It's one year into the future . . .
I awakened to my usual morning cup of coffee and decided to check my email. Yep, there it is - the daily email from Cyber-Posse alerting me to any criminal activity within a certain distance of my home. I selected 4 blocks because I know I can go to the website and look at the bigger picture if I want. It appears there have been a few car break-ins involving cars parked on the street. It looks like we need to be on the lookout for a late model, green, Z-71, Chevy pickup, occupied by a male white and a male black. Since this Cyber-Posse system was started by newly elected Sheriff John Harvey, things have gotten much safer and I've actually met my neighbors. Before, I didn't want to know who they were, now we exchange information and help watch out for the neighborhood together. Things are getting much better already.
It was less than a month ago that we were having those breakins and were alerted by the Cyber-Posse system. Several of us had purchased webcams and pointed them out toward the street like Sheriff Harvey suggested. When we got the news about the breakins we were able to pull up the video and the Sheriff's office arrested a man who had just gotten out of prison a week earlier. They found all the stuff he had stolen in his apartment, plus some drugs and a gun. I understand he is now residing in one of Sheriff Harvey's tent compounds while awaiting trial. I feel a lot safer now that crime is starting to abate!
I really like the emails I'm getting from Cyber-Posse about the warrants in my area too. I never would have known that the kid across the street was involved in drugs, but there it is big and bold, a warrant for possession with intent to sell. I'm firing off an email right now to the Cyber-Posse system to let them know what kind of car he drives and where he hangs out. I've already got a webcam snapshot of his car that I'll send along. I know he shoots pool at that bar down the street every afternoon and he also works doing yard work for that lawn company that started up last year - "Luttrell's Cutting and Edging". Now that's a company that knows how to cut!
Read additional chapterettes at Cyber-Posse
Friday, June 30, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Isn't it Embarrassing?
What if you were suddenly elected Sheriff and you had no experience in law enforcement? What would you do when you were being interviewed about law enforcement questions? Would you fake it, or defer those questions to commanders who had been in the field and risen through the ranks? How about letting your public information officer teach classes to the public on how to prevent crime? Wouldn't you leave that to people who were qualified?
Well the above scenario has been played out right before our eyes over the last four years. Mark Luttrell won the race and promptly started fielding interviews as though he had ever made an arrest. After three years of "faking it", he rose to speak in a Compstats meeting and asked the room full of commanders "what authority do we have to make arrests in Bartlett?" When I called him on this one (on the Mike Fleming show), he lied and said he never said that. While I don't expect any of the commanders at the SCSO to lay their head on a chopping block by telling the truth about what was said, I did happen to ask a retired lieutenant, who was pointman for the Fugitive Bureau in the aforementioned meeting, if he remembered the event. Former Green Bay Packer, professional football player and retired SCSO Lt., Francis "Bubba" Winkler, was that man. He said he was there and he thought it was the "dumbest" thing he had ever heard. I recorded our interview and it is available for your listening pleasure here
Well the above scenario has been played out right before our eyes over the last four years. Mark Luttrell won the race and promptly started fielding interviews as though he had ever made an arrest. After three years of "faking it", he rose to speak in a Compstats meeting and asked the room full of commanders "what authority do we have to make arrests in Bartlett?" When I called him on this one (on the Mike Fleming show), he lied and said he never said that. While I don't expect any of the commanders at the SCSO to lay their head on a chopping block by telling the truth about what was said, I did happen to ask a retired lieutenant, who was pointman for the Fugitive Bureau in the aforementioned meeting, if he remembered the event. Former Green Bay Packer, professional football player and retired SCSO Lt., Francis "Bubba" Winkler, was that man. He said he was there and he thought it was the "dumbest" thing he had ever heard. I recorded our interview and it is available for your listening pleasure here
Captain without a ship
Captain Bobby Simmons is in charge of nothing at the Shelby County Sheriff's Office today. He has been in this status since running afoul of Sheriff Mark Luttrell last month. It seems Captain Simmons didn't say "yessuh boss" when he should have and now, instead of having a department vehicle and being assigned to the detective bureau, he has been assigned to oversee nothing. Initially, he was told to turn his car in and drive to the substation where he would be assigned to the (commander's whipping post) report center. This position was phased out last week and was previously commanded by Inspector Judy Hughes, another whipping post denizen. Captain Simmons bumped Inspector Hughes out of the slot because he is the current employee in the Sheriff's sights. Captain Simmons says he has been told verbally that he is to be over the garage, but even though he has asked for his assignment in writing, nothing has arrived in the mail. Until then, he is in limbo, because if it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist. Apparently, the chiefs are reluctant to document their error. Until, they wake up and quit playing politics, Captain Simmons' considerable law enforcement experience will have to be wasted on pushing paper at the garage.
Meanwhile back to Inspector Hughes. . . She was transferred to the courts, but somehow she is still being punished, because she reports to an office out near the Corrections Center. The closest court to her would be one in either Bartlett or Germantown, neither of which has anything to do with the Sheriff's Office.
It is my understanding that Captain Simmons and Inspector Hughes have been in contact with an attorney, especially after Burlington RR V. White was handed down last month!
Luttrell ran on a platform of "time for change", but as you can see, he fits in very well with the good old boy network. This is the same pathetic treatment deputies have been subjected to since at least 1975, when I hired in. When will a Sheriff learn that they don't own the SCSO? When will Mark let the officers who know what it means to be a cop do their jobs without his pettiness getting in the way of fighting crime?
Meanwhile back to Inspector Hughes. . . She was transferred to the courts, but somehow she is still being punished, because she reports to an office out near the Corrections Center. The closest court to her would be one in either Bartlett or Germantown, neither of which has anything to do with the Sheriff's Office.
It is my understanding that Captain Simmons and Inspector Hughes have been in contact with an attorney, especially after Burlington RR V. White was handed down last month!
Luttrell ran on a platform of "time for change", but as you can see, he fits in very well with the good old boy network. This is the same pathetic treatment deputies have been subjected to since at least 1975, when I hired in. When will a Sheriff learn that they don't own the SCSO? When will Mark let the officers who know what it means to be a cop do their jobs without his pettiness getting in the way of fighting crime?
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Illegal aliens in the MidSouth
Press Release
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Memphis, TN
Contact John Harvey
For Immediate Release:
Today, Sheriff’s candidate John Harvey said if elected he would move to identify and arrest any illegal aliens within the jurisdiction of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Mark Luttrell has said there is nothing the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office can do about illegal aliens. John Harvey disputed this saying, “there is legal precedent for a local Sheriff to enlist the support of the Federal government for training of selected officers utilizing a new program being offered by ICE. This past February, a Sheriff in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina began working with I.C.E. officials to federalize some of his officers so they actually become an extension of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. Illegal immigrants are costing the citizens of Shelby County millions of dollars and Hispanic gangs (filled with illegal aliens) are becoming more dangerous. We must do what we have sworn to do, and that is to protect our citizens and enforce the laws of the United States.”
Related Information sources:
Link Information: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/nc09_myrick/immigrationprogramfeddep020606.html
From U.S. Representative Sue Myrick’s website:
http://www.myrick.house.gov/hot_topics_immigration_issues.shtml
New Immigration Program will allow Mecklenburg County Sheriff Deputies to Detain and Remove Illegal Aliens
On February 6, 2006, Representative Sue Myrick, Mecklenburg County (NC) Sheriff Jim Pendergraph, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey S. Jordan announced at a press conference a new program that will federalize ten Mecklenburg County Deputies so that they can help ICE detain and remove illegal aliens. This groundbreaking program is the first of its kind to be implemented by a Sheriff’s office east of the Mississippi. “This new program changes how North Carolina responds to illegal aliens,” said Rep. Myrick. “We have a shortage of federal agents to deal with illegal aliens in our state, and this program provides us with some much needed back up. My hope is that every county in North Carolina sees what we are doing here and applies to set up a similar program with ICE.”
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Memphis, TN
Contact John Harvey
For Immediate Release:
Today, Sheriff’s candidate John Harvey said if elected he would move to identify and arrest any illegal aliens within the jurisdiction of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Mark Luttrell has said there is nothing the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office can do about illegal aliens. John Harvey disputed this saying, “there is legal precedent for a local Sheriff to enlist the support of the Federal government for training of selected officers utilizing a new program being offered by ICE. This past February, a Sheriff in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina began working with I.C.E. officials to federalize some of his officers so they actually become an extension of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. Illegal immigrants are costing the citizens of Shelby County millions of dollars and Hispanic gangs (filled with illegal aliens) are becoming more dangerous. We must do what we have sworn to do, and that is to protect our citizens and enforce the laws of the United States.”
Related Information sources:
Link Information: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/nc09_myrick/immigrationprogramfeddep020606.html
From U.S. Representative Sue Myrick’s website:
http://www.myrick.house.gov/hot_topics_immigration_issues.shtml
New Immigration Program will allow Mecklenburg County Sheriff Deputies to Detain and Remove Illegal Aliens
On February 6, 2006, Representative Sue Myrick, Mecklenburg County (NC) Sheriff Jim Pendergraph, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey S. Jordan announced at a press conference a new program that will federalize ten Mecklenburg County Deputies so that they can help ICE detain and remove illegal aliens. This groundbreaking program is the first of its kind to be implemented by a Sheriff’s office east of the Mississippi. “This new program changes how North Carolina responds to illegal aliens,” said Rep. Myrick. “We have a shortage of federal agents to deal with illegal aliens in our state, and this program provides us with some much needed back up. My hope is that every county in North Carolina sees what we are doing here and applies to set up a similar program with ICE.”
Friday, June 23, 2006
Luttrell harassing Employees
In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling on "hostile work environment", it appears maybe the Sheriff's Office may get a "review" for some of it's, nah let's call it like it is. Mark Luttrell may get a review for some of his shenanigans.
Touting himself as an excellent manager, he has issued the proclamation that all square pegs will be plugged into square holes. No law enforcement personnel are supposed to be assigned to non enforcement duties.
Well, the Report Center was closed down last week, and Capt Bobby Simmons was left with no assignment. It seems he has run afoul of Sheriff Luttrell and is being given the "treatment". I spoke with him a few days ago and asked where he had been assigned. He says the latest he has been told was that he would be reviewing work orders at the garage. Yep, I'd say he needs to look at the latest Supreme Court ruling in Burlington RR V. White. Here's an excerpt:
"Applying the standard to the facts of this case, there was a sufficient evidentiary basis to support the jury's verdict on White's retaliation claim. Contrary to Burlington's claim, a reassignment of duties can constitute retaliatory discrimination where both the former and present duties fall within the same job description. Almost every job category involves some duties that are less desirable than others. That is presumably why the EEOC has consistently recognized retaliatory work assignments as forbidden retaliation. Here, the jury had considerable evidence that the track laborer duties were more arduous and dirtier than the forklift operator position, and that the latter position was considered a better job by male employees who resented White for occupying it. Based on this record, a jury could reasonably conclude that the reassignment would have been materially adverse to a reasonable employee. Burlington also argues that the 37-day suspension without pay lacked statutory significance because White was reinstated with backpay. The significance of the congressional judgment that victims of intentional discrimination can recover compensatory and punitive damages to make them whole would be undermined if employers could avoid liability in these circumstances. Any insufficient evidence claim is unconvincing. White received backpay, but many reasonable employees would find a month without pay a serious hardship. White described her physical and emotional hardship to the jury, noting that she obtained medical treatment for emotional distress. An indefinite suspension without pay could well act as a deterrent to the filing of a discrimination complaint, even if the suspended employee eventually receives backpay. Thus, the jury's conclusion that the suspension was materially adverse was reasonable."
This also would apply to a certain female inspector at the Sheriff's Office who was moved after she filed an EEOC complaint. I believe she may have a couple of attorneys salivating at the opportunity to file the suit for her!
You know, come to think of it, I was moved from the Computer Section to the midnight shift of the Fugitive Bureau after it was common knowledge that I intended to run for Sheriff. There were three lieutenants assigned to the Bureau at the same time and I was put on the midnight shift and given the oldest equipment and worst office. (Non perks are a subliminal way of establishing the pecking order at the SCSO). I think I'll have to speak with an attorney on this one myself.
Touting himself as an excellent manager, he has issued the proclamation that all square pegs will be plugged into square holes. No law enforcement personnel are supposed to be assigned to non enforcement duties.
Well, the Report Center was closed down last week, and Capt Bobby Simmons was left with no assignment. It seems he has run afoul of Sheriff Luttrell and is being given the "treatment". I spoke with him a few days ago and asked where he had been assigned. He says the latest he has been told was that he would be reviewing work orders at the garage. Yep, I'd say he needs to look at the latest Supreme Court ruling in Burlington RR V. White. Here's an excerpt:
"Applying the standard to the facts of this case, there was a sufficient evidentiary basis to support the jury's verdict on White's retaliation claim. Contrary to Burlington's claim, a reassignment of duties can constitute retaliatory discrimination where both the former and present duties fall within the same job description. Almost every job category involves some duties that are less desirable than others. That is presumably why the EEOC has consistently recognized retaliatory work assignments as forbidden retaliation. Here, the jury had considerable evidence that the track laborer duties were more arduous and dirtier than the forklift operator position, and that the latter position was considered a better job by male employees who resented White for occupying it. Based on this record, a jury could reasonably conclude that the reassignment would have been materially adverse to a reasonable employee. Burlington also argues that the 37-day suspension without pay lacked statutory significance because White was reinstated with backpay. The significance of the congressional judgment that victims of intentional discrimination can recover compensatory and punitive damages to make them whole would be undermined if employers could avoid liability in these circumstances. Any insufficient evidence claim is unconvincing. White received backpay, but many reasonable employees would find a month without pay a serious hardship. White described her physical and emotional hardship to the jury, noting that she obtained medical treatment for emotional distress. An indefinite suspension without pay could well act as a deterrent to the filing of a discrimination complaint, even if the suspended employee eventually receives backpay. Thus, the jury's conclusion that the suspension was materially adverse was reasonable."
This also would apply to a certain female inspector at the Sheriff's Office who was moved after she filed an EEOC complaint. I believe she may have a couple of attorneys salivating at the opportunity to file the suit for her!
You know, come to think of it, I was moved from the Computer Section to the midnight shift of the Fugitive Bureau after it was common knowledge that I intended to run for Sheriff. There were three lieutenants assigned to the Bureau at the same time and I was put on the midnight shift and given the oldest equipment and worst office. (Non perks are a subliminal way of establishing the pecking order at the SCSO). I think I'll have to speak with an attorney on this one myself.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Help a Cop's Kid
I received an email from a fellow gang member tonight (mpd cop) about trying to raise some money to help his daughter. I have been blessed by having had three healthy kids and they never really had any significant injuries; other than the time Zach swallowed a key and $1,000.00 later, he was ok. I can only imagine how he must feel, wondering about his child's future. She has been a diabetic since childhood and just this past year, the family learned she has lymphoma (cancer).
Officer Mann, by all accounts, is a very good officer (officer of the year - 2005) and he loves his family. I think any help would be most appreciated by the Mann family. They have a website where you can donate.
Here is Tom's email:
My 9 year old daughter has had diabetes since she was 17 months old and ever since she was 2 1/2 yrs. old we have had a walk team wlaking for juvenile diabetes "sarah's bad boys". you know every year we have numerous fundraisers. sometimes good and sometimes bad. this year is very important to me for her sake because in january sarah was diagnosed with hodgkin's lymphoma a form of cancer.
so i want to have the best year ever for her october 7, 2006 our annual walk to cure diabetes. we have a web site that people can go to and click on a link that will take them to our official juvenile diabetes research foundation walk team page where people can make a donation - www.sarahsbadboys.com
Officer Mann, by all accounts, is a very good officer (officer of the year - 2005) and he loves his family. I think any help would be most appreciated by the Mann family. They have a website where you can donate.
Here is Tom's email:
My 9 year old daughter has had diabetes since she was 17 months old and ever since she was 2 1/2 yrs. old we have had a walk team wlaking for juvenile diabetes "sarah's bad boys". you know every year we have numerous fundraisers. sometimes good and sometimes bad. this year is very important to me for her sake because in january sarah was diagnosed with hodgkin's lymphoma a form of cancer.
so i want to have the best year ever for her october 7, 2006 our annual walk to cure diabetes. we have a web site that people can go to and click on a link that will take them to our official juvenile diabetes research foundation walk team page where people can make a donation - www.sarahsbadboys.com
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Cyber-Posse - A new concept in Crime Fighting
I have been working on this concept for the past four years, but I could never get anyone at the Sheriff's Office to listen. So, I have basically started a website for the purpose of making the public aware of what could be done to effectively and inexpensively fight crime. I have just registered the domain www.cyber-posse.com but that won't be available for a few days. Until then you can access it via - http://www.shelbynet.com/cyber-posse or just click on the Cyber-Posse Logo.
Feel free to give me feedback on the concepts. I sincerely believe crime could be impacted significantly if my concept were put into action. It's a white paper in the works, and it's time has come.
John
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Webcam Army
I've been thinking about a way the average citizen could help fight crime beyond being a nosy neighbor. One thought is for web savvy citizens to purchase webcams and point them toward the street. I can see a registry where anyone could hit the webcam on a street and view what's there. If a citizen is having problems with drug dealers and gang bangers doing their deeds in the middle of the street, they could point the webcam that way and send me an email. I'll see to it that the police get the link to the webcam. I would also be amenable to hosting the camera registry until I could get someone at the MPD to take it over.
Thoughts anyone?
John
Thoughts anyone?
John
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Some of Luttrell's Thoughts
Here are some things Mark Luttrell has had to say over the past four years as Sheriff:
1. "Gangs and drugs aren't a huge problem in county schools, Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell said during a board work session." CA Jan 21, 2005
Don't you think ANY gang activity is a HUGE problem?
2. What authority do we have to make arrests in Bartlett? Compstats meeting in 2005
Give me a break, a rookie knows that one!
3. "We can't arrest our way out of this crime problem." News Story 2005
So I guess you have another idea?
4. "John Harvey is probably the smartest man in the Sheriff's Office"
In some areas, I may be. However, we've got a lot of smart officers!
1. "Gangs and drugs aren't a huge problem in county schools, Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell said during a board work session." CA Jan 21, 2005
Don't you think ANY gang activity is a HUGE problem?
2. What authority do we have to make arrests in Bartlett? Compstats meeting in 2005
Give me a break, a rookie knows that one!
3. "We can't arrest our way out of this crime problem." News Story 2005
So I guess you have another idea?
4. "John Harvey is probably the smartest man in the Sheriff's Office"
In some areas, I may be. However, we've got a lot of smart officers!
Sunday, May 07, 2006
What Have They Done?
I didn't attend, but I was told that Bill Morris and Jim Rout were at Mark Luttrell's campaing kickoff. Isn't that reassuring! A good old Democrat and a good old er ah, wasn't Jim Rout a Republican once upon a time? That must have been before he won the Mayors race! (I hate to admit it, but I helped him win that first time.) You may remember him, he is the guy who forgot to tell us how terrible we were financially in Shelby County, then he decided to retire. We were about 1.2 billion in debt when he left and it looks like A.C. Wharton picked up right where Jimbo left off. We are now over 2 billion in debt.
Now, people are wanting you to support AC's running mate, Mark Luttrell. Let's see, no law enforcement experience, taking advice from the guys who got us where we are today. I don't think so.
How can anyone defend this crew?
Now, people are wanting you to support AC's running mate, Mark Luttrell. Let's see, no law enforcement experience, taking advice from the guys who got us where we are today. I don't think so.
How can anyone defend this crew?
Why Me?
I received an email early this morning which contained the following excerpt:
Please consider the following:
1. This is NOT going to make you very popular in the Republican party but very appreciated in the Democratic community.
My reply was that I am running because I have been a cop a lot longer than I've been calling myself a Republican. Cop defines who I am. The current Sheriff has got to go and I plan to undertake what others say cannot be done! Luttrell has got to go.
2. We need to consolidate and encourage the Republicans to get out and vote in August,.
I am encouraging everyone to vote the entire Republican ticket, except one position - Luttrell has got to go.
3. We need to give them all the encouragement we can muster to turn out the vote.
I plan to do just that, but not for Luttrell. Luttrell has got to go.
4. I am afraid that the Republican voters are discouraged enough ... is the reason the Democrats out voted us a few days ago.
I will be trying to get Republicans to the polls, but yep Luttrell has got to go.
5. Our Republican White House and Republican Congress's massive failures for the last 6 years will hurt us in state and local elections,
What has that got to do with me? Luttrell has got to go.
6. The Republican voter does not need more reasons not to vote.
I agree. Luttrell has got to go.
7. I feel that this write-in campaign will not help Terry Roland's race or any of the other county-wide races.
You probably didn't feel Terry Roland had a chance either. Just like you don't think I've got a chance, but Luttrell has got to go.
8. We are walking a very high tightrope this year. A lot is at stake.
I agree, but this is the good old USofA and I am exercising my right to run for office because I believe Luttrell has got to go.
9. You must know that a write-in cannot win so when the Sheriff loses, you will be blamed.
I know that if I don't do something drastic, Luttrell or French might win and take this community further down the tubes. Luttrell has got to go.
Please consider the overall cause and effect of your action.
I almost always do that. I rarely make rash decisions and I have come to one conclusion - Luttrell has got to go and I need to replace him.
I concluded my response with the following:
I don’t care about winning any popularity contests in the Republican or any other party. I am a career cop. For me, being a good cop has always been the “highest good.” I believe that this has been and is my calling. I believe I am as good at what I do as anyone has ever been. I believe I have tangible evidence of this in the systems I have created – both operationally and software-wise. However, I have had a belly full of selfish, greedy, crooked politicians. Mark Luttrell is just another one of those. He exemplifies what I detest about politics. He is unqualified to be Sheriff and was only put in the race because Jim Rout and Bill Morris wanted someone in they could control. I’m also sick of the Belz, Turley, Hyde, Hyneman etc crew running things from behind closed doors. He has charged deputy sheriff’s with violation of rules that he violates every day. Not only that, he has taken contributions from a major drug dealer who was arrested by the very department he is supposed to be leading. He has also taken money from several other felons. In my opinion, he is worse than Reginald French.
I am out to try to win this race and make a difference. Mark Luttrell has had four years to make a difference and he has only made things worse by cutting deputy sheriff positions so he could look good.
Please consider the following:
1. This is NOT going to make you very popular in the Republican party but very appreciated in the Democratic community.
My reply was that I am running because I have been a cop a lot longer than I've been calling myself a Republican. Cop defines who I am. The current Sheriff has got to go and I plan to undertake what others say cannot be done! Luttrell has got to go.
2. We need to consolidate and encourage the Republicans to get out and vote in August,.
I am encouraging everyone to vote the entire Republican ticket, except one position - Luttrell has got to go.
3. We need to give them all the encouragement we can muster to turn out the vote.
I plan to do just that, but not for Luttrell. Luttrell has got to go.
4. I am afraid that the Republican voters are discouraged enough ... is the reason the Democrats out voted us a few days ago.
I will be trying to get Republicans to the polls, but yep Luttrell has got to go.
5. Our Republican White House and Republican Congress's massive failures for the last 6 years will hurt us in state and local elections,
What has that got to do with me? Luttrell has got to go.
6. The Republican voter does not need more reasons not to vote.
I agree. Luttrell has got to go.
7. I feel that this write-in campaign will not help Terry Roland's race or any of the other county-wide races.
You probably didn't feel Terry Roland had a chance either. Just like you don't think I've got a chance, but Luttrell has got to go.
8. We are walking a very high tightrope this year. A lot is at stake.
I agree, but this is the good old USofA and I am exercising my right to run for office because I believe Luttrell has got to go.
9. You must know that a write-in cannot win so when the Sheriff loses, you will be blamed.
I know that if I don't do something drastic, Luttrell or French might win and take this community further down the tubes. Luttrell has got to go.
Please consider the overall cause and effect of your action.
I almost always do that. I rarely make rash decisions and I have come to one conclusion - Luttrell has got to go and I need to replace him.
I concluded my response with the following:
I don’t care about winning any popularity contests in the Republican or any other party. I am a career cop. For me, being a good cop has always been the “highest good.” I believe that this has been and is my calling. I believe I am as good at what I do as anyone has ever been. I believe I have tangible evidence of this in the systems I have created – both operationally and software-wise. However, I have had a belly full of selfish, greedy, crooked politicians. Mark Luttrell is just another one of those. He exemplifies what I detest about politics. He is unqualified to be Sheriff and was only put in the race because Jim Rout and Bill Morris wanted someone in they could control. I’m also sick of the Belz, Turley, Hyde, Hyneman etc crew running things from behind closed doors. He has charged deputy sheriff’s with violation of rules that he violates every day. Not only that, he has taken contributions from a major drug dealer who was arrested by the very department he is supposed to be leading. He has also taken money from several other felons. In my opinion, he is worse than Reginald French.
I am out to try to win this race and make a difference. Mark Luttrell has had four years to make a difference and he has only made things worse by cutting deputy sheriff positions so he could look good.
I'm IN
Some are saying I am entering the race for Sheriff to try to help Reginald French. Others say to get rid of Mark Luttrell. I am here to say, I am running because I am the best person for the job! Neither of the other candidates has any law enforcement accomplishments to hang their hats on. Reginald French only worked for a year or so as a patrolman. Mark Luttrell has never made an arrest and I doubt he could fill out the paperwork. As for Luttrell's four year term in office - two years ago in a Compstats meeting he asked about 30 commanders "what authority do we have to make arrests in Bartlett?" It was all I could do to keep from busting out loud. My teenage son knew what authority we have to make arrests in Bartlett, Memphis, Millington, etc.
Mark Luttrell has accomplished a task that could have been done by a blind man. It takes no vision to cut, downsize and outsource. It takes vision to come up with plans that are effective like my idea of putting our warrants on the web. I didn't just conceptualize that, I wrote the webpage and developed the WASP system for area law enforcement officers to use. The end result was a reduction of over 5,000 warrants - even though Luttrell cut 15 officers from the Fugitive Bureau!
Now that I have my time in and can retire, they cannot hurt me. I can speak freely and I am doing just that. THE KING IS NAKED!
I hope to shock this city even more than I have already with the election commission reports. There is more to follow on that front too, by the way. Please join with me in an attempt to save not just this city and county, but the entire region. Crime impacts the entire metropolitan area, not just Memphis and Shelby county! I am asking for your support, your money and mostly your prayers. God help us all!
Mark Luttrell has accomplished a task that could have been done by a blind man. It takes no vision to cut, downsize and outsource. It takes vision to come up with plans that are effective like my idea of putting our warrants on the web. I didn't just conceptualize that, I wrote the webpage and developed the WASP system for area law enforcement officers to use. The end result was a reduction of over 5,000 warrants - even though Luttrell cut 15 officers from the Fugitive Bureau!
Now that I have my time in and can retire, they cannot hurt me. I can speak freely and I am doing just that. THE KING IS NAKED!
I hope to shock this city even more than I have already with the election commission reports. There is more to follow on that front too, by the way. Please join with me in an attempt to save not just this city and county, but the entire region. Crime impacts the entire metropolitan area, not just Memphis and Shelby county! I am asking for your support, your money and mostly your prayers. God help us all!
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Ideas on Fixing the Election Process
Here are some early thoughts on things that can be done to fix the problems with the election process in Shelby County. I encourage others to make suggestions and offer constructive criticism.
These are my thoughts after having been involved in reviewing data and pouring over ballot and sign-in sheets.
1. We should implement an address verification program that works. Currently, the workers tell me they take whatever you give them. (I created a website for law enforcement that has many different data sources such as the MLGW customer database, Motor Vehicle database, TN Driver's License data, 911 phone calls, tax data, etc.) This information could be used to glean where a person lives.
2. We should provide a photo id for those who can't afford it.
3. We should capture every voter's picture at the poll. This would require a digital web camera on the computer. Cost would be under $50.00 per precinct.
4. We should have a computer at every precinct which has the entire voter database and allows the poll worker to look up the voters by name, address, etc.
5. We should require a thumbprint when voting. Banks require it, surely it would help cut down on voter fraud at the polls and is minimally invasive.
6. The election commission should have an audit program whereby they send workers out to spot check voter's addresses based on a random selection of at least 5 voters per precinct - within 6 months of any election.
7. The voter database needs to be cleaned up.
A. There are over 1300 people with two registration numbers
B. There are over 10,000 deceased voters still on the rolls.
C. Missing Demographic data for sex,race,dob, etc
D. Incorrect ages for voters which show them to be over 110 years old.
8. The voting process at the polls needs to be stratified and a checksheet implemented for opening and closing the polls.
9. The verification and authorization of the voter needs to be done in a "checksheet" format. As the voter moves from one station to another, they should be accompanied with a checksheet which each worker signs off on. This could be done electronically or manually.
10. There needs to be a better way of getting information on felony convictions from the clerk's office to the election commission. Apparently there has been a breakdown in this process.
11. Interface with the register, assessor, county clerk, Sheriff, etc for the purposes of determining who the voter is and where they live.
12. Check the available information on vacant lots from sources in item 11.
13. Interface with the local and state health departments to retrieve death data so that deceased voters can be purged in a timely manner.
These are my thoughts after having been involved in reviewing data and pouring over ballot and sign-in sheets.
1. We should implement an address verification program that works. Currently, the workers tell me they take whatever you give them. (I created a website for law enforcement that has many different data sources such as the MLGW customer database, Motor Vehicle database, TN Driver's License data, 911 phone calls, tax data, etc.) This information could be used to glean where a person lives.
2. We should provide a photo id for those who can't afford it.
3. We should capture every voter's picture at the poll. This would require a digital web camera on the computer. Cost would be under $50.00 per precinct.
4. We should have a computer at every precinct which has the entire voter database and allows the poll worker to look up the voters by name, address, etc.
5. We should require a thumbprint when voting. Banks require it, surely it would help cut down on voter fraud at the polls and is minimally invasive.
6. The election commission should have an audit program whereby they send workers out to spot check voter's addresses based on a random selection of at least 5 voters per precinct - within 6 months of any election.
7. The voter database needs to be cleaned up.
A. There are over 1300 people with two registration numbers
B. There are over 10,000 deceased voters still on the rolls.
C. Missing Demographic data for sex,race,dob, etc
D. Incorrect ages for voters which show them to be over 110 years old.
8. The voting process at the polls needs to be stratified and a checksheet implemented for opening and closing the polls.
9. The verification and authorization of the voter needs to be done in a "checksheet" format. As the voter moves from one station to another, they should be accompanied with a checksheet which each worker signs off on. This could be done electronically or manually.
10. There needs to be a better way of getting information on felony convictions from the clerk's office to the election commission. Apparently there has been a breakdown in this process.
11. Interface with the register, assessor, county clerk, Sheriff, etc for the purposes of determining who the voter is and where they live.
12. Check the available information on vacant lots from sources in item 11.
13. Interface with the local and state health departments to retrieve death data so that deceased voters can be purged in a timely manner.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Help us fix the Election Commission
The local election commission has failed the citizens of Shelby County. Greg Duckett, Chairman of this body, is responsibile for making sure things are being done in a proper manner. Duckett, James Johnson, the "executive director", and all the election commissioners - Republican and Democrat - are also responsible for this mess . They either knew or should have known that there were problems. If they knew they should have been shouting from the roof tops until the problems got fixed. If they didn't know, they should have.
Every time I have raised the issue of a systematic problem, Greg Duckett has stepped to the microphone to say I don't know what I'm talking about. Then after a few days, he has to come back to say there may be some problems. Yes, there are problems and the problems have to do with the failure of the commission to do things in a "businesslike manner." We need an election commission and an executive director who are committed to ensuring an equitable system is operating in Shelby County.
Here are some of the problems I have found:
1. People voting from vacant lots.
2. Felons voting.
3. Over 10,000 deceased voters still on the rolls.
4. Over 1300 voters with two registration numbers.
5. People voting in districts where they don't live.
The Commercial Appeal found the dead voters and more after I sent my information to them. It wasn't until I sent pictures of the vacant lots that they really got interested, but once they got on the story, it mushroomed. It isn't over either. There will be more to follow, as they say. . . .
I have asked to be appointed to Mayor Wharton's citizen's review committee, but I'm starting to believe this is all smoke and mirrors, because that was a couple of months ago and nothing has happened. It is for that reason that I'm asking every concerned citizen of Shelby County to join me in trying to fix the election commission. I believe we may have to file a lawsuit to force the election commission to purge the dead people from it's rolls and to revamp the process so that many of these problems can't exist. If you are interested in helping fix this problem, send me an email with your contact information. Feel free to post your comments for others to see also.
Thanks,
John
Every time I have raised the issue of a systematic problem, Greg Duckett has stepped to the microphone to say I don't know what I'm talking about. Then after a few days, he has to come back to say there may be some problems. Yes, there are problems and the problems have to do with the failure of the commission to do things in a "businesslike manner." We need an election commission and an executive director who are committed to ensuring an equitable system is operating in Shelby County.
Here are some of the problems I have found:
1. People voting from vacant lots.
2. Felons voting.
3. Over 10,000 deceased voters still on the rolls.
4. Over 1300 voters with two registration numbers.
5. People voting in districts where they don't live.
The Commercial Appeal found the dead voters and more after I sent my information to them. It wasn't until I sent pictures of the vacant lots that they really got interested, but once they got on the story, it mushroomed. It isn't over either. There will be more to follow, as they say. . . .
I have asked to be appointed to Mayor Wharton's citizen's review committee, but I'm starting to believe this is all smoke and mirrors, because that was a couple of months ago and nothing has happened. It is for that reason that I'm asking every concerned citizen of Shelby County to join me in trying to fix the election commission. I believe we may have to file a lawsuit to force the election commission to purge the dead people from it's rolls and to revamp the process so that many of these problems can't exist. If you are interested in helping fix this problem, send me an email with your contact information. Feel free to post your comments for others to see also.
Thanks,
John
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Maps showing deceased voters locations
Click here to see a pinmap showing that the problem of dead voters is all over the city. It also includes Republicans, Democrats, blacks, whites, others, males and females. Either dead people have voted, or the election commission has bad data.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Dead voter update
Well, I finally completed processing the 150,000 oldest voters and the new total is 8,803 possibly deceased voters! There are probably that many more in that group that can be purged if can get access to the social security numbers.
I wonder how difficult it would be to absentee vote people if you owned . . . say, maybe, hmmmmm . . . a funeral home? That's one reason I find it very disturbing that having deceased voters in the database doesn't alarm the election commission. I would like to see the public contact the county commission and ask them to withhold any funding for the election commission until they fix the problems with their data.
Your thoughts . . . .
I wonder how difficult it would be to absentee vote people if you owned . . . say, maybe, hmmmmm . . . a funeral home?
Your thoughts . . . .
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Election Commission - Fat, Dumb and Happy?
What is the job of the election commission if not to maintain the voter database and ensure a fair process? Recently I pointed out that there were felonious voters and many people who had partial information in the database. Many showed to be over 100 years old and some who weren't even born yet - based on the listed dob. Greg Duckett says those were just minor "typographical errors." I maintain there is no place for typos in this system and a properly written system would check for data errors. Having said that, I decided to look into the age question and wrote a program that checked 11,000 of the oldest voters. Yep, over 2,000 of those appear to be deceased. You can view the entire list at www.johnharveysheriff.com . People in the community need to bring pressure on the election commission and force them to do their job!
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Shall we follow the law?
Recently, I helped my friend, Terry Roland, in his campaign for senate district 29. I built Terry's website, generated phone call lists, wrote programs that pulled voter phone numbers from the internet, and even ran an autodialer to call potential voters. I also helped by looking at the voter data as it came in during both early and regular voting. This was the first time I've actually seen the voters names after they voted in a particular election. The data I received during and after early voting was the voter's name, address and registration number. I wrote a program that took the election data and retrieved additional information from the master voter database like, the address where they registered, their sex, race, dob and senate district. That program allowed us to look at where votes were coming from and to make some judgements about how we were doing. It also allowed me to check the voters against the general sessions and criminal court clerks websites by name and dob. I initially found about 16 felons, but 11 of those have apparently had their rights restored. That leaves five people who should not have voted.
It has now been almost a month since the election and no one has said anything about investigating this problem or any pending indictments. Since none of the "law enforcement" leaders have taken steps to ensure this doesn't happen in the future, I have prepared a document that I will deliver to the foreman of the Grand Jury this week seeking an indictment of the five felonious voters and an investigation of the election commissions database. The five felons I found came from the pool of about 8,000 voters. The entire database contains over 608,000 potential voters. If that percentage holds true for the rest of the data, there could be as many as 375 additional felons.
A cursory examination of the voter's database shows there are all kinds of problems with the data. There needs to be a detailed analysis of the data and an inquiry as to whether there are any deceased people included and whether or not there are any non-existant addresses, etc. I have been told the commission knows the data is corrupt, but they don't think it is a problem. Keep in mind there is a Democrat majority on the commission and therefore, th Republicans have virtually no say. Party affiliation aside, the process should not be skewed to favor one side or the other. For voters who don't subscribe to either party, I feel for them because they are truly disenfranchised.
Why doesn't the election commission want a clean database? Can it be in the interest of certain Democrats to have corrupt data? I think we already know that is the case, but hopefully the grand jury will look into this matter and force a fair election.
www.johnharveysheriff.com
It has now been almost a month since the election and no one has said anything about investigating this problem or any pending indictments. Since none of the "law enforcement" leaders have taken steps to ensure this doesn't happen in the future, I have prepared a document that I will deliver to the foreman of the Grand Jury this week seeking an indictment of the five felonious voters and an investigation of the election commissions database. The five felons I found came from the pool of about 8,000 voters. The entire database contains over 608,000 potential voters. If that percentage holds true for the rest of the data, there could be as many as 375 additional felons.
A cursory examination of the voter's database shows there are all kinds of problems with the data. There needs to be a detailed analysis of the data and an inquiry as to whether there are any deceased people included and whether or not there are any non-existant addresses, etc. I have been told the commission knows the data is corrupt, but they don't think it is a problem. Keep in mind there is a Democrat majority on the commission and therefore, th Republicans have virtually no say. Party affiliation aside, the process should not be skewed to favor one side or the other. For voters who don't subscribe to either party, I feel for them because they are truly disenfranchised.
Why doesn't the election commission want a clean database? Can it be in the interest of certain Democrats to have corrupt data? I think we already know that is the case, but hopefully the grand jury will look into this matter and force a fair election.
www.johnharveysheriff.com
Saturday, September 03, 2005
What to do?
What do you do with the situation in New Orleans, go about your daily routine in your nice, dry, comfortable home, or put your hands on the plow? Not everyone can go there, but most can find some way to help. I recommend people take time to put themself in our fellow citizen's shoes. Wouldn't you think help was on the way? Wouldn't you think, this is the U.S.A. and we take care of our own? Not only do we take care of every other nation in the world, we take care of our own, especially in times of trouble. Today is the day! Take a stand for what is right and get on board.
My friend, Randy Wade and I have been discussing what we might possibly do to help in the relief effort in New Orleans and have come to a decision –ROAD TRIP! We are getting a bunch of cops (retired and active) to go down and try to help out. This trip will be Sept 25th – 30th and even though this is the first day, we have already got several on board.
From the Sheriff’s Office:
Retired Captain Mike Bonham
Sgt. Michael Pope
Officer Michael Pryor
Retired Chief Joe Gurley
Retired Adm Asst. Randy Wade
Lt. John Harvey
Retired Capt. John Boggan
I’ve also contacted a few of my (smokeeater friends) because firemen tend to be a lot like us, in that they hired on to help.
If you can go and feel led to do that, we would welcome you. If you can’t go, but can help raise funds for the trip, or get some water, food or toilet items, that will help too. I am going to be taking a mobile satellite system down and setting up a network so some of the people will be able to communicate with their families. We will also be working through FEMA and the Red Cross on where we are needed. I’ve got something in the works from FedEx to help get whatever we gather shipped down there.
This is the day to take a stand and do what you would hope others would do for you, if you were so unfortunate as to have had this catastrophe land in your back yard. Talk to God and see what He would have you do, then follow His lead.
Thanks,
John Harvey
My friend, Randy Wade and I have been discussing what we might possibly do to help in the relief effort in New Orleans and have come to a decision –ROAD TRIP! We are getting a bunch of cops (retired and active) to go down and try to help out. This trip will be Sept 25th – 30th and even though this is the first day, we have already got several on board.
From the Sheriff’s Office:
Retired Captain Mike Bonham
Sgt. Michael Pope
Officer Michael Pryor
Retired Chief Joe Gurley
Retired Adm Asst. Randy Wade
Lt. John Harvey
Retired Capt. John Boggan
I’ve also contacted a few of my (smokeeater friends) because firemen tend to be a lot like us, in that they hired on to help.
If you can go and feel led to do that, we would welcome you. If you can’t go, but can help raise funds for the trip, or get some water, food or toilet items, that will help too. I am going to be taking a mobile satellite system down and setting up a network so some of the people will be able to communicate with their families. We will also be working through FEMA and the Red Cross on where we are needed. I’ve got something in the works from FedEx to help get whatever we gather shipped down there.
This is the day to take a stand and do what you would hope others would do for you, if you were so unfortunate as to have had this catastrophe land in your back yard. Talk to God and see what He would have you do, then follow His lead.
Thanks,
John Harvey
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Jail Privitization - Follow the Money
So they say publicly that they don't think jail privitization is a good fit. Privately, according to the Commercial Appeal, they have their minions meeting to work out the details. How long will the public be fooled by these slick politicians. "Hear what they say, but watch what they do!" I say follow the money. It's the same issue as the outsourcing of inmate feeding. Both the jail and the correctional center spend $5.00 per day, per inmate to a company called Aramark for food. On a daily average inmate population of 5,000 that works out to 9.125 million per year! If we trimmed our costs like they have in Phoenix, AZ it would result in a savings of 8.03 million per year. Even in Tipton county, where their feeding costs used to run $6.00 per day, they have cut it to $1.00 per day, per inmate by taking charge of the situation and making it happen - without outsourcing. Using the dollar-a-day forumula Shelby County would save over 29 million in just four years.
Privitization is about feeding the rich, not about cutting costs. The good ole boys are at work again behind the scenes. Don't let them pull a fast one!
Your thoughts?
Privitization is about feeding the rich, not about cutting costs. The good ole boys are at work again behind the scenes. Don't let them pull a fast one!
Your thoughts?
Monday, July 25, 2005
Why is Memphis the 2nd most dangerous Metro area in the US?
I believe we live in such a dangerous environment because of the failed policies of law enforcement and other leaders in this community. Show me one leader with a vision and/or a passion for their job beyond pulling down a fat check. What is their plan of attack on the problems that are causing people to flee Shelby County like rats leaving a sinking ship? You are right, they don't have one. Raise your taxes, then lie to you while looking you square in the eyes, saying it's not a tax increase. If it's not a tax increase, then just send the same amount of money you sent last year when the tax bill comes due. Our good county mayor just doesn't want to admit that he doesn't have any plans other than tax and spend. That's the same model our previous mayor had. Now we're billions in debt.
We have elected people who can talk the talk, but can't walk the walk. Sheriff Luttrell says we can't arrest our way out of the crime problem. Isn't that how they cleaned up New York City under Rudy Guiliani? I think it's called Zero Tolerance, or what I call the "hot plate" approach to law enforcement. Here in Memphis we have maximum tolerance and zero prisoner retention, which is why it is so dangerous to live here! He is also concerned about overcrowding the jail, which is at the heart of the problem in our community. If the criminals aren't behind bars, where are they? Yep, they are wreaking havoc on the community. If we have to erect tent cities, we need to incarcerate the violent criminals and keep them there. If criminals aren't doing time, they're doing crime! Strict enforcement of curfew laws on juveniles in gang infested areas could also have an immediate impact.
John
www.johnharveysheriff.com
We have elected people who can talk the talk, but can't walk the walk. Sheriff Luttrell says we can't arrest our way out of the crime problem. Isn't that how they cleaned up New York City under Rudy Guiliani? I think it's called Zero Tolerance, or what I call the "hot plate" approach to law enforcement. Here in Memphis we have maximum tolerance and zero prisoner retention, which is why it is so dangerous to live here! He is also concerned about overcrowding the jail, which is at the heart of the problem in our community. If the criminals aren't behind bars, where are they? Yep, they are wreaking havoc on the community. If we have to erect tent cities, we need to incarcerate the violent criminals and keep them there. If criminals aren't doing time, they're doing crime! Strict enforcement of curfew laws on juveniles in gang infested areas could also have an immediate impact.
John
www.johnharveysheriff.com
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