Monday, July 31, 2006

Sheriff Luttrell says its a Scorched Earth Policy



I agree, he has implemented a scorched earth policy at the Sheriff's Office. Anyone who dares not support him stands to get burned, as I was. Three lieutenants were transferred into the Fugitive Bureau on the same day in May of 2005. I was one as were Larry Hill and Juan Settles. I hired in 9/2/75, Larry Hill hired in 6/1/88 and Juan Settles hired in 9/23/90. I had 13 more years seniority than Larry and 15 years more than Juan. Both officer's seniority combined didn't add up to mine. Don't get me wrong, these are good officers, but I've done a thing or two myself. I should not have been sent to midnights, unless I requested it. However, I was sent to the midnight shift and given a marked car with a cage. All the other field commanders were given the white unmarked cars, without cages, which is normal. The administration was sending out a message.

This year Capt Bobby Simmons got scorched as well. He was ordered to report to the "Report Center" at the substation in late May. The problem with that is, there is no longer a "Report Center", as it was closed down the first week of June. When I last spoke with Captain Simmons, last week, he was still reporting to the same office, but now the eight clerks that were there aren't. He is a Captain without a ship, so to speak. Captain Simmons reports to an office that has a desk and a chair, and him.


The "Report Center" has been the "whipping post" for ranking officers since Inspector Judy Hughes occupied it for the past year. Judy made the mistake of filing an EEOC complaint against the administration, then found herself no longer in charge of Fugitive, where she had a Captain, several Lieutenants, more Sergeants, and a few more Patrolmen under her command. She now had eight clerks.

Mark also told Mike Fleming that I am a liar. Well, we'll see about that. He is the one who has lied. While on the Mike Fleming show, he stated that he had never made the statement, "what authority do we have to make arrests in Bartlett?" Mike took it at face value, because, after all, he is the Sheriff. And, we know Sheriff's wouldn't lie, don't we. Well retired Lt Bubba Winkler, agrees with me, Mark Luttrell did make that statement and we were both in the room. Mark is definitely the liar. Listen to me interview Lt Winkler and you decide. Which of us has a reason to lie?

Sunday, July 30, 2006

National Night Out


I'll be speaking to the Forest Drive Civic Club Tuesday evening as part of their recognition of "National Night Out"

The topic - Crime and Punishment, what else?

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Officers who have assisted Ms. Kimberly Johnson in Her Quest for Numbers 1 and 200

I've received several emails from officers requesting their acknowledgement for assisting Ms. Johnson. Here is the list to date:

Brian White
Matthew Miller
Joseph Moore
Greg Tacker
Clint Buchanan

Surely, there are some Sheriff's Deputies who have arrested her. I guess they don't want to work the midnight shift though!

Well boys, after the election, let me know who you are and you'll get certificates like the rest of the guys!

Meritorious Service Award for Law Enforcement Officers

I received an email from MPD officer, Brian White, after Mike Fleming talked about this blog on his show yesterday. He claims that he and his partners are very familiar with our Grand Prize winner - Kimberly Johnson - due to having arrested her so many times. He felt they should receive some sort of award for having attempted to rehabilitate her on so many different occasions. I agreed and have emailed an award similar to the one I am posting here to Officer White and his partners, Matthew Miller and Joseph Moore. I also got a posting on this blog by officer Allen, where he said he had arrested Larry West on numerous occassions. If he will send me an email with his full name, he too shall be commended!

As law enforcement officers, we do our job and our part to help these people, but the prosecutors and judges fail them miserably. How can a person have been arrested 200 times? The prosecutor should be jumping up and down when he or she encounters a person who is constantly returning to the system. The judges should also be working to make sure these people aren't returning. I decided to raise this issue because I believe the repeat offender is our biggest problem. By shedding light on a subject that the DA and the judges probably don't want you to discuss, maybe we can effect some change. Behavior modification will work on them, just as it will work on criminals. Turn the heat up and watch them change behavior.

Click the image below to enlarge the award I presented to officer Brian White:

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Find the Cost of Freedom

The top ten offenders in the Recidivism Sweepstakes have been arrested a total of 1,346 times. If the cost of each event was factored at $500.00 per, those ten people will have cost the taxpayers over $673,000.00. When do we, as taxpaying citizens, stand up and say ENOUGH! I'm reminded of the movie where the guy goes to the window and yells "I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Five years ago, the Memphis metro area didn't even appear on the most dangerous list. Today we sit at number three.

I have done all I know to do, to raise the awareness of the community to this problem. The leaders of our community are political opportunists, who have no vision, no passion and basically no concern. They are concerned about being re-elected and nothing else. The "Culture of Corruption" has allowed this to persist. People with extremely deep pockets choose the leaders from both parties and the criteria is not what it should be.

I don't know what will happen in this election, but I fear the worst. I don't see good candidates in the races that matter. The current Sheriff has never even made an arrest, didn't know as late as last year what authority he had to make arrests in Bartlett, and has said we don't have a big drug or gang problem in the county schools. His opponent has been accused of cutting tires, cutting deals and being closely allied with the city mayor. I am the only one who has a vision, a plan and a track record of accomplishment in law envorcement. However, if I win the race, it will make national news. For me to win will take divine intervention. Fortunately, my God is not dead!

The other leaders in law enforcement have only started to "ramp up" within the last few months. Where have they been? I'll tell you, playing golf, tennis or anything but taking care of business. You've heard of "No Deals." Listen to the words, but watch the deads. If there were a requirement for truth in advertising, it would be more accurately called, "Let's Make a Deal".

Similar to a question Ronald Reagan raised once upon a time, I ask, Are You Safer Today Than You Were Four Years Ago? The incumbents don't want you to know what the data says, because they have failed you miserably.

And Number 10 is . . .

Clifton Macon is a M/B, approximately 42 years old, rni# 37048. He entered a guilty plea in General Sessions Court Div 11 on 11/27/05 for the following two charges:

001 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS M A FOUND GUILTY, guilty plea
002 CRIMINAL TRESPASS M C FOUND GUILTY, guilty plea

He has been arrested 12 times this year. His most recent arrest was for possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication which occurred just four days ago. Guess what, he is not in jail! The case was handled nolle prosse which means no prosecution.



31 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
15 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
14 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
12 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
6 CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION
6 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
5 BURGLARY
3 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
3 SHOPLIFTING M
2 ASSAULT M
2 FAIL TO APPEAR FOR BOOKING/PROCESS
2 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
2 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
2 THEFT OF SERVICES $500 OR LESS
1 AGGRAVATED ROBBERY
1 ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
1 ASSAULT-OFFENSIVE CONTACT
1 BURGLARY - BUILDING
1 CARRYING PISTOL/DANGEROUS WEAPON
1 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
1 CRIMINAL ATTEMPT FELONY
1 EVADING ARREST
1 FORGERY
1 GRAND LARCENY
1 MOTION - MISC
1 OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC M
1 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEM
1 PROSTITUTION M
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500-$1000
1 VANDALISM $500 OR LESS

Number 9, Number 9, Number 9

Number 9 is Nancy Escobar. She is a F/H approximately 42 years of age, rni# 21545. She has been arrested a total of 124 times since 1983 with her most recent arrest occurring on 05/23/06 for PROSTITUTION NEAR CHURCH/SCHOOL. Lately she is working the area around Summer and Tillman. She is not currently in jail, as she was given a 100.00 bond and held to the state. The ball is in Mr. Gibbons court now. Any takers on what will happen to her? I'm saying nothing.

64 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
14 PROSTITUTION M
6 FAIL TO APPEAR FOR BOOKING/PROCESS
6 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
5 ASSIGNATION
5 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
4 PROSTITUTION
2 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
2 SOLICITING RIDES
1 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
1 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
1 FAILURE TO COMPLY W/ BAIL CONDITION
1 FAILURE TO RETURN RENTED PROPERTY
1 FRAUD USE CRE/DEB CARD $500 OR LESS
1 FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE W/O WARRANT
1 FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE WITH WARRANT
1 GRAND LARCENY
1 MANUF/DEL/SELL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
1 OPEN & NOTORIOUS PUBLIC LEWDNESS
1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEM
1 PROSTITUTION NEAR CHURCH/SCHOOL
1 REC/CON STOLEN PROP-OVER $200
1 RESISTING ARREST
1 SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MISDEMEANOR
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M"

Number 8 and the Mental Evaluation Defense

Number 8 is another fine upstanding citizen. He first appears on the radar in August of 1983 according to the Court Clerk's website. His latest arrest occured on June 29th, 2006 for unlawful possession of a weapon. According to the General Sessions website, he is currently undergoing a mental evaluation. Oh really?

Andre Elliott is a m/b, approximately 43 years of age, RNI# 36947

28 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
21 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
19 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
9 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
7 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
6 ASSAULT M
5 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M
4 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
3 CRIMINAL ATTEMPT FELONY
3 PUBLIC DRUNKENESS
2 AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS
2 ROBBERY
2 UNLAWFUL POSS WEAPON
2 VANDALISM $500 OR LESS
1 AGG CRIM TRESPASS
1 ASSAULT & BATTERY
1 BURGLARY - BUILDING
1 CONVICTED FELON CARRYING A FIREARM
1 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
1 EVADING ARREST
1 INDECENT EXPOSURE M
1 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
1 PETIT LARCENY
1 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
1 REC/CON STOLEN PROP-OVER $200
1 SHOPLIFTING M
1 THEFT OF SERVICES $500 OR LESS"

And Number 7 is . . .

Number 7 is another "lady" by the name of Verna Newman. She is a f/b, approximately 39 years old, her RNI number is 42936. Ms. Newman has been arrested 132 times since 1983. She has racked up most of her arrests in the midtown area of Memphis (Cleveland and Poplar). She hasn't been on the radar since last October though, so she may have moved on. I didn't find her in the TN prison system, our jail, or listed in the SSDI death index.

36 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
13 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
13 PROSTITUTION M
12 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
11 FAIL TO APPEAR FOR BOOKING/PROCESS
10 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
5 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
4 DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUS/REV/CAN
3 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
3 VIOLATION OF VENEREAL DISEASES LAW
2 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
2 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEM
2 PROSTITUTION
2 VANDALISM $500 OR LESS
1 ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
1 ASSAULT-OFFENSIVE CONTACT
1 DISREGARDING RED LIGHT M
1 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
1 DOMESTIC ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
1 ESCAPE FROM MISD INCARCERATION
1 FORGERY
1 INDECENT EXPOSURE M
1 PEDESTRIAN WALKING UPON ROADWAY
1 POSS CONT SUB W/I TO MANUF/DEL/SELL
1 PROSTITUTION NEAR CHURCH/SCHOOL
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M

100 Homicides - It's Time to Get Tough!

Memphis has lost 100 citizens since the first of the year due to homicides. Gangs and drugs are at the core of these murders. Aggressive law enforcement and a zero tolerance policy that runs around the clock are going to be needed to stop the killing. It appears the MPD has gotten the message, but the Sheriff is still clueless. He's talking about counseling the children, working with the churches, running "beer stings". (Beer stings are funded by the Governor's Highway Safety Office and have been shown to be ineffective, as in every time they go back to the same stores, they sell beer to minors)

Has anyone heard Mark Luttrell espouse any kind of plan to fight crime during the past four years? I have been there, been out in the streets, sometimes fighting for my life, and I haven't seen or heard a plan! Maybe I missed it. I do remember him cutting 25 officers from Fugitive, the city pulling out of the Metro Gang unit, and refusing to partner with him on a Metro Narcotics Unit. But, I still haven't heard of any comprehensive plan of attack.

I have been saying for the last year and a half that we need a zero tolerance policy that is funded by private donations. (That’s how New York City took their streets back) Looking at Mark's campaign disclosures I can see he has the contacts, he just needs to ask them to pony up, so we can cowboy up!

Here are the results of being clueless:

Monday, July 24, 2006

Correction - Once, Twice, 200 Times a Lady?

Sorry for missing this one, but my sources are still checking for grand prize winners. It appears that Larry West isn't even close at 155 arrests. The real winner of the Recidivism Sweepstakes is none other than Kimberly Johnson. She is a f/b rni# 68844.

She has been arrested 10 times this year and holds the record by a whopping 45 arrests! Yep - she has entered the doors of 201 Poplar or the Women's Jail East facility - 200 times!

81 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
77 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
11 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
8 ASSAULT M
6 ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
4 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
2 ASSAULT-OFFENSIVE CONTACT
2 VANDALISM $500 OR LESS
1 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
1 ASSAULT-THREAT BODILY HARM
1 DOMESTIC ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
1 FAIL TO APPEAR FOR BOOKING/PROCESS
1 GRAND LARCENY
1 OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC M
1 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
1 REC/CON STOLEN PROP-OVER $200
1 UNLAWFUL POSS WEAPON

Frequency Distribution of Repeat Offenders

Here is a distribution of the repeat offenders who have been arrested 10 or more times in Shelby County:

Number of Arrests
200 = 1
150 - 159 = 1
140 - 149 = 1
100 - 109 = 2
110 - 119 = 4
120 - 129 = 5
130 - 139 = 5
90 - 99 = 6
80 - 89 = 13
70 - 79 = 28
60 - 69 = 44
50 - 59 = 54
40 - 49 = 194
30 - 39 = 685
20 - 29 = 2800
10 - 19 = 13541


The total number is 17,383 individuals. That is more than the population of Millington, TN which had a population of 10433 according to the 2000 census.

I was discussing this issue today with a friend who happens to also be a Democrat and a retired Deputy. I said once a person hits that tenth arrest they should be given increased attention. He said no way, they should get three strikes and that's it. Well, I agree, but we have to be realistic. Considering the volume of people (over 15,000) who have been arrested 10 or more times, it would be very hard to deal with those below that. Either way, something needs to be done, and done soon.

Number Six

Number six is actually tied with number five at 133 arrests.

Cornelius Broady is a 61 year old, m/b rni# 46616. Mr. Broady was last arrested June 15, 2006 for disorderly conduct at 100 N. Main. He is really pushing for the grand prize.

57 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
18 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
11 PUBLIC DRUNKENESS
9 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
8 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
7 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
6 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
5 SHOPLIFTING M
3 INDECENT EXPOSURE M
1 ASSAULT M
1 BURGLARY
1 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
1 INDECENT EXPOSURE
1 OPEN & NOTORIOUS PUBLIC LEWDNESS
1 STALKING
1 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
1 UNLAWFUL POSS WEAPON-PUBLIC PLACE
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M

Number Four and Five

Number four hasn't been heard from since 1999, so she may be deceased or in prison somewhere or maybe after 137 arrests, she finally got it. Probably not. Anyway, since she has ceased vying for the award, she is hereby disqualified and we move on the the next contestant. Clarence Barber is still aggressively pursuing the prize, as he was last arrested in March of this year on McLemore after being sentenced last October for THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS. I guess he did his weekend sentence. While Mr Barber is only 48 years of age, he has amassed an impressive number of arrests - 133. Here's his portfolio:

Clarence Barber m/b rni#42884

42 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
31 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
17 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
13 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
10 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
4 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
2 ASSAULT M
2 MANUF/DEL/SELL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
2 SHOPLIFTING M
1 AGG CRIM TRESPASS
1 AGGRAVATED BURGLARY
1 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
1 CRIMINAL LITTERING
1 FAILURE TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY
1 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
1 PUBLIC DRUNKENESS
1 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Number Three Most Arrests

Willie Hooker M/B RNI# 54005 139 Total Arrests


26 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
23 PUBLIC DRUNKENESS
18 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
15 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
15 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
9 SHOPLIFTING M
8 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
3 ASSAULT & BATTERY
3 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
2 AGG CRIM TRESPASS
2 ASSAULT M
1 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
1 AGGRAVATED ROBBERY
1 BURGLARY III
1 CARRYING KNIFE BLADE OVER 4-INCH
1 CARRYING PISTOL/DANGEROUS WEAPON
1 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
1 MALICIOUS MISCHIEF
1 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
1 POSSESSION OF PROHIBITED WEAPON
1 ROBBERY
1 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
1 UNLAWFUL POSS CONTROL SUBSTANCE
1 VANDALISM OVER $500
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M

A New Number Two


Someone clued me in on one that I had somehow missed. She has bumped the previous holder of the number two spot of all time arrests. She is known by many names, but her rni number belongs to Carolyn Laury. Basically she is a prosititute, but her last arrest was for POSS COCAINE W/I MANUF/SELL/DEL. She has also had the assortment pack. Somehow the system has failed to rehabilitate her, or maybe she doesn't want to be rehabilitated. Either way her history is what it is. Her total number of arrests is 147. It's time the public stepped in and demanded these career criminals be dealt with. When does it stop? Where is the line in the sand?

Here are the gory details:

Carolyn Laury F/B RNI# 54005

No. Charge
40 PEDESTRIAN SOLICITING RIDE/BUSINESS
22 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
12 FAIL TO APPEAR FOR BOOKING/PROCESS
9 PROSTITUTION M
6 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
5 OBSTRUCT HIGHWAY OR PASSAGEWAY
4 DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUS/REV/CAN
4 POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
4 THEFT OF MERCHANDISE $500 OR LESS
4 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
3 PEDESTRIAN WALKING UPON ROADWAY
3 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
3 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
2 ASSAULT M
2 MANUF/DEL/SELL/COCAINE
2 NO DRIVER LICENSE
2 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEM
2 PROSTITUTION
2 ROBBERY
2 SHOPLIFTING M
1 AGGRAVATED ROBBERY
1 BURGLARY - MOTOR VEHICLE
1 CRIMINAL ATTEMPT FELONY
1 CRIMINAL LITTERING
1 DISREGARDING RED LIGHT C
1 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
1 EVADING ARREST
1 PATRONIZING PROSTITUTION
1 PETIT LARCENY
1 POSS CONT SUB W/I TO MANUF/DEL/SELL
1 PROSTITUTION C
1 VIOL OF SEAT BELT LAW OVER 18 YRS
1 VIOL VENEREAL DISEASE CONTROL LAW
1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M

Three Strikes and You Are Out - How About 155 Strikes and Still Swinging?

Larry West is the winner of the Shelby County Recidivism Sweepstakes, as far as I can tell. He has been arrested 153 times since January 29, 1983 in the General Sessions Courts and had two more cases in Criminal Court for Armed Robbery and felony theft. He probably has more charges that aren't on the computer, not to mention his juvenile record. I attended Kingsbury High School where he also sometimes showed up, so I know more about him than I would normally. Good old Kingsbury, we're leading the way once more!

Anyway, Larry has been arrested over 155 times since he started down the path he chose. Here are the number of times he was arrested and wound up in General Sessions Court:

37 PUBLIC INTOXICATION
30 CRIMINAL TRESPASS
28 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
15 PUBLIC DRUNKENESS
6 DISTURBANCE OF PEACE
6 VIOLATION OF PROBATION M
4 ASSAULT M
3 CONTEMPT OF COURT-GENERAL LAW
3 PETIT LARCENY
3 SHOPLIFTING M
3 THEFT OF PROPERTY $500 OR LESS
2 REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO BAC TEST
1 AGG CRIM TRESPASS
1 ASSAULT & BATTERY
1 ASSAULT-BODILY HARM
1 ATTEMPT TO COMMIT FELONY
1 CRIMINAL ATTEMPT FELONY
1 EVADING ARREST
1 INDECENT EXPOSURE
1 INDECENT EXPOSURE M
1 MALICIOUS MISCHIEF
1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEM
1 RESISTING OFFICIAL DETENTION
1 THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $500
1 THEFT OF SERVICES $500 OR LESS
1 ARMED ROBBERY

If you are interested in looking into some of these citizens you can take the RNI number and search for the case information on the General Sessions and Criminal Court Clerk's website. The link is here Just pick General Sessions, then scroll the listbox down on the left pane to Arrest by RNI. Click that and enter an RNI number in the space provided below and click go. The results will show in the rightmost frame.

*Note*
An RNI number is supposed to be a unique number that has been linked via fingerprints to the individual. Therefore, no matter what name a person comes to jail under, the AFIS computer and technicians will "link" that set of fingerprints to the individual.

Just for fun, here is a list of RNI numbers you might want to research. These people have all been arrested more than 100 times:

No RNI#
154 11417
139 10857
137 2521
133 42884
132 42936
126 36947
124 21545
122 37048
120 105046
120 14175
114 100718
112 38356
111 4361
110 11018
104 21209
104 40902

I believe we, in the Criminal Justice field, need to place a higher priority on these type offenders. The "interventions" that we are using are not having the intended effect. There is a group of over 15,000 people in the mid south who have been arrested 10 times or more. They account for over 250,000 arrests. The cost of dealing with that group is mind boggling. If we take a round figure of $100.00 per day and only allow for one day per arrest, which is way short of the actual number, the cost is 25 million dollars. Considering the police officers, vehicles, equipment, the jailers, the infrastructure,etc. The cost per arrest could be as hish as $500.00 per event. That would mean this group has cost the taxpayers over $125 Million.

I believe the correct way to deal with these people is to use a form of progressive punishment. When a person has been arrested 10 times or more, they have demonstrated they don't care about rules and regulations. I believe we need to implement some Psychology, in the form of Behavior Modification. I call it the "hot plate" approach to law enforcement. If the punishment intensifies with each arrest, at some point it will extinguish the negative behavior. The current system is not worried about changing behavior, or keeping the citizenry safe, they are worried about maintaining an empty jail.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

A Crime Abatement Strategy That Will Work

Fighting crime is really applied Psychology. Behavior Modification 101. In order to change behavior we have two options: positive and negative reinforcement. Since we can't afford to pay people to be good, we are left with the negative. In order for the negative reinforcement to be effective it must be swift, certain and severe enough to extinquish the behavior. Consider that one time you burned your hand on a hot stove; swift, certain and severe. The negative reward was also introduced almost instantaneously. Therein lies much of the problem with the CJ system. The punishment, if it ever comes, isn't even remotely associated with the act.

Since roughly 1 percent of the population commits 99% of the crime and about 1% of that 1% commit the serious crimes or are habitual, I believe we should concentrate on those offenders. I am putting information together right now that details frequent offenders. I want to know what person has been arrested the highest number of times? Care to take a guess at the number? I think I've already got the guy, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone else takes the prize.

I believe if a person has been arrested 10 times or more, he or she needs special attention. It is rather obvious that whatever the system has been doing is failing. Drug dealers should also get special attention, but not at the expense of the other career criminals. They are all a blight on society.

I have come up with a program that I call Adopt-A-Cellblock. In this program all the area churches would form a group then assign cellblocks to "adopt". Those people would minister to the inmates in that cellblock by going into the family situation to see what their needs are. This goes beyond carrying a toothbrush to the jail and reading some scripture. It takes a little more work, but I believe the dividends could be huge.

I would also bring the business community into this and let them be a part of adopting these cellblocks. They could help teach people to read, so they are at least employable. They could also work with these inmates to try to put them into jobs.

The alternative is to continue to spin the cycle, only faster and faster.

AraMARK and the missing Tax Dollars


It seems the current Sheriff and county mayor are in cahoots to deprive the county taxpayers of millions of dollars. Check out the webpage that gives details. Also, I'm getting bombarded with emails about things that have been going on between AraMARK and Aramark. There will be more to follow on this in the next few days.
Here's the link to the information.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

A Culture of Corruption

An attitude of corruption seems to permeate the election process in Shelby County and it must be defeated, if we are to clean up our government. It seems almost every elected official is being paid by people who have spent time in prison, or have been granted diversion or had their records expunged. Even the county mayor’s main man for fund raising is a shadowy figure. How can we, as honest tax paying citizens, expect to have honest government when there is this constant underworld undercurrent? It is time to send a message to those politicians who not only take money from convicted felons, but aggressively seek it.

Now I understand why Mark took the money from convicts! It's the James Traficant strategy to interdict the underworld crime. I find it interesting that the same convicted felons in Shelby County have been giving to all the elected officials, just like in this case. Read on . . .

"When Sheriff Traficant was arrested by the FBI in 1982, he signed a confession after agents played for him excerpts from the Carabbia tapes. Traficant then hired one of the best attorneys in the business, Carmen Policy, Ed Flask’s partner, who is today the President of the Cleveland Browns professional football team. However, after Traficant went public with charges that just about every public official in Youngstown was involved with the Mafia, Policy dumped Traficant as his client. Traficant then made a bold – and some would say insane – decision to renounce his confession and stand trial, acting as his own attorney. Traficant explained to the jury that he only accepted the Mafia bribe money so he would know whom to arrest for corruption once elected Sheriff. After four days of deliberations, the jury returned a verdict that stunned the Prosecutors and journalists that covered the trial; Not Guilty. Traficant then turned the publicity over his acquittal to his advantage and was elected to Congress in 1984. However, three years later he was again in Court, facing civil charges that he owed taxes on the $163,000 in Mafia bribes. Representing him was attorney George Alexander, who has since been convicted of racketeering with the Mafia. As in the O. J. Simpson case, Traficant was convicted in his civil trial and ordered to pay back taxes, fines, and interest. "

Here's the link


During the 1920's and 30's, the appeal of a fast buck got the better of some of the county's law enforcement personnel. Illegal operations including gambling and bootlegging went unchecked, and one sheriff was indicted for working with a notorious crime figure.

Broward County Florida

This on a Sheriff who used intimidation - similar to the "whipping post" Mark Luttrell uses. I'm thinking the FBI needs to take a look at Mark too:

'As you read these affidavits, you will see a thread of intimidation ... and obstruction that cannot be tolerated for one more day,' Frank told the court.

Frank read aloud three affidavits in which deputies describe a Sept. 2 meeting at Randy's Restaurant on U.S. 64. There, they said, Hege said that several deputies were cooperating with the SBI in its inquiry of his office. The deputies quoted Hege as saying that employees who he finds giving incriminating statements against him 'are going to be gone.'

Hege and one of his sons, Gerald 'Keith' Hege Jr., are accused of making similar threats in other affidavits read by Frank. Once, Frank said, Hege made a throat-cutting motion with his hand while talking about a plan to 'get rid of anyone who's made statements about me.' Hege was also quoted as saying that no Superior Court judge would dare remove him from office.

Owens, who as chief deputy was next in line to be sheriff should Hege be removed, testified that retaliation might already have started. Owens was the only witness called yesterday, and he said that two captains, Christopher Coble and Jody Shoaf, informed him of a demotion just minutes after Hege's indictment was made public.

Here's the link

Help Break the Back of the Good Old Boy Network

I've had numerous people, including some officers asking, pleading and begging me to back out of the race and allow Mark Luttrell to continue with his folly. I cannot do that with a clear conscience. He is a product of the same group of people who have all but ruined this county. They have feasted off the taxpayers and care nothing about anyone but themselves.
Bill Morris, once Sheriff and Mayor, was indicted as I recall, but dodged a bullet. Jim Rout, fled office as mayor leaving us holding a 1.5 billion dollar bag of debt. Bobby Lanier - he has been a shadow figure for every county mayor since Morris. A.C. Wharton hired him, then fired him, then hired him as his personal "fund raiser". That's a nice term for bag man.

All these men and many more are backing Mark Luttrell and are probably the reason he is in office today. It is my intention to break the back of the good old boy network and Mark Luttrell is the first target. Hopefully, the Republican party (the people, not the ones with the money who call the shots and select people for office who are not qualified) will rise up and say enough. We will not tolerate the dictation of the rich and powerful. It is time for the average everyday citizen to stand up and make a statement. Mark Luttrell - it is time to move on.

I am not alone in this endeavor. There are other Republicans who have had to battle the good old boys and they are on board with this project.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Mark Luttrell wins Internet Award


The results are in and Mark Luttrell is now forever branded a BAD COP. He was recently awarded the dubious honor of “Bad Cop” by the badcopnews.com and morebadcopnews.com websites. The information that he has taken money from criminals is now posted on both websites and an rss newsfeed. Apparently, like some of the local commentators, news reporters, and me, these sites believe taking money from criminals is not what a Good Cop does. As you might have surmised, I agree, particularly with their slogan – “incredibly stupid things people do to themselves and others.” Here are some links to their sites and an excerpt:
Bad Cop News And More Bad Cop News

“Incredibly Stupid Things People Do To Themselves And Others.”

Click on the following links for more of the stories:


http://www.mustbme.com/shelby-county-tennessee-sheriff-mark-luttrell-accepted-money-for-election-from-criminals.html


Shelby County Tennessee Sheriff Mark Luttrell Accepted Money For Election From Criminals.

There is also a newsfeed for information on Bad Cops that has picked this story up at:

Bad Cop News US Headlines - http://www.rssmad.com/individual.php?channel_id=17748


Channel 3's Norm Brewer Commentary

July 12, 2006 09:46 AM CDT

In Tuesday night's political debate seen live on Newschannel 3 Anytime, both Sheriff Mark Luttrell and his opponent, Reginald French, defended the campaign contributions each had received from people with criminal records. The money came with no strings, no request for special favors, they said. The money came from men who had "paid their debt to society" and were entitled to "a second chance," they said. Well, that may sound nice, perhaps even logical. But it rings hollow in a community where political corruption has become topic A and is feeding an urgent search among concerned officials and civic interests for higher ethical standards in local government. It also flies in the face of the Caesar's Wife rule which has long held that public leaders must avoid not only evil but also the appearance of evil. This laissez faire approach to the principle of conflict of interest came as something of a surprise from Mark Luttrell who has always enjoyed a squeaky clean image. Less so, perhaps, from Reginald French whose pubic record is not without controversy in his personal conduct and in his business dealings with the city. But if either or both these men think the people are equally as unconcerned they are wrong. Newschannel 3 is the Memphis station on your side

Friday, July 14, 2006

Do You Know These People?

I am very upset about the current Sheriff's taking money from convicted felons, people who have been indicted, arrested, imprisoned, etc (which is a violation of departmental policy) and the people who do business with the county. I know of several on the contributor list, but I need some help determining if many of the people listed have a business relationship with the county. I am posting Luttrell's disclosure forms and ask you to review them. If you know of someone who owns a business or works in a management position for a company that does business with the county, please post that information. I will be adding to the list as time goes and I've already spoken with some reporters on this matter. They are on the story, so if you can help do the research, I would appreciate it very much and I think the voting public would like to know as well.



If you would like to download the files you can rightmouse click and "save target" on these links:
http://www.johnharveysheriff.com/wwluttrell1.jpg
http://www.johnharveysheriff.com/wwluttrell2.jpg
http://www.johnharveysheriff.com/wwluttrell3.jpg
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http://www.johnharveysheriff.com/wwluttrell32.jpg

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Is it Ethical?

While doing some research into other instances around the country where Sheriff's had gotten into trouble because they were befriending convicted felons, I came across many articles that were somewhat similar. Numerous Sheriff's have been indicted for violating the public trust by "consorting" with known vendors. Kickbacks, payoffs and campaign contributions from vendors who do business with the Sheriff's Office are the usual offenses. I decided to look into this and have found some more contributions that I believe are not ethical. They are legal, just not ethical.

People or Businesses who:

1. sell cars to the county or
2. provide medical services to the county or
3. provide food services for the inmates or
4. service the radio systems for the county or
5. do any kind of business with the county should not contribute to the Sheriff.

I am putting a file together on these contributors and will post Luttrell's entire campaign disclosure forms once I obtain the latest installment.

I believe there is a reason these people contribute to the Sheriff's campaign and it is called influence. I also believe that is wrong. I am pretty sure that Mark Luttrell will disagree because he thinks taking money from convicted drug dealers is ok. I have ALWAYS been taught that deputies should avoid "even the appearance of impropriety" and I have adhered to that concept. I call upon both Reginald French and Mark Luttrell to repudiate such practices.

Ignorance is Dangerous

There are new revelations concerning my opponents in the upcoming Sheriff's race. It appears that Reginald French serves on the Alcoholic Beverage Commission and is taking contributions from convicted felons who work in the alcoholic beverage industry. At the same time, Mark Luttrell serves on the "Drug Commission" (so to speak) and is taking money from convicted felons who have sold drugs - with connections to THE BIGGEST COCAINE PRODUCER in the WORLD!

Can you see any similarities? I can. Both of these gentlemen are wrong and they should admit they are wrong and give the money back. They should also repudiate their relationship with these infamous people.

If you were trying to be hired in at the Sheriff's Office and it was learned that you were consorting/hanging/befriending known felons, you would be rejected. You would be rejected because of the POLICY that has been in place for decades at the SCSO. You are not to associate or develop associations with unscrupulous people, not just felons. Attending a party at the home of a man who was a convicted felon is bad enough, but the offense is compounded by the fact that he was under indictment for an additional felony at the time and more money was accepted from William B. Tanner and Joe Cooper and others at that time.

Here are some links to stories of other law enforcement officers who thought it was ok to befriend felons and questionable people:

1. Does this sound familiar - “It’s disgusting,” one high-level officer said of the Rizzolo-Carona relationship. “It’s a slap in the face to law enforcement. What is Sheriff Carona thinking? He’s either incredibly stupid or dirty as hell. Or both.” http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/dirty-stupid-or-both/25006/

http://www.stevemiller4lasvegas.com/RickRizzolo.html

2. An officer dealt with for consorting:

On Sunday, August 8, Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith reported that Faraci is also engaged in a business transaction with local police officer Dave Radcliffe, something Clark County Sheriff Bill Young frowns on. The last time Young discovered one of his officers involved in a business deal with Rick Rizzolo, the bar's purported owner, Young demoted the officer for ''accepting gifts from suspects and consorting with persons of ill repute." Its yet to be decided what Radcliffe's punishment will be for his business association with Faraci, an ex-felon who is under investigation by the FBI.

http://www.americanmafia.com/inside_vegas/8-9-04_Inside_Vegas.html

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3. An officer who worked for Acosta at the airport said he liked his boss.

"I can't believe he was that stupid. He was good to the officers," the cop said.

Acosta is accused of helping Boyle out at O'Hare. Acosta let a Boyle associate out of paying a $300 parking tab and got excessive baggage fees waived for Boyle.

Acosta also allegedly ran a criminal history check for Boyle on a man who worked for a Boyle associate. Boyle said he needed the information to try to get the employee's criminal record expunged. Boyle was paid $3,500 for the job, but the record was never wiped clean.

Outside O'Hare, Boyle also asked Acosta for police information about a bar that had been closed, so Boyle could try to get a new liquor license.

http://www.suntimes.com/special_sections/clout/followup/hired_020305.html
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4. Sheriff Bowles, a Republican, had been under investgation by a special prosecutor for accepting gifts from a businessman who later won a contract to operate a city jail.
http://www.policetalk.com/sheriff_indicted.html
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5. Ms. Valdez said she would set up committees to review potential new jail contracts, rather than deciding on her own. Her predecessor, Republican Sheriff Jim Bowles, who ran the department for 20 years, came under a cloud earlier this year because of his decision to award a major jail contract to a vendor who had provided him with free meals and trips. . . the investigation cast a pall over the department and affected morale.

http://www.lupevaldez.com/news110304A.htm

More to follow:

Shame on Mark Luttrell

From News3's website:

In their first live televised debate, both incumbent Sheriff Mark Luttrell and Democrat Reginald French answered some tough questions.

Especially on campaign contributions. Both admitted taking money from convicted felons.

"I make no apologies for working with people who are contributing to the betterment of society who have paid their debt to society," says Luttrell.

I see in the debate that French and Luttrell believe it is ok to take money from Cocaine dealers and other criminal types. French gets a pass on this because he is under no policy. Luttrell is violating the SCSO Policy against fraternizing with person's of ill repute. It's not Rusty or Tanner or anyone else, it's Luttrell violating our policy, not the law. Here is the policy:

SOR 110
“An employee will avoid developing associations or dealings with persons, other than immediate family members, who they know, or should have known, are persons under criminal investigation or indictment, who have been imprisoned or convicted of a felony, who are known criminals, or who are involved in criminal activity except as necessary in the performance of official duties.”

The salient part of this policy says, "who they know, or should have known, are persons under criminal investigation or indictment, who have been imprisoned or convicted of a felony, who are known criminals, or who are involved in criminal activity". This means that Luttrell should have known about those three felons, but also Harold Ford, Sr. who gave him $1000 and had been indicted. Bobby Lanier also fits into this group as do several others but Luttrell thinks he is above the policy. All the while, he punished deputies for just visiting a man.

Wm. B. Tanner was under indictment at the time Luttrell attended a fund raiser at his home where Joe Cooper was also in attendance. The policy also says we are to "avoid developing associations or dealings ". I believe attending a party at his home was both developing an association and dealing with Mr Tanner. We don't know what kinds of “deals” were discussed, but Wm B. Tanner had a history of "deals" as I recall.

It appears Mark and Reginald are actually the same person, doesn't it. The distinction is that Mark is the Sheriff. Shame on you Mark Luttrell for associating and dealing while punishing for less than your infractions.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Cops are supporting my efforts

I'm starting to receive numerous emails from cops in the mid-south which are supportive. I'll be posting some of their comments here, minus who they are (for their protection), unless they wish to reveal their identities. Here are the first few:


John,

After reading the article in Sunday's Commercial Appeal, I'm convinced that if either Luttrell or French wins the election, Shelby County loses.

Though French might be just as bad as Luttrell or worse, I know what Luttrell is capable of and it's all bad! I cannot stand to see that (explitive deleted) on TV. Eveytime he opens his mouth nothing but lies come out. He's got the citizens of Shelby County hoodwinked.

Congratultion Sheriff Luttrell, you have help make Memphis the murder capital of the USA!

John, you are the only hope. I'm casting my write-ballot for you when early voting starts July 14th.


John,
Do you have any shirts? Do you need signs put up? Let me know how I can help in these last few weeks.


Maybe you cannot prove it on them as to what they are getting in return but Buddy Chapman a tax payer vehicle to drive while the officers are being asked if they rather take off because there are no cars for them to use to protect the citizens of shelby county.

I will have you the tag number of the car this week. In regards to Harvey Kennedy I was told yesterday the other driver and him just exchanged information and Harvey Kennedy went to the traffic office and they did a department accident form. They claim there was no damage but it was at Dick's to be repaired. I have no way of getting that report without not getting in hot water and being on that whipping post for my last 4 years.

In regards to steve shular I will check with my sources to see what proof I can get on this one.

I really like today's article and thanks for helping and letting the truth be known.



Steve Shular has been involved in several accidents in his department car and from what I have heard there were no reports taken just a memo written. Is this fair that the admin gets to do one thing but the officers get another?

Hope this helps.


You had a civil division that used to make 1.5 million dollars that went into the county general fund. The previous Sheriff and the current one has been running these divisions in the ground and now we no longer make that money and the tax payers of Shelby County has had to pick up the tab for that lost revenue.

The Sheriff could turn things around and this would bring more money back in to the county, The Sheriff has the ability to locate defendants better than private process servers since we can run car tags, drivers license, social security numbers and find these people who don't pay their bills, dodge their divorce papers ect. The Judges would be happier because the quality of the returns being done correctly and having a deputy sheriff doing this job will improve the integrity as well. Private process servers have been know to leave the process with anyone and not the defendant, they have been served on Sundays which you have to have an order from the courts to do that.

this might be some more things you would use in your campaign.


Sunday, July 09, 2006

"Go on Take the Money and Run" and "Tied to the Whipping Post" two of Mark's Favs

Today, Sunday, July 9th, 2006, the Commercial Appeal ran a story on Mark Luttrell taking money from convicted felons while punishing deputies for visiting someone in prison. Mark Luttrell still doesn’t get it. I am going to list some of his quotes and my comments below:

Luttrell
“Luttrell said, however, he can't run a background check on everyone who gives to his campaign. A greater concern, he said, is whether a contributor expects a benefit or advantage.”

Harvey
If you are going to be the “top cop”, you dang well better know who is giving to you. People give you money because of the following reasons:

Relatives

Close personal friends

Someone who is sold on your vision and totally believes in you (Luttrell has never espoused a vision or plan)

Buying Influence.

Given the preceding list, which of the four categories would you think Hyneman, Tanner, Cooper, and the other unnamed people who have been arrested, charged, indicted, etc (including Bobby Lanier, Karl Schledgewick, Harold Ford, Sr, etc) fall into. I’m going to take a wild guess and say er, ah hmmm, oh I’ve got it – number 4.

Luttrell
Yet, in the wake of a series of local scandals that have raised sensitivity about money and its influences on politics, Luttrell says he's giving more thought to who's giving to his campaign.
"In the future I would certainly look at that,'' the sheriff said.

Harvey
Look into that? How about saying, you know I don’t have any experience at this law enforcement thing. Heck I can’t even qualify with the department issued automatic. I think in the future, I’ll screen anyone who gives more than $50.00 and certainly if someone wants to give me $1,000.00 or more, I’ll have them totally checked out. I will also return all the money to these felons, and all those others who have been indicted, imprisoned, etc as well.

Oh yeah, what about giving those officers their time back, since you think you should get a pass? They don’t make near the money you make, and I imagine their families appreciated having their little paycheck made even smaller.

Luttrell
Records show Luttrell accepted a $1,000 donation in March 2005 from Hyneman, who was arrested in 1988 with two kilos of cocaine and charged in federal court with possession with intent to distribute.
In a plea bargain, Hyneman received two years in prison. He helped investigators convict three drug dealers, leading them to Roberto Suarez Gomez, once described by federal authorities as the world's biggest cocaine producer.

Harvey
Hello! Hello! Hello! You are one of us, or one of them. If you take money from THEM, you ain’t one of US! This man was connected to THE BIGGEST COCAINE PRODUCER IN THE WORLD!!!!!!! Doesn’t that alarm you? It does me.

Luttrell
Luttrell said consorting means a continuing, close relationship -- the sort he hasn't had with Tanner, Cooper or Hyneman.
"There's been very limited contact with any one of those people,'' said Luttrell, saying he's met Tanner and Hyneman only a couple times each, and only knows Cooper through politics.
"Rusty's never asked me for anything. Joe Cooper's never asked me for anything but a picture. I had a picture made with him out at his car dealership.''

Harvey
Talk about doublespeak… Luttrell admits that he has had a continuing relationship with these felons. They gave to him in 2002 and again in 2005. He refers to Hyneman as “Rusty” and Luttrell went out to the car lot and made the picture. He attended a party, given in his behalf, by William B. Tanner, at Tanner’s home. How much closer can you get? Would you say a person who gives you several thousand dollars and has their friends, family and associates give you thousands more, is a more distant relationship than visiting someone in jail or a closer relationship? I’m going to have to come down on the side of “CLOSER”. Luttrell simply thinks the rules don’t apply to him because he happens to be the Sheriff.

Luttrell
"There wasn't anything with the sheriff's department that (Hyneman, Cooper or Tanner) could gain as far as advantages from it,'' Luttrell said. "They never attempted to gain any advantages.''

Harvey
And how would we know that? History tells us that people don’t peddle influence out in the light of day. They do their dirty deeds in the dark, like in the Tennessee Waltz, or like when building a parking garage (see FedEx Forum for details). I’ve been in this business for many years and I know there are things to be gained by contributing big dollars to the Sheriff. Some like being able to pick up the phone and talk to the Sheriff, so they can get their buddies out of jail, Others like to carry badges, etc. Any fool knows that having the Sheriff for a friend gives you clout, and if you have given him thousands of dollars, you have an advantage over John Q. Citizen – period!

The bottom line is if you are a law enforcement officer, you should trust no one, until you have checked them out. People, who give you big money, do so for the reasons stated above. I have taken this information to the public because there is no other recourse when the Sheriff exceeds his authority. I believe the voters have the right to know, because they are the Sheriff’s boss.


This news story didn't even touch Mark's use of the "whipping post" at the Sheriff's Office so I'll give you a few instances:

Sometimes I feel, sometimes I feel,
Like I been tied to the whipping post
Tied to the whipping post,
Tied to the whipping post,
Good lord, I feel like Im dyin.
Allman Brothers Band

1. Inspector Judy Hughes was in charge of the Fugitive Bureau when she filed an EEOC complaint against Deputy Chief Dave Wing for hostile work environment. She was transferred to the Report Center to be over a handful of clerks soon thereafter. Now, keep in mind that the report center is not a law enforcement function and you would never think of putting an Inspector (three levels below the Sheriff on the Table of Organization) over clerks. Inspectors usually have a couple of Captains, several Lieutenants, several more Sergeants, and many more patrolmen under their command. Judy had three or four clerks.

2. Until Captain Bobby Simmons ran afoul of Marvelous Mark Luttrell. Now Inspector Hughes has been transferred to the courts, but her office is out near the Correctional Center. But, wait you ask, aren't all the courts downtown? Why yes they are. The closest court to Inspector Hughes is in Bartlett or Germantown, and those courts don't have anything to do with the Sheriff's Office.

3. Enter Captain Simmons - looking for his new assignment. Captain Simmons was in charge of Personal Crimes in the detective division, complete with a take home car and all the perks that come with that job. After incurring Mark's wrath, he supplanted Inspector Judy. The only problem with that is that the report center closed down in early June. Now Captain Simmons reports to the same old office, but he has NO employees to supervise.

4. In May of 2005, one Lt John Harvey was assigned to the Information Systems bureau of the Sheriff's Office where he had developed some pretty outstanding programs. One of them, WASP, was even published by Microsoft on their website in a case study. That was no small feat, since Microsoft doesn't normally do things like that unless the programs are outstanding. Other projects included things too numerous to mention, but some of the bigger ones were conceiving the idea to put warrants on the web and writing the software to make that possible, creating a website that is used by over 5,000 officers and support staff across the country to fight crime, etc. After word got out about Lt Harvey's desire to run for Sheriff, he was transferred to the midnight shift of the Fugitive Bureau as field commander. Once he took control of that unit, his officers doubled the average number of arrests that were usually made on midnights. His reward was to be told he was too aggressive.

5. There are numerous other instances, but I think you get the idea....

As Greg Allman has said many times, "It seems like I've been tied to the whipping post. . . ."

I want the world to know that I am a “disgruntled employee”. I am also a disillusioned employee, a dissatisfied employee, a disappointed employee and an irate employee. I am not happy about having an imposter for a Sheriff, who thinks he can do as he pleases, while disregarding the policies of the Sheriff’s Office. I have taken the only recourse open to me by making this information public. Let the light of truth shine brightly on Mark Luttrell and all that he has done! Informed voters make the best decisions.

Voting for me is not going to be easy, but I am the only one who has a plan of attack, a vision for the job and a track record worthy of the job. You will have to pull a paper ballot in order to write-in vote. I'm afraid I perturbed the Election Commission when I exposed their ineptitude and they have taken their best shot at me by not enabling the new voting machines for write-in capabilities.

I have done my duty to the best of my ability. Now the ball is in your court. Do the right thing!

John Harvey
www.cyber-posse.com
www.johnharveysheriff.com
http://memphiscrime.blogspot.com
www.votinginmemphis.com

Saturday, July 08, 2006

How much longer can Memphis Survive?

A friend called me today to discuss my take on the elections that are coming up this Summer. I have stated that I believe the Republican party is moving North, South, East and some even to the West in droves. My data suggests that there have been somewhere around 40,000 white voters who have fled Shelby County in the last four years, while 11,000 more blacks have registered to vote. His comment was that it looks like every house in cordova is up for sale. He checked the web and ran some numbers for different areas and Cordova has two to three times more homes for sale than Bartlett, Arlington, Lakeland or Germantown. He said there were over 1400 for sale in Cordova, while Bartlett only had around 500, Germantown 800 and so on.

That piqued my interest so I called a buddy who is in real estate and asked him. He says Cordova has been hot for listings but until recently, slow for sales. He also said he believes it will increase after the August elections if the Democrats steamroll the county like he thinks they will.

I live in Bolton, TN which is out in God's country (defined as not in Memphis). But, I have to admit, I have been thinking about living in Fayette county because the taxes are a fraction of what they are here, crime is also a fraction of our crime and it appears to be where conservatives are becoming entrenched.

I believe the leadership of this community has had it's head in the sand for too long and now there is little hope for Shelby County. Show me a visionary who holds office today! Mayor AC Wharton's vision is to continue doing what he has done the past four years. (He has increased our debt by 600 million and raised our taxes twice). Mark Luttrell has wasted over 16 million tax dollars in the past four years by outsourcing inmate feeding, and serious crime in the county is up 17% so far this year. He has no plans other than to take his resources and give them to the "real police", you know the ones who came up through the ranks and have a clue. Then there's the county commission. They were a party to our debt, which Jim Rout and crew left us - at 1.5 billion, and now they have taken us to 2 billion in debt. This was a county commission that was controlled by Republicans! My fellow Republicans aren't you proud of them! I am not and I don't mind saying it.

I believe Memphis is destined to become the "Detroit of the South" in a few short years. Most of us will be visiting Memphis only when we have to. They have a pretty decent airport there you know, and there are a few good restaurants too - if you have a concealed weapon permit.

How to be a Shurf


I have decided to publish a "How to be a Sheriff for Dummies" so that Mark Luttrell can stop making bone-head mistakes. Here are the top 10 Dos and Don'ts from my soon to be released blockbuster:

1. You are now a law enforcement officer. This means you are supposed to be a role model. You are to hold your officers to a higher standard than the ordinary citizens, but you are to hold yourself to an even higher standard.

2. Remember rule number one! Now, DO NOT HANG OUT WITH CONVICTED FELONS!

3. Remember both rules 1 and 2 and DO NOT TAKE MONEY FROM CONVICTED FELONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE CONVICTED OF SELLING COCAINE!

4. Remember all above, then DO NOT PUNISH DEPUTIES FOR DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU DID, BUT MUCH LESS SO.

5. If you do forget all the above, and you do take the money from felons (including drug dealers), give it back and make a public statement saying you didn't know that some of those guys were convicted felons (even though they were in the newspaper for years while their cases where being prosecuted).

6. If you forget all the above and you do give the money back, etc. don't forget to give the officers their time back that you took. Remember, these guys have families and you haven't been overly generous to them anyway, so they need all the money they can get.

7. Don't listen to people who have no ideas about law enforcement and no experience with it when it comes to whether or not it would be a good idea to sell off all those cars that are on the parking lot. They are there so they can be used when you need to add officers to a special operation.

8. Don't get involved in the minute details to the point you are "crossing swords" with officers over personal or political issues. Be bigger than that.

9. Don't put officers, even those that you have decided need to feel your wrath, in positions that don't really exist. Use officer's talents to help provide a safer county.

10. Listen to those who have made arrests for many years, who know what they are doing, especially those who have developed systems that have made thousands of officers more effective in doing their jobs. Pay close attention to those officers who may have developed things so outstanding that THE software company, Microsoft, has published a case study on their work. Listen to those kinds of officers and use them, rather than being jealous. Recognizing talent and using it is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of good leadership!

Oh yeah, don't forget to remember all the above!

Helping out or Groping for Legitimacy?

According to news reports, Mark Luttrell is shoving his 170 reserves at the Memphis Police Department, while making sure the cameras are rolling. Mark and his bean counters sold off the "extra" cars the county had always had in reserve so, now the MPD has to furnish cars for them. Director Godwin was magnamimously offering to take the officers and even provide their cars. You see, the MPD commanders know they need more cars than they have officers for just such an instance as this. This is just another indication of why we don't need someone as Sheriff who doesn't have a basis in law enforcement. Here's Director Godwin's statement about providing cars:

Reserve deputies are fully accredited law enforcement officers. They don't have squad cars. No problem says Godwin. "I think law enforcement officers being highly vi sable deters crime," he says. "I think it makes a difference."

The next question is why is Mark more concerned about serious crime in the city, which only rose by less than 4% during the first six months of this year, compared to 17% in the county?

Thursday, July 06, 2006

County Crime up more than in the City

I received an email today detailing the fact that part I crimes in Shelby County (outside the city and not including the jail) are significantly higher than they were for the first six months of last year. From all the press coverage about crime in Memphis, you would think it was only a problem with Memphis.

For Mark Luttrell and those in Rio Linda, Part I crimes are the more serious crimes like Murder, Rape, Robbery, etc. Shelby County has had an increase in Part I crimes of 17% while the city of Memphis has had less than 4%.

Shelby County 2005 1679
Shelby County 2006 1962
Increase 283 (16.9%)


Why are the numbers so skewed for crime in Shelby County? I believe it is directly related to the current Sheriff's policy of Cut, Downsize and Outsource.

Selling off all the "extra" cars and radios so that you can't fully equip the reserves or other officers, who are more than willing to work, doesn't interdict crime. Cutting the Fugitive Bureau by 20 officers and running units like Narcotics and Gang with fewer than 15 officers is partly responsible for this. More officers are needed and probably since these units have shrunk to such dangerously low numbers (Fugitive once had 100 officers as did Narcotics) they can't be expected to be effective. If the Sheriff really wants to maximize effectiveness, he should request 100 more officers and merge the gang,fugitive and narcotics bureaus. Then he would have enough officers to take the streets back - and unless I miss my guess - the citizens of Shelby County would be more than willing to pay for it.

In the first week of June, I'm told the Sheriff's Office sent officers up to Middleton, TN to work on a traffic grant and wound up having to send regular officers home becuase there weren't any cars for them to drive. That means the citizens (taxpayers) of Shelby County were not being protected because some of the patrol districts were left without a patrol car. Of course, this was relayed to me by a deputy who doesn't have his time in, so he has to remain in stealth mode.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Channel 3 violating FCC rules on Equal Access

Press Release

Memphis, TN
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
For Immediate Release

Candidate files FCC complaint against local television station – citing violation of Equal Access to the public airwaves

Today Shelby County Sheriff’s write-in candidate, John Harvey, announced he has filed a complaint with the FCC against Memphis television station WREG. John said he is a “certified” candidate for Sheriff according to the Shelby County Election Commission and therefore should be invited to participate in the publicly televised debate which will be held on July 11th. He has already participated in the Cordova Leadership Forum with both of the other candidates and is scheduled to appear with them again at the Lakeland Forum on July 13th at 7:00pm.

An inquiry to WREG from John has gone unanswered, yet a reporter with the Memphis Commercial Appeal confirmed that John will not be invited to the debate. The Commercial Appeal is a participant in the debate, along with Channel 3 (WREG) and others.

John believes he has the answer to the crime problems in Memphis and his vision must be aired for public debate, for the good of the community. John says his cyber-posse system can turn the tide on crime – if implemented. Therefore, it is critical that he be allowed to participate.

Here is the content of John’s FCC complaint:

One of our local television stations (WREG), which is a CBS affiliate in Memphis, TN is co-hosting a televised public debate on July 11th, 2006. They have invited the Democratic candidate and the Republican candidate, but will not allow me to participate. I have been certified by the Shelby County Election Commission as a candidate in this race, as a write-in. I am requesting that this station, which broadcasts under FCC license and utilizes the public airways, be ordered to allow me to participate in this public discourse of the crime problems that are facing our community.

I am the only candidate in this race with significant law enforcement experience, including a vision and plan for interdicting crime in Shelby County. I believe my ideas need to be allowed to be aired in the public forum and debated. The other two candidates have either no law enforcement experience or very little.

I would appreciate your support in helping me participate in this forum which, is intended to allow candidates to air our views and opinions in the arena of public debate.

Thank you,


John Harvey
Candidate for Sheriff of Shelby County
cyber-posse
John Harvey for Sheriff
Memphis Crime
Voting in Memphis

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Farewell Preston Moore

Deputy Sheriff's, police officers and to a certain extent, even firemen, are like brothers and sisters - regardless of race, color or creed. We go through so much together that we build strong bonds. I have worked with officers from all across the country and there isn't a nickels worth of difference in any of them. I once ran into a group of LAPD officers while elk hunting in Colorado and you would have thought they worked for the Sheriff's Office. They took us in and we really enjoyed each other's company...

I got a call around 2300 last night from one of my fellow officers informing me of Preston's death and it shocked me. A few minutes later, I got another call, then an email from a reserve asking if I knew any of his family.

Preston Moore worked with me in Fugitive on the midnight shift. I didn't really know him that well when I took over as Field Commander, but I soon came to learn that he was a man who was reliable and conscientious.

What I came to learn was that he could be counted on to make sure the paperwork was correct every night and things were done according to policy. I never worried about things being fowled up when he was on the desk. He knew his job and he took care of business. He was always in a good mood - ready to crack a joke on one of the other officers at a moments notice, or take his turn as the brunt of the joke from one of his fellow officers. You could tell he enjoyed being one of our "family."

Also, when someone would call a hot tip in, he knew how to talk to them to get as much information as possible, like the time he got a tip on a rapist in the nutbush area. He collected all the information that was needed and kept the tipster on the line until we had the man in custody.

Preston was as steady as a rock and a person who was proud of the fact that he was a deputy sheriff. I thought the world of him, as did all the other guys on our shift. Once again, the good died too young. Preston, the deputy, and Jaye Michael Davis, the disk jockey, will both be missed.

Lt John Harvey
SCSO