who private practice is
in Loudon, now has on more than
three occasions thought of
himself as the Judge and Jury
when it comes to punishing
crimes. April Bowen was charged
with stealing a large sum of
money from the local football
club and she gets away with
probation plus restitution.
Aikens is indicted twice by
Grand Jury's but Johnson decides
that there ain't enough evidence
to go to trial. Why did the
Grand Jury indict then? Then
you have Mrs. Callie Rogers
Davis, who just pleaded guilty
to identity theft less than 12
months ago, gets a get out of
jail free card for committing
the a similar crime less than a
year later. I hear DA Johnson's
reasoning but it doesn't add
up. She would have been
indicted by a grand jury. If DA
Johnson had said that it would
have been tough to sit a jury
because she is so hated
throughout Loudon County then
I'd been ok with that
reasoning because it's true.
Three felonies and three times
Johnson has decided in favor of
the Sheriff's department. Not
three times in favor of
supporting the sheriff's dept.
trying to convict criminals but
three times in favor of not
prosecuting people inside the
sheriff's department. He'd
probably plead the Houston boy's
case in Roane County if they
were lcsd deputies. It's sad
that a beautiful place like
Loudon County has such a stench
in it's local government that
it's like driving around
Tennessee National all day
enjoying the fresh Air.
signed, Turtle 4/12/08
I
had a couple of questions that
maybe the former D.A. or someone
else could answer? Billy Hall
of the Loudon County Sheriff
Dept. had a trial for the
assault on an inmate, the trial
ended in a "hung Jury" does that
mean it was just forgotten about
or is this something that is
still pending? Did the new D.A.
dismiss the charges? And with
the charges against officer
Davis', officer Costner' and
officer Bowen's wives, why have
none of these people served
not even 1 hour of jail time? Is
this again the work of the
present D.A.? And the chief
deputy, the patrol captain and
officer Hall where indicted on
felony charges and yet NONE of
them were disciplined in
any way, yet Bill Shirk
was fired for removing some jail
supply order forms from the
jail?
I voted for Tim Guider every time he has ran but I will never vote for him again and I think anyone that has any common sense would not either. This department bends and changes the rules to fit their needs and has become a big joke and quite frankly a disgrace to law enforcement. I know many officers of this department are good people and are fine examples of "professionals" in their field, and for them I am sorry you are put in the middle of this circus, but the top 5 ranking officers at the Loudon County Sheriff Department are simply disgraceful and very poor examples of law enforcement officials. Regardless of what you think of a person personally when a person chooses to be a law enforcement officer they put themselves in the "eye" of the public and are held to a higher standard, like it or not. But, these officers put themselves above the law and just keep on and on doing whatever they like because they know that the sheriff is NOT going to do anything about it. This is standard operating procedure for the LCSD and this is not going to change until there is a new sheriff in town. I have nothing personal against any of these people but a thief is a thief no matter what kind of badge you wear or hide behind and as for the others and their various charges, i.e.- assault, tampering with evidence, extortion, etc., breaking the law is breaking the law. I am sure some will write and say that some of the charges were dropped or dismissed or whatever but those involved know the TRUTH. The people of Loudon County need to wake up.
From the inside looking
out..................4/12/08
Ron
Paul for president 08". Check
out his web site and Infowars
.com. We would not have these
problems in this county if the
constitution were followed by
our so called servants they make
the law by what you're last name
is. They will pay at St. Peters
gate!!!!
They
know who they are! 4/12/08
Ricky,
I am not sure who
you are but; I support what you
say 100%. Also, I am not sure
how long you have been in the
system. If you have been here
long enough to remember the
"good ole days" with the first
director. Dispatch is returning
to those days once again. If
you were around then you
remember all of the favoritism
showed by the Director toward
certain employees. Remember the
shopping sprees and trips. How
bout the most recent trip to
Washington D.C. on 911's funds.
Not only did the Director go,
she took her favorite employee,
aka training officer.
There is 2 round
trip flights, 2 motel rooms, all
meals and getting paid while
gone. Now, there was another
person that went on this trip,
the training officers husband.
It would be interesting to see
the invoices from this trip to
see if 911 paid for any
additional meals than the ones
that were already unnecessary.
There was a time
that before becoming training
officer and while being a
supervisor, that the director
allowed her to supervise 3rd
shift from day shift for several
months. The reason, she's
building a house and it is
easier on her this way. Was the
other dispatcher that was
displaced for this in agreement
asked? No.
Let's move to the
Training Officer position and
how it came about. First, it
was posted and 2 people put in
for it. After so many hoops to
jump through to make it more and
more difficult, the other
candidate, with more experience
more qualified and was finally
pushed out to open it up for
her. Why should a Loudon 911
training officer prospect have
to go to Blount County to
interview for the position? It
seems as though she has finally
got what she wants, almost. She
now has a cozy dayshift job,
plenty of time to pawn the
trainees off on the
working understaffed dispatchers
and plenty of time behind closed
doors with the director. Now
only if she could get the
Directors position she would be
set.
Why does this
continue, the Director has her
favorites. Lets see, how bout
911 having to buy a stolen
vehicle that was entered
incorrectly? Did these
employees get fired or time
off? No, they got a little
write up. It is time for this
to end, I am with you when you
say it is time for the Director
to resign, and hopefully the
training officer, just in case
the Board thinks it would be a
good idea for her to take over!
Yours truly,
Buford T Justice
- for all 4/12/08
To GET A
LIFE!!! 4/11/08
"And last I checked it is not against the law to run an unlicensed daycare. Maybe you people need to get your facts right." This below came from http://www.daycare.com/tennessee/state2.html , Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers 1240-4-3-.01 If you want to open a child care facility, call that (local DHS) office before you do anything. You cannot care for a group of five or more children without a license. 8. Imposes a misdemeanor penalty of imprisonment for six months and a fine of $500 or both for each offense (day) of operating without a license.
If you have a question about
these standards, or if you want
to report an unlicensed facility
or a facility that is violating
licensing requirements, call the
DHS county
office. It is listed in the
telephone directory under
Tennessee State Government -
Human Services
Department. Someone there will
refer you to the licensing unit
in your area.
If you want to open a child care facility, call that office before you do anything. You cannot care for a group of five or more children without a license. 2. If you have a question or concern about these standards or the licensing procedure, call or write: Day Care Licensing Coordinator TN Department of Human Services Citizens Plaza Building 400 Deaderick Street Nashville, TN 37248-9800 Phone: (615) 741-7129
Mike B in LC 4/12/08
Dearest Ricky,
I am so glad that you are the
best cop in the world that you
have time to worry about the 911
center and patrol the county to
keep us safe. I'll bet the next
time your working and someone's
house catches fire, you'll be
the first to run with your
lights and siren to the scene at
about mach 10 through Lenoir
city paying no attention to
intersections or red lights,
only to stand around and watch
someone's dream go up in smoke
and thank god that it wasn't
your home. Or you could be
brave and get people out of a
burning building like Loudon
Police Dept did a while back and
be a hero, but wait, you said "and
we are not to call out the fire
dept to a fire,
or do
their work for them. "
So have you gotten a copy of the
tape and listened to how the
call came in to this fire on
notch in hill? You know the
last time the woods caught fire
over there several acres burned
before anyone noticed and the
people that did lived across the
river, not the ones in the
area.
As far as your relationship with
the 911 director, well that's
between you and her and I think
as a law enforcement officer
respecting people would be your
first priority. If you have a
problem with them go to their
supervisor. If that doesn't get
anywhere go up the chain. That
is the right thing to do.
And to Speak the truth, I am
glad you got to put your opinion
on here don't you love this
country?
-Dr.Seuss
To "Roane County and Proud",
to say I caved in to
political pressure or
influence to let people in
high places get off is just
plain wrong. Wake up and
use some discernment.
You obviously are mistaken
about my record as District
Attorney beginning September
1998. During my tenure, the
office set about cleaning up
the corruption that plagued
the District for decades.
We began in 1999 dealing with
organized gambling, which until
then was, at best, ignored or,
at the worst, protected. In
"Operation Cherry Picker" the
TBI at my request swept the
District seizing, if I recall
correctly, over 100 illegal
gambling machines. Some of these
locations also served as havens
for lower level
drug traffickers. One of these
locations (in Roane County) was
forced out of business and has
since 2006 reopened.
After 1999, we didn't let
up. Later, we partnered with
the Alcohol Beverage
Commission and hit private clubs
on Super Bowl weekend.
This action drew the ire of
some of the powers that be in
Loudon County and established a
political alliance of those who
longed to return to the good old
days as they saw it.
We also took on suspected crimes
in high places.
In 1998, our office
investigated ticket fixing in
Roane County General Sessions
Court. At that time, I was
unable to secure the help of the
US Attorney's office and we
couldn't establish an
investigative plan with enough
resources to determine whether
there was any ticket-fixing
occurring.
Later an informant, who was
unwilling to cooperate further,
made an allegation of kickbacks
to the Roane County General
Sessions Court Judge pertaining
to the driving school. Thus we
were unable move on this.
In 2005, we had two cooperative
informants who again made an
allegation of kickbacks. I
granted the informants immunity
from state prosecution and I
ordered an investigation by the
TBI. Later this investigation
was joined by the US Attorney's
Office and the FBI. As you know,
Austin plead guilty in Federal
Court as a result.
Also we, along with the
Comptroller's
office, investigated corruption
in the Rockwood city recorder
and judge's office where many
hundred's of thousands of
dollars were embezzled by the
city recorder and judge. Before
he could be prosecuted he died
of a self-inflected
gunshot. Others were prosecuted
and convicted on related cases.
In addition, based on
information received by us from
the State, we also initiated an
investigation by the
Comptroller's office and the TBI of
LCUB, the Dixie Lee Utility
District and a former state
legislator. The investigation
revealed information that was
too old to form the basis of any
possible prosecution should a
prosecution have been warranted.
This too established a
political alliance of those who
longed to return to the good old
days as they saw it.
In Morgan County, I ordered the
TBI to investigate the
disappearance of drug evidence
from the Sheriff's department
and the illegal pretrial release
of well-connected prisoners from
the Morgan County jail. In
addition, along with the
Comptroller's office, we were
involved with investigation and
indictment of the County Clerk
of Morgan County for
embezzlement.
This established a political
alliance of those who longed to
return to the good old days as
they saw it.
At my direction as a result of
complaints or leads from private
citizens, the TBI
initiated several investigations
of law enforcement officers.
Some officers were exonerated by
these investigations, some were
not. Those that were not, had
charges against them presented
to the grand jury of the
appropriate county.
Those cases touched three of the
four counties in the judicial
district - - not just Loudon as
some would have you believe nor
were they fueled by a political
vendetta. (The remaining Loudon
county cases where never tried
on the merits of the
allegations but were dismissed
by your present DA or by his pro
tem. The same occurred in case
against a Roane County Deputy
for DUI and violation of the
implied consent law for failing
to submit to blood alcohol test
when requested by a state
trooper.)
This again established a
political alliance of those
who longed to return to the
good old days as they saw
it.
We established case
protocols for law
enforcement to follow
(according to some officers
this is no longer enforced)
and provided training to
help us ensure we had the
best investigations
possible. Good
investigations and good case
files would force defense
attorneys to fold in the
face of impenetrable
prosecution cases. These
case requirements also
insured we didn't prosecute
innocent people. It also
afforded "Swifter Justice".
But sometimes doing good
investigations was more
work and we faced opposition
from some in the law
enforcement community.
This again
established a political
alliance of those who
longed to return to the
good old days as they
saw it.
We thwarted situations
were the powers-that-be
wanted cases to just
disappear or go away.
You may recall the
Lenoir City mayor, now
deceased, was
prosecuted for trying to
interfere with an
investigation by the
LCPD of a child abuse
case in the school
system just to name
one.
We did business in the
open. We established the
District Attorney
General website www.dag9jdtn.org which
had criminal court
schedules for
all cases
indicted by the grand
jury on the web for the
public to see, follow
the progress of and
attend trials if they
wanted.
The website also
provided the public the
opportunity to make
confidential complaints
to the DA's office.
Some of the entries I
see on this blog could
have been reported for
possible investigation.
That website and the
opportunities for
oversight and
investigation are now
gone.
In summary, to say I
caved into political
pressure or influence to
let people in high
places get off is just
plain wrong.
"Roane County and Proud"
obviously doesn't
personally know me or my
record. If he or she
did, they would know
that if anyone working
for me caved to this
type of pressure and
fixed a case, I would
have fired them.
To the contrary, looking
back on it, my failure
to do that created a lot
of political opposition
to what I was trying to
do. Now, looking back, I
wouldn't have changed a
thing. That's what
Loudon County and the
other counties deserve.
I have lived through the
"good old days"
and the unfettered
operation of the good
old boy system. It
wasn't pretty and
certainly wasn't good.
You desire better.
That's why I ran for DA
in 1998 and for
re-election in 2006.
The problems facing your
community are sometimes
broad and very
deep. If there
are people with direct
knowledge of any wrong
doing, it is likely
they are justifiably
scared.
Support those in your
local agencies who are
seeking to be fair and
just. I know from my
prior experience, there
are good officers who
are working under very
difficult conditions.
Use some discernment.
Don't paint them all
with the same brush.
Support them and their
families.
Get rid of the rest.
Wake up, use your
brain and keep a
watchful eye. The tail
is waging the dog.
Scott McCluen
For years, not afraid
to sign my name 4/11/08
What's the big deal with officer Costner having a private investigation business on the side. Big Tony and Diamond Gem have been operating a private security service out of the sheriff's office for years. You need private security at your home or business, call Big Tony. He will send out certain "off duty" officers to protect you and your property. Remember when Extream Trucking went under and all the truck drivers were so mad at Brandenberg. Secret Service to the rescue. And then there is the Dunn Ridge deal. 12 hour security, 6p to 6a 7daw $20 per hour on the side. I wont even go into some of the things that have gone on at the guard house. You might ask the 911 director. She knows. So you got trouble, need protection, contact Big Tony or Diamond Gem. They make your problem go away. Forget about it 4/11/08
As a parent of a child who
attends Greenback School, I
think it's a disappointment that
the conduct of two teachers has
been allowed to continue. For
the past year, Mr. Wheeler has
been allowed to stay in the
classroom even though he was
arrested for a DUI. Now we
learn of a second incident where
he has been arrested again for
the same crime. When asked why
he is still in the classroom the
answer is because it was on his
personal time not school time.
From a previous blog, light has been shed on a second teacher that also has had an occurrence due to alcohol. Even though this happened on school time at a sporting event while students were present it seems nothing has been done and he will continue to teach there next school year. Not only has this teacher been accused of being drunk around his students, he is supposedly having inappropriate relationship with another school employee. School board members and Edward Headlee are all aware of this and continue to turn a blind eye toward this inappropriate conduct that continues to take place on school grounds. Not only as parents do we need to worry about our building issues but we need to worry about the faculty issues and why only certain persons are punished. The other employee is only an aide and there have been many opportunities to relocate her to another facility to cure this problem. What kind of an example are they setting for our impressionable youth? She too has had her share of problems this year and is going to be allowed to work this year without any reprimand. She also allowed a young lady to change clothes on the school bus while in mixed company with parents following the bus. What will the Greenback Faculty do next?
VERY CONCERNED AND IRRITATED
PARENT OF GREENBACK 4-11-08
Larry,
Funny that you should mention
the house fire incident. I
think that it is tragic that the
loss of a life could come from a
simple mistake. If you look
into the Policy and Procedure
manual at the 911 dispatch, you
will find that if there is a
report of smoke, or even the
smell of smoke or gas, with or
without fire, 911 dispatch is
supposed to immediately dispatch
the appropriate fire dept. It
is not my job as an officer to
see if it is a fire. We have
had this discussion before with
the director, and she made it
clear that we are not the fire
dept, and we are not to call out
the fire dept to a fire, or do
their work for them.
So, if 911 dispatch didn't follow the procedure manual, then I believe the firings should happen again. If she is going to hold everyone to such a strong standard as she did Marshall and Tony, then lets do it to everyone. Making a funny phone call and neglecting procedures possibly costing the life of a human are two totally different things. I believe it is time for the director to resign for unfair judgment in discipline, her "dirty text picture" that has gone unpunished, for her allowing of the employees and board to spend money on purchase cards in a frivolous manner, and other things that I cannot post on this blog. By the way, the frivolous manner of purchase cards is referring to the many DOCUMENTED meals purchased for Friends, family and members of the 911 board. How can she let things go on there with employees that are possibly criminal or severely immoral without punishment, but punish the people that are guilty of the same things she has done? I see here on the blog that one dispatcher made a contract with the schools to work, and left early without paying them back. Is this not theft? How many people in this county alone have gone to jail for the same thing? How about allowing for years, the personal conversations on recorded lines between married men and women to their "special Friends" while on the job. It is there for anyone to get! (Hint Hint to the people that are being left for a dispatcher) Does she not realize that she is letting the place be legally liable for those kind of actions? Every single phone conversation that goes in or out of the place is digitally recorded. They can be burned to a CD or tape, and bought by the public for what they would call a small fee. Ha! It is obvious that the place is in shambles. You can't even listen to their website live on-line anymore. Guess they don't want the public to hear the embarrassment anymore than they have to. The election is coming my friends, and there will be new people that are more eager to look into these actions. It's audit time!
Ricky 4/11/08
To all the bloggers on Van's
terrible site who think that
they know everything. You
obviously don't know
anything so why don't you
just keep your opinions to
yourself. You people like
to get on here and say
things about other people
like our officers not even
thinking about the fact that
most of them have kids and
what this is doing to them.
You wouldn't want the things
that you do to affect your
kids and I am sure they
don't either. You can get
on here and talk about our
officers but when you need
something from them you
don't hesitate to call 911.
If you think so badly of our
officers then why don't you
just take care of your own
problems from now on, or
move to another county.
What their spouses or other
family members do should not
affect their jobs if they
are good at what they do
like Officer Costner is (who
by the way deserves his
promotion, sounds like some
people are jealous of him)
then that should not affect
there job. He works with
our children because he is
good at that to and is a
very caring person you
people who like to get on
here and say things about
him and his wife obviously
don't know what has really
went on you just know what
you hear from others just
like you who like to talk
about other people and
spread crap. Or you would
know that the crap on his
wife is just that, crap and
she never should have been
indicted in the first
place. It is because of
other stupid people like you
that she was anyway, and as
far as him having another
job and using company time,
and phones, and other
resources to help him in
that business. I did a
little checking of my own
and found out a few things
that you people didn't take
the time to find out before
you got on here and starting
running your mouth about
that either. He does have a
PI business but its not
against the law for someone
to have a second job even if
they are a cop as long as it
does affect their
performance. Times are hard
now and a lot of people have
second jobs when they have
families, also the phone
number that is given for his
PI business is not a phone
issued to him from the
county as you people think
other people besides cops
can have Nextels and that
phone Nextel or not is paid
for privately by him. Most
people do have a private
cell phone of their own.
Maybe you guys should do a
little more homework before
you talk about others it
wasn't hard for me to find
these things out. Obviously
you guys just like to talk
about people before you even
know that truth. Next time
why don't you try treating
people the way you want to
be treated and don't talk
about our officers when you
don't really know what you
are talking about. Have you
ever heard of (do unto
others as you would have
them do unto you). Guess
Not!
Speak the Truth or Don't
Speak at all! 4/11/08
Well, Well, Well, here we go
again. I think all of you
people need to get a life. I
think you all are crazy. Why
in the world should these
cops be punished for
something they had no
control over? I am talking
about Davis, Bowen and
Costner. These guys get out
here everyday and put their
lives on the line for YOU...
YES YOU the ones who are
complaining. And last I
checked it is not against
the law to run an unlicensed
daycare. Maybe you
people need to get your
facts right. And IF you knew
the whole story you would
know that Mrs. Costner did
not hurt the child
intentionally. But again you
do not know all the facts,
you just know what you
heard... As far as a PI what
does that matter. If you had
any intelligence at all you
would know that it is
perfectly legal for anyone
to be a PI and a cop you can
just not do criminal work in
the county you are a police
officer in. It is my
understanding he has had
this PI Business for years,
I know of people he has done
work for before he was ever
a full time cop. So know
maybe before you start
running your mouths you
should find out everything.
Once again why not lay off
these guys and get jobs
yourselves, because you
obviously do not have one if
you have all this time to
sit around and talk about
these people on a daily
basis.
GET A LIFE!!! 4/11/08
I am so sorry that all the deputies at the sheriff's office are being painted with the same brush. That's so unfair. Most of the deputies are hard workers dedicated to serving the public. But all we ever hear about are the bad apples. Who's fault is that. The responsibility sits squarely with Sheriff Tim Guider. Guider has consistently refused to take control of his department. He has as he said it, stood behind his men, no matter what they did. Now look at the mess we're in and there is no way to ever regain the respect and trust of this community. To Mr. Guider, you have destroyed the Loudon County Sheriff's department either with your actions or inaction. To those deputies and their wives who have refused to be a part of the destruction, keep the faith. A better day will will come. A very sad citizen 4/10/08 As a parent of a Greenback student, I was glad to see that Edward Headlee finally did something about Bo Wheeler. But 2 DUI's and he is still there, that's makes no sense. Why isn't he dismissed immediately? The bad thing is, there is still another problem teacher with a drinking problem. He was once escorted from a sporting event by an officer because he was drunk. He has also been involved in other improper activity with another teacher. Those of you from Greenback know very well who I am talking about. If you feel what's going on in our school is not right, you should do what I did and contact your school board member and Headlee. It's bad enough that our building is falling down around our ears but do we also have to have teachers in our mists that are such bad examples for our children? All this is just one more reason why it's time for a new school board. I care in Greenback 4/10/08
I've been reading the blogs related
to the Callie/Jimmy Davis matter.
Seems to me most of you are missing
the big picture. The real story in
this is the actions of District
Attorney, Russell Johnson.
Roane
County and Proud 4/10/08 well, well, well,
here we go again....does the
sheriff's department have a policy
about being a criminal or being
married to one in order to be
hired? Charlie Costner's wife is
indicted last year and he's being
promoted to detective. Why am I not
surprised. As for his PI business,
I just wonder if he's using his
police powers to run background
checks and driver's license checks?
Wouldn't that be against the law?
If anybody knows if it is illegal to
use his police powers for that
stuff, please tell me. Is he's
following cheating spouses on county
time or in a county vehicle. Well,
he works with some of the cheating
spouses, so he could just keep tabs
on them at work. As for Jimmy
Davis, no tears for him. Callie had
a pretty colorful reputation before
he married her. let me see, she's
paying the family bills, stealing
the money via a friends checking
account, and he knows nothing about
it. How did he think the bills were
getting paid? Chris Bowen doesn't
know what his wife was doing, Davis
has no idea, and I'd bet if you
asked Charlie, he had no idea his
wife was running an unlicensed
daycare. Boy, those guys are on top
of their game. Oh yeah, and Aikens
had no idea he could not seize that
guys money. Loudon county's finest
to be sure. And for the sheriff, he
has no idea this stuff goes on
either right. wake up people To Loudon Lou,
Sounds to me like someone needs to do a little investigating of there on. By going to the site you can see, oh there is an address associated with the company. If you do a reverse look up on whitepages.com you will find this is indeed Mr. Costner. If you hover over the service info link, is goes to C Costner. Now the next part is to see if the Nextel number listed there is his or the county issued phone. Makes you wonder who the surveillance equipment belongs to, and who his partners are. How much time is spent on the counties dime doing database research? I'm sure TBI would not find a conflict of interest here, a PI having access to there database records at will for non-law enforcement purposes. How many other county investigators are involved with his company?
Signed, Oh what a tangled web…4/10/08
Just
wondering if Davis gets the big
job taken away what about the
others? Or Bowen why is he not
in the jail working? His wife's
crime was just as bad as
Callie's. Or Costner why is he
working with our kids!? Or what
about the ones that are having
marital affairs and are now
getting divorced? What
ever happened to if one does
wrong why should another not get
the same thing!?? What kind of
Dept. is Guider running it seems
to me as though it is a joke!
As
for the City they are just as
guilty what about Bear what the
heck its a joke down there to!
I
thought these people were
suppose to be prime examples to
our children? What in the world
are these people thinking! Maybe
they all need to get right with
the Lord and fix things first
with the BIG man & then try on
living a better life.
Loudon County Tax Payer 4/10/08
Loudon Lou,
Sounds to me that someone is
jealous over Officer
Costner, from what I hear he
is a very good Crime Scene
Investigator and is
dedicated to his job. What
does it matter if he is a
Private Detective on the
side, these days everyone
has to have a Second job.
How many jobs do you have?
And you know he has kids,
why not lay off him for his
kids sake. You all get on
here and go off on these
people without even thinking
about what you are doing to
their children. Would you
want people doing that to
your kids or do u care?
Give these people a break
4/10/08
It was tragic about
the man that died in the house fire
out in Notch In Hill. But if someone
would go back and listen to the 911
tapes they would find that the
deputy in charge that evening told
dispatch that the sheriff's
department had no way of getting to
the location of the reported fire.
Dispatch asked the officer several
times if he wanted them to page out
the rescue squad. The deputy told
dispatch that they had been getting
this same call about once a week.
Again dispatch asked if he wanted to
page out the squad. A lot of
response time was lost by the
deputy's hesitation. Sounds like it
wouldn't have made a difference even
if the sheriff's deputy's had
responded promptly. But who knows.
Loudon Lou 4/9/08 To Let's Appreciate the cops It's not as though they (cops) are volunteers. They do get paid for their work and some of them very well. If we have cops that can't handle the day to day strain of being a cop then they sure shouldn't be carrying a weapon. They are working in their chosen profession and if they can't follow the rules or they don't like what they are doing they should find another line of work where they would be more comfortable. Michael R. 4/9/08 I agree with Mr. Raggland. Public servants should be held to a higher standard. I also believe they should experience harsher punishment when caught breaking the law or exposed to scandals. Now let’s define public servants. This means doctors, lawyers, politicians, police officers, school teachers and misters. All these folks are in very high profile jobs. Where their actions good or bad can have a very lasting impact on children and young adults. So if you can’t obey the law and maintain a higher moral and ethical standard. Then get out and get out now. This means, don’t cheat, lie or steal. Once the trust is broken, it can never be regained. Just Wondering 4/9/08 Just
Wondering,
To
Ricky,
It has been told, and shown, to
me there is not a fraternization
policy for the county. So
husband and wife, boyfriend and
girlfriend can work for the same
or separate depts.
To Jenny H,
I have to give the dispatchers
this one, I heard it on the
scanner. Would you like one,
I'll put it on the trading post
for you to buy already
programmed.
Comment on officer/dispatcher
stop,
We can't control what people do
on their off time. And as far
as I know the only thing the
government has given us on
policies regarding morals is
taking prayer out of school and
we all know what happened there.
Comment on ethics,
Contracts made by people are
private, even if they are
contracting with a public
agency. And to my knowledge
county workers aren't allowed to
enter into contracts as a county
employee so this contract would
have to have been private and
thus none of us or 911's
business. You are correct
though it should be paid back if
it is not already.
And lastly to just wondering,
2010 will change this county,
just wait till then. It will be
better.
-Captain and Tenille 4/8/08
I have noticed that many of the accusations on the blog are about infidelity, a moral sin not a crime. The accusations may or may not be true, I have no idea. In most instances I would take issue with those who would cast stones at others for their morality or lack there of. But in the case of law enforcement, a compromise in ones moral integrity can be cause for concern. A law enforcement officer whether male or female who chooses to be involved in hidden or secret immoral activity becomes susceptible to pressures that could lead to poor or deadly decisions. Such as, an officer makes a traffic stop to find the driver to be drunk. However the drunken driver knows of the officer's immoral activity and threatens to expose the officer unless the officer releases him. The officer fearing exposure allows the drunken driver to go on his way. The drunken driver has an accident causing death or injury to himself or others. This is only a hypothetical situation and there are many other scenarios that could lead to bad outcomes. In law enforcement high morals and integrity are a necessity and a requirement not just a suggestion. Any law enforcement officer whether male or female who participates in moral turpitude should be dismissed immediately the safety and welfare of the community demand it. Jake Raggland Oh my fellow
bloggers, I would like to comment back to the wise person who stated that dispatch didn’t inform the community of the escaped prisoner : for your information I have a child at one of the local schools and just to let you know the schools were on a special lock down. So the dispatchers did indeed contact the community about the situation. So thank you dispatchers for contacting the area schools about the situations , so that our children could be kept safe. Might I add before you go barking off at the mouth get your facts straight! Anonymous 4/8/08
Bloggers,
In reference to the 911 bolo
about the escapee. There are a
couple of things you should
know. First off, 911 was
understaffed that day. There is
only one person to blame for
this, the director. Second of
all, to my understanding there
is not a clean cut policy on
giving out bolo's. In a
situation where officers are all
out on traffic, a routine bolo
such as the one that came
through about the escapee comes
through all the time. It is not
an emergency unless the bolo is
directed to Loudon County. I
think the understaffed 911
employees did their best, if
anyone should get the blame,
look to the top! And to Ricky,
there is no way the 911 board
will ever take action on the
"naked" picture that was shown
at dispatch. They might have to
discipline her the same way she
has done to others in the past.
YOU'RE FIRED!!!!! It will never
happen! I guess when she and
the rest of the "moral" board
are sitting in church, they just
kind of forget things like
that.
Smokey 4/8/08
A Loudon police
officer was pulled over. My source
says the car was pulled over because
there was no license plate. The
Loudon officer was not cited because
it was a brand new vehicle. This
really isn't much of a scandal. Jake 4/8/08
how bout this one for 911 ethics
and inappropriate. Did you know
that there is a former reserve
officer working full time there
that
before becoming full time made
an agreement with a certain
school to provided daily traffic
control. This former reserve
officer was
paid in advance by the school
for this service (it wasn't
cheap) and has since neglected
his duty to the school, without
reimbursement
to the school for the service he
was paid in advance for. He was
dismissed from the reserves for
this. He still remains at 911,
is this
because they can't afford to let
another dispatcher go? Or,
could it be, school money =
county money, so it is ok.
signed, makes you wander,
Lenoir City 4/8/08
To the 911 Board :
Hopefully you are all keeping up with the latest news out of the 911 center. After speaking with several employees there, it seems several are now looking more seriously for another job. They are afraid to come into work, they are afraid to say anything at all at work and worst of all they are in fear of there jobs.
The majority of the board is the same department heads that rely on the 911 center to make sure they receive the calls that come in. The same ones that rely on the center for their employees safety. How many more dispatchers can we bear to lose? At current time, we have five, yes five that have more than one year experience. Can we really stand to lose those? How long does it take to train replacements? Too long! I believe if you were interested in meeting with each and every dispatcher, with guaranteed confidentiality and without fear of retaliation, you would find just how bad it is.
It is bad enough that the training officer has left all the training to the on duty dispatchers so she can sit behind closed doors and assist in the witch hunt for where all of the information is coming from that is getting on this site. All though I am sure she wouldn't mind seeing the Director go, just speak to some of the officers next door to see what she has been saying about her not having control of the center.
It is time to step up and protect your departments as well as the citizens of this county's safety. It is time to realize that these are not rumors floating around, but facts. We ask you to come together as a Board and listen to the employees individually.
Yours truly, Buford T. Justice – for all 4/8/08
To Dwayne Drinnen
Former public servant-yeah if
you were female he did.
However I can't understand how
you can get on here and get
behind someone when you were
caught stealing. I mean whether
he had knowledge or not of his
wife's activities and I am
definitely not saying he did or
he didn't because well you would
have to be a fool to think that
he did not, but at least he was
not caught red handed as you
were.
So I really think that you have
no right to get up or behind
anyone on such a topic.
Signed
a LCUB "Paying" Customer 4/8/08
Please post in regards to
Callie/Jimmy Davis blogs.
First of all to "Mutt" :
Mister, you need to learn to
spell and your grammar is
pathetic. You must have a fifth
grade education. Sounds like
you are extremely jealous of Mr.
Jimmy Davis. He certainly
doesn't need advice from you.
Take a good hard look at the
"Mutt" you're living with!!
Secondly, to "Something needs to
be changed": Why don't you get
a life. Do less talking and
more listening or observing.
Maybe the blank look you
received from the deputies was
their way of saying, "mind your
own business you nosey
heifer!!" Yes, you are so
filled with jealousy, misery and
Lord knows what else, it's
pathetic. I can see it every
time I look at your pathetic
face. Yeah, I know who you
are!! You're right.. Something
does need to be changed. You
need to get you a life girl!!
Lastly, to "A concerned citizen
and future political leader in
this country". Dear Lord, I
hope not. To let someone who
has tunnel vision like you in
office would be like county
suicide. Real good outlook on
life my friend. I wonder if you
know God. God says we are
supposed to be forgiving. Where
is your forgiveness. Seems to
me if the dear lady you spoke of
whom has had her share of
heartache can find a place in
her heart to forgive, then why
can't you??? Huh, something to
think about right. I bet you go
to church and maybe even sing in
the choir. One of those Sunday
morning Christians I bet!! Take
your own advice.
YOU CAN'T FOOL GOD!!! 4/8/08
I have a question and wanted to
see if anyone knows the answer
to this. Why is it on every
other position at the LCSD the
protocol is to post a position
and make the decision based on
who signs up for that position
is decided on based on seniority
and their record, and so on.
So would someone like to tell me why that this is different this time-now I know you all are going to laugh because well it is very obvious why this is different, but humor me. There are several officers with more seniority and cleaner records than Davis so why were they not given the choice of dayshift Sgt. with weekends off? And aren't the weekends when you need a supervisor more? I am sure that given the opportunity or offer another Cpl. or Sgt. would have like to have had the choice. I mean they made another officer give up being Sgt. on day shift because they would not allow him to keep weekends off and he is a single father raising two children on his own. Did they think that maybe another officer on seconds wouldn't want an offer at that-he has more seniority than Davis.
Why did Davis get to take a car
away from someone else?
So my thought on this is why is this the only place without a human resource division in place, and all decisions are left up to two non college educated people such as 901/902??? Maybe they should have given him SRO officer at one of the school's, maybe he could do that without messing up. I mean let's go down the list of people in high rank and the obvious:
901-no degree
902- no degree/only indictments
903- no degree
942- no degree/only indictments
Jail Adm.- no degree/no
certification either
Investigator Hall- no degree/
only indictments
911 Director- no degree
signed just wondering 4/8/08
I noticed on the blog where
everybody is going off on
Law Enforcement in this
County, I agree they do make
mistakes they are human.
However, whenever you have
an emergency, for instance
someone is breaking into
your house, or you mad
somebody mad and they are
threatening you with a gun.
They are the same ones who
will come to your rescue.
They are the same ones
without prejudice will come
knowing that their is a
chance they could be shot,
wounded, or even killed for
YOU. As far as their
mistakes what kind of stress
do you think that their
lives are going to these
calls day in and day out.
Unlike most 9 to 5 jobs a
police officers duties in a
small town are 24 hours a
day all year long even on
holidays. While you sleep at
night there are police
officers patrolling your
county or your city to try
to keep you out of harms way
by putting themselves in it.
Before you cast judgment
onto them we should be
Thanking them for putting
our lives before their own.
Signed: Let's Appreciate the
cops not dog them 4/8/08
I think you need to get all
the facts about these people
that you are dogging on the
blog. Just like the Costner
lady, Do you know all the
facts? I know her as a close
friend and I think what
happened to her is terrible,
I know that she would never
do to a child what she was
accused of doing. So. if you
do not know all the facts
why not leave these people
alone and worry yourself.
I Care 4/8/08
I just know that their are
bad seeds in every apple and
why do innocent people have
to be punished. Just like
with Mr. Davis why should he
be punished for something he
did not do? I do not see the
point in punishing the
Spouse of the people who are
accused of a crime. I just
do not see that that is fair
at all. Why punish the whole
family? Just like the other
officer that is referred to
in the blog, why should he
be punished for something he
had no control over? If it
was you would you want that
to happen to you? If your
spouse was accused of
something? If they worked in
any other Field would they
be punished? These Officers
are good at what they do and
I have heard highly of them.
I think Jimmy Davis should
have kept his position. And
I think Loudon needs a well
qualified CSI.
Signed: We need fairness
here 4/8/08
Everyone is talking about
the Loudon City officer and
his married dispatcher
girlfriend. What about the
high ranking county officer
who has a girlfriend that
also works for the county?
They are seen together all
over town and make no
attempt to hide it, he is at
her house all the time, he
even mows her lawn. Why is
nothing ever said about this
officer.
Neighbors see alot!!! 4/8/08
I have read you blogs for some
time now and I must say I have
respected and admired your
opinion. BUT this is one time
you do not know what you are
talking about. You write your
comment as if you are certain a
county employee wrote it. So
please allow me to put my two
cents in. First of all I am NOT
a county employee ( for the
record).
As for the statement about the
Loudon city deputy. this is what
I know not heard.
In my opinion there is
corruption in every department
at most all levels. It is just
some cover it up better than
others.
respectfully
One Who Knows 4/7/08
In response to David
Divelbiss:
I have nothing to do with
the sheriff's department I
just read the blog often and
see what is said about
different things. And if you
would check into what I said
about Loudon City you would
find that it is true. I just
think that it is unfair to
dog one police department
when they are all pretty
much the same. How many Cops
cheat on their spouses? I
promise you it is more than
you think.
Just Curious 4/7/08
Good Monday Morning blog fans.
So we see justice can be done within our own little depts! While I hate to see Mr. Davis go down, I am glad that justice has finally worked here. Mr. Davis is a fine co-worker and I know that the majority of the dept thinks the same. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Meanwhile, I will continue to support Mr. Davis in his great career. Now I'm going to turn my attention back to the 911 dispatch center. I have read the comments about the bonuses for the director and was shocked to find that it is true. I hardly think running a dept in the shambles that it is in now deserves such reward. I hear since the two recently departed dispatchers are gone, there isn't hardly enough people to work the shifts! Lets take a moment to think about this. Now we have 2 people working the busiest shifts instead of 3. That means, to the people in the public of Loudon County, there are only 2 people in the whole building that will answer 911 if you call. This is in a county with more than 40 thousand people. If you need an ambulance, policeman, or fire dept, these 2 people are the only ones that will be able to get you one. Sounds pretty silly huh! Now on top of all of their other duties, like making sure that we as law enforcement are OK, they are having to take up even more slack because of the director's bad decision making. The people that are working there now on second shift are the newest and in-experienced except for one of them, and she seems to be one of the most miserable human beings on the planet. Apparently the director doesn't seem to pay much attention to all this, because every time you call for her at 911 dispatch, it seems she is gone or taking another day off. I guess she is scared one of the board members might run in to her and ask her about the inappropriate text picture she had supposedly shown employees. Wonder if her husband remembers that picture? I will be getting some good information in the next couple of days, some real documented evidence of frivolous use of 911 funds on 911 purchase cards. The best thing is, when they get audited next time, the auditors will know what to look for. This place will make Knox County's P-card use look like a joke! I think I hear the theme to Jaws!
Ricky 4/7/08
More 911 news. I heard dispatch
didn't give out the news about
the escaped prisoner from carter
county the other day. I also
heard the prisoners clothes were
found in the middle of the
street in Lenoir City. Wonder
why the director doesn't have
more control over this. Surely
they knew about it, the news had
it all over the T.V. and radio!
Good thing no one got hurt! I
would hate to think that an
officer might miss the chance to
catch a criminal because 911
didn't do their job!
Jenny H. Loudon 4/7/08
To Just Curious
Loudon county citizens it is
time to wake up!!! everybody
knows what's going on down
there. I guess the sheriff
thinks everyone in the county is
stupid. Jimmy Davis knew who she
was when he married her. She had
charges pending at the time
!!!! I have several friends
down there that are deputies and
most of the deputies are hard
working and honest. it’s the
ones causing problems and
getting indicted all the time
and the wives of the problem
deputies stealing and
embarrassing the department.
Jimmy don’t have his black
unmarked anymore to drive all
over the state of Tennessee on
the tax payers money. But I did
hear that they took a brand new
patrol car away from a deputy
that was supposed to get it and
give it to Jimmy Davis to
drive. ????? Got a brand new
car out of it though!! Sorry to
the deputy still driving the
1999 model. I talked to three
deputies in the last week and
could not get anything out of
them but a blank look.
Oh yea. To Lenoir City
Star! We all know who you
are! Jealous??!!! Of
what??!! You’ve got to be
kidding!! give the citizens
of Loudon County some
credit!!
signed: something needs to change!! 4/7/08
I recently read an article
in the News Herald about
officer Costner of the
Loudon County Sheriff Dept.,
how he is a highly trained
investigator that is having
to do double duty as a
school resource officer. My
first question is WHY? I
know for a fact that the
sheriff dept. has another
investigator on payroll that
has the same training as
officer Costner, why can't
this officer do the crime
scene investigations and let
officer Costner go back to
being the school resource
officer? Also, while on the
subject of officer Costner,
I have read all the blogs
about officer Davis' wife
getting in trouble and being
convicted of a felony for
identity theft. And while I
feel no sympathy for her.
What about officer
Costner's wife? She was
arrested and charged with
AGGRAVATED CHILD
ABUSE, yet I have
seen nothing in the paper or
this blog about her going to
court. She was to have a
court date in February and
it was postponed and the
District Attorney may be
trying to get the charges
reduced because if convicted
of the current charges she
will have to serve mandatory
jail time. If I was the
parent of the child she is
accused of hurting I would
be mad as hell that a
reduced charge is even being
suggested because to my
understanding, this was a
very serious injury that
required surgery.
I guess I am trying to figure out why some of the officers of the Loudon County Sheriff Dept. and/or their significant others are not being held accountable for their actions in the SAME manner as any other citizen of this county is? If anyone out there has the answers please do tell..............
I can't believe it's not a
soap opera 4/7/08
I cannot believe that Calli
Davis is gettin away with such
little punishment.
Did the court not realize that
the woman she stole from, who
happens to be a very respected
woman in our county, just lost
her husband to cancer not even
three years ago and has children
to raise on her own.
Ya, maybe her husband left her
money when he died but that is
no reason to take this woman's
money without her knowledge.
Especially when the paper said
she had already been helping
with some bills,
So Callie if you read this, just
remember you stole money from
not only a woman who's husband
died but the BIG one is, you
stole money from two children
who depend on the money they get
from the fathers death.
NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL PRETTY
PATHETIC.
I'm glad the Johnson is making
you get mental help because to
do this to what it says in the
paper to a so called friend is
the most sorry thing I have ever
heard of in my entire life.
And to read that this woman
wanted to drop charges just to
protect your son says a whole
lot about her character, she
must be an awesome woman at
heart to not want to prosecute
you, because it seems as though
Loudon County would like to see
you pack your bags and leave,
you are a danger to our society
and children, banks, stores,
schools, citizens in our county.
And I have to agree, Jimmy
deserved to be ranked down, I
actually feel he should have
been fired due to this. Any
other dept would have let him
go.
I pray God will help you with
your therapy and your being
honest with the judge about
being sorry and wanting help,
because you should be more than
sorry and more than seeking
outpatient treatment.
Just remember, you can't fool
God!
Signed, A concerned citizen and future political leader in this county 4/7/08
I knew it would start, so here
we go. Lets all feel sorry for
the FORMER assistant. chief
deputy. Well, I have other
feelings about this situation,
this is the place to express
them right. Jimmy knew what he
was getting to when he hooked up
with her. He was warned by a few
to say the least. You would
think he knew of her past and
her background since he WAS a
high ranking officer, one would
think. So the lets feel sorry
for him don't fly with me. I
find it VERY, VERY hard to
believe that this one instance
with Callie and her well
deserving, for once, prosecution
got him demoted. I have a strong
feeling that he was warned and
talked to about her history and
her antics. Do you really think
the Sheriff would put him self
in a legal situation over this.
I have confidence in the
Sheriffs right to do what is
right for his office and I
personally feel safer knowing
a high ranking officer, as blind
as he must be, is not in that
position anymore and that Callie
is finally one step closer to
jail time as she so well
deserves. Now lets see if he
gets to drive his new county car
in his new position all
over East Tenn. burning up mine
and your tax payer money like
they have in the past. Oh ya! we
notice. I can not close with out
giving a word of advice to Mr.
Jimmy Davis, get out like all
the former victims have. You
still have a future. You know, I
have a wonderful dog that me and
my wife love and adore and he to
goes astray and doe's wrong
sometimes. When he comes home or
needs a little correction he
gets put on a leash or tied up
to the porch. I HAVE AN EXTRA
LEASH AND CHAIN....
GOOD LUCK IN YOUR NEW POSITION. YOU'LL NEED IT WITH THE COMPANY YOU KEEPING..... Mutt 4/5/08
To: Just Curious 4/2/08
You wrote:
<<<I have knowledge that a
married Loudon City Police
Officer..... I heard after an
internal Hush-Hush
Investigation......... I also
heard during the Investigation
his Sgt. attempted to cover up
certain facts...>>>
I suppose nobody is talking
about this one because
"I heard.....I heard....I also
heard..." really isn't a
verifiable story. When you
verify this, please post again.
(But, I think I know what the
problem really is.)
I'm very sorry to hear that you
guys at the Sheriff's Dept are
still so sore at the Loudon City
Police, and just
wish they would
learn to become screw ups!! You
really need to get over it.
David Divelbiss
Lenoir City 4/5/08
For most of you that thought
that xmas only comes once a year
it seems it comes twice.
Yesterday April 4th was the
second-when Callie Aka Rogers,
Aka Elder Now Davis was
convicted, however the
punishment could have been
better. My question is why is
her husband being made an
example of and she is not? I
mean come on not that it
matters, but why should he loose
when she always wins?
Signed
Justice for All
4/5/08
Thank You Gilligan. That is
the truest statement ever
put on this Blog, and I do
agree with you. I do know.
Dewayne Drinnen Ex-Public
Servant 4/5/08
To Chief Davis,
I am so sorry you have been made
an example of, we salute your
service. It seems that if the
charges we made against you and
you were indicted then you would
still have your position. But
what do I know about morals and
ethics I'm just a dumb citizen
who doesn't know what they are
talking about.....or do I?
'This decision is not meant
to punish Jimmy, but to maintain
stability in management and
confidence among the troops and
the citizens we serve.
'
Come on, who are you kidding?
You lost that confidence a long
time ago.
Caesar:
"Et tu, Brute?" Julius Caesar (III, i, 77)
-Gilligan 4/5/08
Dearest Buford T. Justice-For
All,
You are correct my friend! The
way I understand it, the 911
director makes about $50,000.00
- $55,000.00 a year from her
annual salary. On top of that
she receives either one or two
$5000.00 bonuses from the 911
board. It seems to me, since
all of the dispatchers
underneath her have done all the
work, they should get more than
the $50.00 bonus they get a
year. If the math is done
correctly, you have a "non
degreed" director according to
the famous RICKY, that is making
over $60,000.00 - $65,000.00 a
year.
While the numbers may not be right on, they are close. In my opinion, if you make that kind of money in the public service field, and you are in your 20's, you'd better have some kind of college education. It's my understanding, the people that work and have worked for her don't think much of her job performance either. If they were to say anything about it, they would probably be conspired against behind closed doors by the director and the overpaid training officer (assistant director). Apparently from what I hear, she has nothing better to do with her time but listen to personal phone calls and watch dispatch tapes all day instead of training anyone. Lets not even mention some of the off duty activities that are going on. Guess the director thinks this is ok since it is all hush hush. For the sake of the public, and the employees that are still fortunate enough to have a job there, this public outcry for change will not stop until it happens!
Smokey Bear 4/4/08
Partial solution for understaffed 911 center,
At least a 1/3 to 1/2 of a new employees salary could be found in two easy places.
1 – 911 is not a for profit corporation and doesn't rake in huge profits, so why should the Director get a reported BONUS in the thousands, yearly? This comes from the 911 board, out of the 911 budget, on top of the county salary.
2 – Repeal the one dollar an hour raise the 911 board approved for supervisors last year. This is really not needed in the budget since it seems only one supervisor, who is now up to 15.17 an hour, is the only one that received it. This is a lot more than most there make and more the multi year supervisors were making.
This is a budget that really needs to be looked into very closely. If you don't think it affects you, think about that the next time you get your home and cell phone bills and have to pay the 911 surcharge.
BUFORD T. JUSTICE – FOR ALL
4/3/2008
I read the blog often and
everyone is always going off
on the County, but it has
came to my attention that in
the past few weeks there
have been some things going
on in Loudon City that no
one wants to talk about. I
have knowledge that a
married Loudon City Police
Officer was pulled over by a
Loudon County Officer with
his girlfriend while
possibly driving
intoxicated. I heard after
an internal Hush-Hush
Investigation the Loudon
City Officer was taken off
Dayshift and put on Third
Shift. I also heard during
the Investigation his Sgt.
attempted to cover up
certain facts of the
Investigation and has been
demoted to just a Day Shift
Patrolman. This information
has been hard to come by,
because the employees were
told by the Brass that if
anybody talked about it they
would get fired.
Seems to me there is a double standard that this same police department may have allowed one of their people to get away with driving intoxicated however a couple of months ago they arrested a Knox County Officer who lost her job and who the DA determined there was not enough evidence and dropped it to wreckless driving because she was speeding in a congested area. Why is the talk kept quiet about all this? If it was anyone else it would not be?
Just Curious 4/2/08
I think it is time for us
citizens to take our county
government back. We have a
chance to do this in November
and then in 2010. Every person
reading this blog needs to go
and look at the offices up this
year and get a petition to run.
You don't have to have a lot of
money, heck make your own
signs. Have you looked at all
the elected officials that have
no opposition?
I disagree with the raises for
the EDA folks unless they are
going to make it uniform to all
employees. Jailers, road
workers, court clerks,
dispatchers, they may make
decent money but wouldn't they
like to have a 3% raise and then
2 or 3 k on top of that AND
their bosses get raises just
like EDA does. Just a couple
years ago all the dept heads got
a good raise but the little ol
county employees got 3%. All I
can say is, when 2010 get here
you better mark my words elected
officials. You will be
voted out of
that office and someone who
cares about this county and it's
people will get in. No amount
of money you have hoarded up
from taking from us will help.
Citizens of Loudon County make
your voice heard go get a
petition and get them out.
El Bandito 4/2/08
If Russell Johnson
spent one tenth of the time
prosecuting cases as he does trying
to promote that silly bottle bill,
there might be a small amount
justice of in Loudon County. In my
opinion he is as rotten as Doyle Arp
and the EDA bunch. Can anybody tell me one thing the EDA has ever accomplished? Anything? They produce absolutely nothing but have cost the tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars. The EDA is the most useless waste of money. Pat Phillips doesn't even live in Loudon County. That's why he doesn't care about the stink and pollution in Loudon County. He doesn't live here. Lenoir City, Loudon and the county could save a lot of money if they would just eliminate the EDA all together. They're useless. Oh Pat, by the way, I know all about the fence around your six million dollar cow field on 72. Slick deal. Mike K. 4/1/08 WHO ARE YOU TRYING
TO FOOL VAN SHAVER??? YOU CALL
YOURSELF A MAN OF GOD....
I am enraged that another
department or office is asking
for more money from us, the
county. When they ask for more
county funding they may as well
come to our door and ask for a
hand out. They being the EDA. I
am fed up with people wanting
more money. Pat Phillips and
Kathy Knight are well enough
paid for the amount of work they
do. I for one do not feel I need
to give Kathy Knight a pay raise
so she and can go out and find
another tree to cut down with
the support of her first cousin
Ken Brewster. ( Yes, Kathy
Knight formerly Kathy Brewster).
I am sick and tired of everyone
asking for more which in turn
takes more from us. Most of us
get hit twice. If you live in
the city of Lenoir City or
Loudon you will pay as a city
resident as well as a county
resident.
I would like for someone to shed
some light on a couple of
questions.
A. Is the EDA a part of
county government or not? If
they are then why have we never
seen the results of the audit?
this is
my/our money so I want to know
how it is spent. I have heard
that this money pays for dinners
and drinks for
potential businesses. Can they
not afford there own food and
drinks?
B. If they are not a
part of the county government
then why do they get county
insurance at little or no cost?
If they are not then
they should find other insurance
and the county can take what is
being used for the EDA employees
and help offset the rising cost
of insurance for the county
employees that are truly county
employees.
I have heard too many stories of
mismanagement of time and
funds at that office. Mind you
that they are only rumors but in
my opinion they have some merit.
As you may be able to tell I am
not a friend of the EDA. I think
it is not beneficial to the
county for what it cost in tax
payers dollars.
I would ask that all county
officials that have a vote on
this please consider the cost
verses the benefits. And please
consider withdrawing any and all
funding to the EDA. this money
can be put to better use.
WE NEED A CHANGE
TICKED AT THE SYSTEM. 4/1/08
In reference to the two guys
that got fired at
dispatch...update!!!
I heard they might appeal the firing decision based on a couple of things. After all, did they really have a choice in losing their jobs? Leave or get fired. First, they say they were fired for something that everyone including the director is guilty of, making fun of callers! Second, they think they were fired for the chance they might be "RICKY" on the van shaver blog! If they appeal, I think the people in blog land need to know an important thing. The camera system there is supposed to be recording all the time according to signs. If this is the case, I think the two guys need to get a court order to have a copy of the tapes for the whole week before they were fired. If they do, then we can see how much "van talking" really went on there on their shift. I bet when the court order comes, there is not a video tape or record keeping policy even there, so magically, there will be no tape! Way to keep the dispatch trailer secure director! Just wanted all to be aware before it happens.
Your friend,
Smokey! :) 4/1/08
|