Jefferson PD calls for evidence room probe

WIRTHMAN

Jefferson PD calls for evidence room probe

Thursday, July 3. 2008

Jefferson Police Department officials have called for a state probe into problems with the department’s evidence room.

In a Thursday news release, JPD Chief Joe Wirthman said that “possible improprieties” had been found in the evidence room during an certification audit. Wirthman has asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to look into the matter.

Wirthman said the problem dates back three to four years ago.

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#1 Barbara Fourby on 07/06/08 at 08:11 PM [Reply]

I wonder what the "improprieties" are and why are they not
saying. If these "improprieties" date back so far why
were they not noticed when Wirthman took over two
years ago. Why two years after Wirthman took over is he doing an audit. Shouldnt that have been done when he took over.
Isnt he an agency head and ultimately responsible for
everything and everyone under his command. "improprieties"
in the evidence room! What does that mean! explain Mr. Wirthman
How many people were wrongly convicted because of "improprieties"
How many Criminals walked free because of "improprieties"
When are we going to have a chief and police agency
worth our tax dollars. I hope the Jackson Herlad demands
answers. Is Wirthman going to blame his screw up on Past police Chiefs? If I recall John ward was the chief before Withman
why didnt he audit the department after taking over for
Glenn if Glenn was so Bad.

#1.1 jane smith on 08/05/08 at 11:39 AM [Reply]

Unless you are inside of the Jefferson PD or any PD for that matter, you have know idea what goes into running an office so it is my suggestion that you all back off.

#1.1.1 JAUTRY on 08/05/08 at 12:59 PM [Reply]

Yet another nerve struck! Everything that I have read, and written, here is mostly speculation based on true facts. Unfortunately for you we are all entitled to that opinion and the freedom to express it. When a person takes certain stands personally, and especially professionally, they set theirselves up for possible scrutiny, but thanks for your suggestion, which you also are entitled to.

#1.1.2 Bubba on 08/05/08 at 01:08 PM [Reply]

You need to stick to baking pies and watching after the kids & leave this to the grown-ups..and by the way a threat from you is not much of a threat!

#1.1.2.1 JAUTRY on 08/05/08 at 01:17 PM [Reply]

Bubba appears to like the direct approach!

#1.1.2.2 Jane Smith on 08/07/08 at 10:09 AM [Reply]

Well I am sorry you took that as a threat...but evidently
all any of you have to go by is what is written in the paper and you have no idea what is actually going on inside of that department....so maybe you should get off the computer and do a little research before you make assumptions about someone or the way they run their department.

#1.1.2.2.1 JAUTRY on 08/11/08 at 09:22 AM [Reply]

You'd be surprised what we know,,,,,and how and why we know it!

#1.2 Jane Doe on 08/14/08 at 11:12 AM [Reply]

Barbara, I really think you need to move to Clarke County where things are run according to you expectations! Anybody who feels the way you do about a very important department such as the Police Department should flee to safety at once. Let me guess, you are typing all do on the Washington Post website to inform the president how to run the country too. You seem to be highly intelligent, why waste your time bashing the Jefferson Police Department and instead run for President!?

#1.2.1 JAUTRY on 08/14/08 at 04:45 PM [Reply]

Jane, it seems that you get your feelings hurt pretty easily. Such a strong suggestion that someone should leave makes me want to ask where you are from, originally. Any possibility that you are related to someone in the JPD? For a line of blogs in the local newspaper you seem to be taking things awfully personally!

#1.2.1.1 Jane on 08/18/08 at 11:17 AM [Reply]

Jautry.....So you are a psychologist now? Strong suggestion?
Hardly not! If you are not happy in Jefferson, what idiot
would stay? Only someone that thrives on complaints!
I think Jerry Springer could use a good reporter and
psychologist as yourself.
JD

#1.2.1.1.1 JAUTRY on 08/18/08 at 12:51 PM [Reply]

JUST SIMPLE OBSERVATIONS JANE, BUT ONCE AGAIN IT SEEMS THAT YOUR FEELINGS HAVE BEEN HURT. AS I HAVE STATED BEFORE, IF ANYONE IS NOT HAPPY HERE DELTA IS READY WHEN YOU ARE. I STILL DON'T SEE WHERE YOU ADDRESSED WHETHER YOU ARE A LONG TIME RESIDENT OR A TRANSPLANT, NOT THAT IT REALLY MATTERS. YOU'RE STILL ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINION WHETHER IT'S POPULAR OR NOT.

#1.2.1.1.1.1 Jane D on 08/20/08 at 10:45 AM [Reply]

Mr.K, No, it really doesn't matter if I am A long time resident
or not. My simple observation is that you are a former
employee of JPD. Move on with your life!

#1.2.1.1.1.1.1 JAUTRY on 08/21/08 at 03:14 PM [Reply]

That is the second time I have been refered to as Mr K in the last couple of days. I know who Mr. G is but not Mr. K. Can you help me out here? I'm guessing you are either Mrs. W or Mrs. B, but deffinately a transplant.

#2 J Autry on 07/10/08 at 11:15 AM [Reply]

The lunatics are running the asylum. I have grown to feel sorry for you folks in Jefferson. Darren Glenn is my cousin and was a true and honest Police Chief who loved Jefferson very much. Your pitiful and spinlelss excuse for city managment ran him out of is job in a most cowardly way. Now, unfortunately, you are left with the scraps, and the knowledge that your wonderful city is being secured by an inept, job scared Chief with an uncertified second in command. It is said that you shouldn't have to pay for the sins of your father, but your city managment, some past some present, have really put you folks in a fix!!!!!

#2.1 Barbara Fourby on 07/10/08 at 08:59 PM [Reply]

10 bucks says that the Jefferson Police Department try to put their screw ups on someone else. The fact of the matter is there has been two police chiefs since Darren Glenn and neither of them
apparently audited their departments when they took over.
Don't you think that you would want to know what you are getting when you take over responsibility for an entire police department.
Especially one that was under a GBI investigation when you took over. I think the Chief and his asst. chief who is not a police officer and who I have personally seen in a marked police
car and uniform wearing a gun and badge
should be fired. If the asst. chief is not a police officer and he is in a full uniform with a gun and a badge is that not impersonating a police officer. I am not a cop can I go around in a police uniform with a badge and a gun. If I did I bet I would get arrested.

#2.1.1 Anonymous on 08/05/08 at 01:49 PM [Reply]

Thank you Barbara

#3 Looking for a Better Future on 07/15/08 at 06:33 PM [Reply]

Why is it we keep seeing the JPD asking the GBI to look into their internal problems? If there are so many problems, why not dissolve the agency and start from scratch? Wipe the slate clean and create new leadership?

#3.1 kevin w on 07/22/08 at 03:38 PM [Reply]

you are right the whole dept needs to be revamped i say let the georgia state patrol run the calls while everyone gets re-certifed thats what had to happen in auburn to get the poor choices out all the city has to do is make the request to the state and it will all go quickly and jefferson will have thier dept back by mid december and all will be resolved at least by the city they may have some whinner officers that could not pass the state required tests both physical and written but that would be expected right ? but then again if the city its self has something to hide then thats a horse of a different color !

#3.1.1 J Autry on 07/29/08 at 10:33 AM [Reply]

You are at least partially right Kevin, but the initial problems with this department started at a level above the police department. Your city manager, his assistant, the city attourney and some of the city counselmen are more to blame than anyone. Had they shown a little more common sense and a stronger conviction of chosing right over wrong, versus easy over hard, you wouldn't be facing this situation at all. Sorry, I left out the former District Attourney.

#3.1.1.1 Anonymous on 07/29/08 at 04:27 PM [Reply]

you are right and i said if the city has nothing to hide then this would be a easy fix but as we can see they are reluctant to make the changes !!

#3.1.1.1.1 J Autry on 07/30/08 at 09:37 AM [Reply]

Some city officials are facing a lawsuit. My guess is that some pretty interesting things will come to light while this runs it's course. Of course, that's just the tip of the iceberg as far as your problems there in Jefferson go, but it is a fine place to start.

#3.1.1.2 the real J Autry on 08/15/08 at 05:25 PM [Reply]

First of all, most of the people posting on this blog need to learn how to spell. Secondly, Mike Buffington is a blooming moron who needs to start looking at facts that bolster his allegations before printing these off the wall stories in his paper. And Last, I am proud to know that I live in a community where the "breaking news" is what happened at a party on Thornhill Circle. That makes my family and I live at ease. Thanks Mike for showing me that there is nothing better to write about in your joke of a newspaper.

#3.1.1.2.1 JAUTRY on 08/18/08 at 01:03 PM [Reply]

"the real j autry" needs to get a life and stop using my name. Enough people in Jefferson know me and can differentiate between myself and a spineless imposter like you.

#3.1.2 Big Dave on 07/31/08 at 09:27 AM [Reply]

First of all do any of you people ranting on this vent type page have any idea how to run a police dept? The answer is no! I do not know Chief Wirthman however, I can tell you if he thinks there are improprities with his evidence room he would be foolish to investigate them himself. Regardless of the outcome there would be a doubt or cloud because he or his department did the investigation. He is only doing the right thing by allowing the GBI to lok into the evidence room. Once the GBI has completed the probe they will hand over the findings to the Chief and im sure if someone has done something wrong they will be held accountable. As the Chief im sure he does not like the GBI looking into his department but you should applaud him for not covering up anything.

#3.1.2.1 JAUTRY on 08/04/08 at 04:16 PM [Reply]

Seems that someone struck a nerve Big Dave! If it took me two and a half years to discover a problem in my department you had better believe that I would investigate it myself. If I discovered improprieties in my investigation then I would call in the Calvary. This appears more to be someone hiding from the responsability more than taking it.

#3.1.2.2 Anonymous on 08/05/08 at 12:42 PM [Reply]

no but evidently neither does anyone there !

#4 cipit on 08/15/08 at 12:25 AM [Reply]

the second in command is a police officer. who told you he wasn't? i saw his post records. he has arrest powers, can carry a gun and a badge and can wear a uniform and drive a marked car. the state has given him that authority, just like any other police officer.

#4.1 Anonymous on 08/15/08 at 08:54 AM [Reply]

Really that's interesting because word has it that the Asst. Chief failed EVOC, the driving course part of the academy, for Georgia and wasn't given a Georgia POST number. You might want to ask him to show you his Georgia POST number.

#4.1.1 Jack Lord on 08/15/08 at 04:35 PM [Reply]

He has no P.O.S.T. certification card...no number if he did he would post it on here as he has posted many of these messages taking up for himself. He is however a member of the Country Club ...the Travis Tritt country club

#4.2 The people of jefferson for the resignation of the Joe withman and Gus backelant on 08/22/08 at 08:09 PM [Reply]

No,he is not Please look it up or call the POST office their numer is on their web site. You are stupid

#4.3 Jefferson Resident on 08/27/08 at 04:20 PM [Reply]

He said he wasn't in his letter to the editor in this weeks paper.

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Jefferson PD calls for evidence room probe

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