BACKELANT
EDITORIAL: Line crossed in JPD party response
What’s really going on at the Jefferson Police Department? That’s often difficult to figure out given the secretive nature of its egocentric leadership.
Both Chief Joe Wirthman and his sidekick, assistant chief Gus Backelant, rule with iron fists and broker no dissent.
That leadership by intimidation creates a lot of questionable JPD decisions and fuels numerous rumors.
The JPD is a public agency, the largest in the City of Jefferson with a $1.7 million taxpayer-funded budget. What it does, how its officers act and its internal problems are all of legitimate public interest.
Yet Wirthman and Backelant run the department like a private fiefdom. The response to complaints about a recent police party at Backelant’s house is a case in point.
On the night of Aug. 1, the JPD held its annual party at Backelant’s home on Thornhill Circle in Jefferson. Spouses and children attended, along with off-duty officers. According to city manager John Ward, it was a “nice family event where employees were able to get together and socialize away from work.” He said the only noise from the party came from children playing in the pool and adults laughing.
But two callers to the Jackson County 911 center that night and others who were in the neighborhood paint a different picture.
At 8:18 p.m. that evening, the Jackson County 911 Center received a phone call from a man complaining about the party. He said he and his wife had been out walking and passed by 187 Thornhill Circle where they said people were outside “raising sand, whooping and hollering and carrying on.” He said the group “looked about drunk” and that cars were parked along the subdivision street on both sides, including police cars. (See first call report here)
The man suggested that someone look into the matter, but refused to give his name.
JPD officer Darrell Johnson was subsequently dispatched by 911 to Backelant’s house. He arrived at 8:27 p.m. and left within two minutes.
At 8:42 p.m., a second call came into the 911 Center about the party. The person on this call said officers were “partying and urinating in public and still being too loud,” according to the 911 report. (See second call report here)
This time, JPD officer James McNatt was dispatched to the scene. McNatt asked the dispatcher who the call came from and speculated that it must have come from former JPD chief Darren Glenn, who lives in the same subdivision. (Glenn said he wasn’t at home at the time and that he had nothing to do with the calls.)
After McNatt arrived at the party, officer Johnson radioed back to the 911 Center at 8:54 p.m. and told the dispatcher he had been instructed by Wirthman that no JPD officer would respond to any further complaints about the party unless the person calling agreed to meet with an officer.
The 911 dispatcher said that decision was up to the JPD, but that any further complaints would have to be dispatched anyway.
No other calls came into 911 that night, but one neighbor said he later saw two people who appeared intoxicated leave the party, stopping a short distance away to throw up in the street.
There are a couple of questions about this event, but the main concern is Wirthman’s demand that anyone complaining about the party had to meet with officers or otherwise, calls to 911 would be ignored.
Clearly, Wirthman crossed a line with such a command. Officers often respond to such complaints without asking to meet with the person who called. Wirthman’s demand was an effort to intimidate the callers simply because it was his department being complained about.
Few would begrudge officers letting their hair down for a few hours at a party. But the holding of a large police party that apparently included some rather heavy drinking in a high-profile subdivision makes one wonder about the wisdom of the department’s leadership.
And it begs this question: If a similar party had been held by someone else and received 911 complaints about noise and people urinating in public, would Wirthman and the JPD have been so dismissive of the complaints?
Does the chief believe his department is above the law?
That leadership by intimidation creates a lot of questionable JPD decisions and fuels numerous rumors.
The JPD is a public agency, the largest in the City of Jefferson with a $1.7 million taxpayer-funded budget. What it does, how its officers act and its internal problems are all of legitimate public interest.
Yet Wirthman and Backelant run the department like a private fiefdom. The response to complaints about a recent police party at Backelant’s house is a case in point.
On the night of Aug. 1, the JPD held its annual party at Backelant’s home on Thornhill Circle in Jefferson. Spouses and children attended, along with off-duty officers. According to city manager John Ward, it was a “nice family event where employees were able to get together and socialize away from work.” He said the only noise from the party came from children playing in the pool and adults laughing.
But two callers to the Jackson County 911 center that night and others who were in the neighborhood paint a different picture.
At 8:18 p.m. that evening, the Jackson County 911 Center received a phone call from a man complaining about the party. He said he and his wife had been out walking and passed by 187 Thornhill Circle where they said people were outside “raising sand, whooping and hollering and carrying on.” He said the group “looked about drunk” and that cars were parked along the subdivision street on both sides, including police cars. (See first call report here)
The man suggested that someone look into the matter, but refused to give his name.
JPD officer Darrell Johnson was subsequently dispatched by 911 to Backelant’s house. He arrived at 8:27 p.m. and left within two minutes.
At 8:42 p.m., a second call came into the 911 Center about the party. The person on this call said officers were “partying and urinating in public and still being too loud,” according to the 911 report. (See second call report here)
This time, JPD officer James McNatt was dispatched to the scene. McNatt asked the dispatcher who the call came from and speculated that it must have come from former JPD chief Darren Glenn, who lives in the same subdivision. (Glenn said he wasn’t at home at the time and that he had nothing to do with the calls.)
After McNatt arrived at the party, officer Johnson radioed back to the 911 Center at 8:54 p.m. and told the dispatcher he had been instructed by Wirthman that no JPD officer would respond to any further complaints about the party unless the person calling agreed to meet with an officer.
The 911 dispatcher said that decision was up to the JPD, but that any further complaints would have to be dispatched anyway.
No other calls came into 911 that night, but one neighbor said he later saw two people who appeared intoxicated leave the party, stopping a short distance away to throw up in the street.
There are a couple of questions about this event, but the main concern is Wirthman’s demand that anyone complaining about the party had to meet with officers or otherwise, calls to 911 would be ignored.
Clearly, Wirthman crossed a line with such a command. Officers often respond to such complaints without asking to meet with the person who called. Wirthman’s demand was an effort to intimidate the callers simply because it was his department being complained about.
Few would begrudge officers letting their hair down for a few hours at a party. But the holding of a large police party that apparently included some rather heavy drinking in a high-profile subdivision makes one wonder about the wisdom of the department’s leadership.
And it begs this question: If a similar party had been held by someone else and received 911 complaints about noise and people urinating in public, would Wirthman and the JPD have been so dismissive of the complaints?
Does the chief believe his department is above the law?
Chris Chapman
Maybe the truth hurts?
Mike Buffington, editor
Dr. Kevin Smith and this should be on the tapes as well;
has anyone asked Dr Smith about his call to 911?
I hold Police Officers and Firefighters in the very highest regard because they generally deserve it. But over-stepping boundaries that your average Jefferson Joe doesn't get the chance to do is plain wrong.
And it doesn't have anything to do with whether Mike decided to write about it or not. If he hadn't, would that make it okay?
Editor, The Jackson Herald
Mike:
The anonymous accusations made in the first '911 CAD incident' concerning: "raising sand, whooping and hollering and carrying on" at 8:18pm, 1 August 2008, at 187 Thornhill Circle simply do not hold water. I was outside my home and walking my dog down Melvin and Thornhill Circle when the first 911 CAD incident report was apparently made. What I saw and heard does not corroborate what the anonymous caller apparently grossly exaggerated or spoke untruthfully about. To me, it looked like a typical innocuous gathering of friends and/or coworkers that included a number of children swimming in the backyard pool. When I again went outside later that night with my dog at around 9:30pm, the vehicles that had previously been parked on the street for the gathering were gone.
Best regards,
Eric A. Nicolaus
Arabian / Persian Gulf Veteran (1999 - 2001)
Regards,
Eric
Mike Buffington, editor
Editor, The Jackson Herald
Dear Mike:
I contacted several of my neighbors who live directly next to and across from the gathering that resulted in your editorial: "Page 4A, The Jackson Herald, 13 August 2008 - "Line Crossed in JPD Party Response"." One of the neighbors living directly next to the gathering actually saw portions of the party from his backyard. He has forwarded his comments to you - directly - via email. He was also kind enough to forward me a copy if you need it. I assume you will post his comments verbatim on your website and in your paper. They describe a much different view then what you printed in your editorial. It is becoming evident that the editorial you wrote is at best based on information that is highly suspect. There are now two eye witnesses, with real names, to the gathering who have stated that the anonymous information passed to the 911 operator was contradictory, at best.
Best regards,
Eric A. Nicolaus
Arabian / Persian Gulf Veteran (1999 - 2001)
Disabled Veteran
Mike
totally obsurd and obviously senseless. Don't put
yourself in the same classification as a police officer.
There is absolutely no comparison in the scenerio you
provided. I believe when you write statements without
an eyewitness it is call "defamation", or even "Slander".
I'm not sure but aren't there laws against that?
For those who may be fooled by you, any comment that has a negative approach to Mike Buffington did not come from me. All things being fair I have also given Chief Wirthman due props on a couple of occasions.
I was VERY sick last week with the FLU and trying to sleep.
There was an emergency situation in our neighborhood that I wont go into here.
The Jefferson police were not willing to help me but went on and on about how I did not come outside to "meet with them in person"....
We have visited them and filed many reports on this same exact situation for 2 YEARS. Paper trail and all....
Funny how ALL of that paperwork is missing now?
Some as recent as a month ago????
Just now many times does the Jefferson police "need me to meet with them" to finally enforce the Jefferson Law? Just how much paperwork are they going to lose?
Also the Jefferson Police need to realize that sometimes neighbors are intimidated and need to make anonymous calls!
I am appalled at the heads of this department after speaking extensively with them. Their take on the law SHOCKS me.
I listed to the free scanner listed here at this site last week.
I found it amazing that anonymous calls were allowed in other neighborhoods?
No officer had to meet with those callers?
Those situations were a lot less serious than this also?
How about the Jefferson Police "meeting" with the law breaker?
Guess thats too much for the Jefferson Police to handle?
It's a real shame also that newcomers are moving to nice Jefferson neighborhoods and destroying them. I guess they know the police don't enforce the ordinances anyway?
WHY are we paying these people?
WHAT are we getting for our $?
WHY are these folks fired and better people found?
This is an embarrassment to this lovely town!
The facts simply don't fit here. There are only two anonymous and highly suspect calls made - both circumvented the 9-1-1 system. A cell phone number would show up if going through 9-1-1. The second anonymous call gave a false name while still circumventing the 9-1-1 system. There are at least two eye witnesses who saw what they saw and were not invited or part of the gathering - they saw things much differently then the highly suspect anonymous calls Mike used to support his editorial. I'm sure Mike can now do his homework and probably write another couple more editorials after he obtains the available 9-1-1 transcripts - I certainly look forward to reading and hearing them! BTW: Your welcome. It was an honor to serve my country - and make it back almost in one piece.
Best regards,
Eric A. Nicolaus
Arabian / Persian Gulf Veteran (1999 - 2001)
Disabled Veteran
I am truly fortunate - I have really great neighbors where I live on Thornhill Circle. They are all friendly, helpful, likeable, and respectful of one another. Gus is definitely one of them. I'm not so sure that the big story was that 9-1-1 was told not to respond - I'll wait for the 9-1-1 transcripts. I'd also like to know what other JPD resources were being utilized during the period in question. Example: Was every unit on coffee break or was there a critical accident, burglary, robbery, or murder investigation going on? Mike doesn't say in his opinion and I don't know. I learned allot from previously performing administrative, civil, and criminal investigations. There are three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the truth. Finally, having written, approved, and followed departmental and interdepartmental procedures for the USCG and local law enforcement agencies, this is the first-ever time I have heard where standard policy for E 9-1-1 was not to have the sister agency respond to a call where an officer of the same jurisdiction is involved. The initial highly suspect and anonymous call that apparently bypassed the 9-1-1 taping did ID the house as a JPD employee. This isn't the Sheriff's or JPD's fault, maybe it's just never come up before? For example, if a Sheriff's Dept deputy was involved in an accident, another agency would respond, i.e. highway patrol.
Best regards,
Eric A. Nicolaus
Arabian / Persian Gulf Veteran (1999 - 2001)
Disabled Veteran
I don't drink alcoholic beverages.
Best regards,
Eric A. Nicolaus
Arabian / Persian Gulf Veteran (1999 - 2001)
Disabled Veteran
great comeback.
what are you, 12?
and it is YOU'RE not YOUR.
1st caller: “raising sand, whooping and hollering and carrying on.” and "looked About drunk".
Please read 9.5.5 "Noise performance standards" for the city of Jefferson Quick breakdown. unamplified voice is EXEMPT from the standard(9.5.6 (b)). As for the about drunk....Isn't Backelant's backyard fenced in??? How can they look about drunk from behind a fence?
Second Caller:
"partying and urinating in public and still being too loud"
Partying...Isnt that what you do at a party? Arn't even police officers allowed to party.
Urinating in public...Oh yea I can see that happening at the bosses house. Quick way to loose your job dont you think.
Still being to loud....Please refer to 9.5.6 (b)
P.S "Still" being to loud tells me that it was the same caller...
2 intoxicated people leaving the party stopping to throw up. but this is said after "no other calls came into the 911 center" so where did this come from?
Included some rather heavy drinking...sounds like speculation to me Mr. Buffington.
Not to respond unless the caller will meet with the officers.....if the police are called to a complaint and they find no problems and are called again and find no problems the third time they are going to want to meet with the caller to find out what the complaint is.
runs the police department with an iron fist.....if that means 8 new police cars on the street and 4 more comming this year, comming in under budget last year, having a full staff of officers, implimenting park and walk for officers to get out of the cars and meet citizens, updating the computers and report system and the list goes on.
As one person put it "most of the officers and staff at JPD can not wait for the day they will be free of the wirthman and backelant comedy show"....Then why dont the staff and officers that dont like it there PACK THEIR BAGS AND LEAVE.
If you break it down you end up with Twisted truths and not much of a case.
Oh. one more thing If the people calling didnt think they were getting any results Why didn't they call and ask for a deputy to respond....my opinion...they knew nothing was going on and didn't want the Sheriff's office to verify it.
oh...so Buffington can Spin it his way but when someone else points out a different view of it that view gets questioned. But his View doesn't.
What makes his View More valid than mine?
whats the matter dont like that every point CAN be explained with a VALID explination.
you give yourself away so much...noise performance standards...come on ....look up public drunk.."within public view" that happens when you stagger out from the "fenced back yard" fall in the truck and throw up in not only your drive but also street. I don't think any of them consider you their boss, being you’re not certified. I have lived here all my life 12 years ago there was 4 cars on the road patrolling. I don't think the police dept had any computers in the building or I know the cars didn't. The evidence was kept in a closet and officers made 7.50 an hour...I know I was one. I had my differences with the past administration so I left. Or was made to leave but he always backed his men when they were right. The list goes on and on as you say but you were not around here then, so you are just going on what other people tell you .just as you have been giving people a hard time for...grow up...pass the Academy ...act like a true officer and maybe you will get some of that respect you try to demand.
P.S. you were told not to wite anything to here or the paper so you can't even follow an order
IF you had any credibility up to that point, you just lost it. Stupid thing to say.
Too late...
I live in the Preserve. It's a sleepy little subdivision that hasn't had much going on since '05 when some graduating seniors threw the pool furniture in the pool. Maybe there have been some parties, but most of us would never know it -- you hardly find lights on after 10:00 p.m.
I read the paper every week... I get my copy on Thursday, but have been known to join the groupies on Wednesday night, quarters in hand, to get Mike's latest take on issues. Much of the time, Mike and I are on the same side of an issue. Sometimes, though, I wince at how hard he hits at people/events that go unintentionally poorly. Remember how he tore into the schools when they had that scheduling problem some time ago?
Well...this is one of those times when I'm scratching my head, going "What the....?"
"Callers" (plural according to Mike) decide independently to call 911 in such a way that their identity is hidden and complain, approximately 30 minutes apart about a party. The 'second' caller uses the phrase "and they're STILL too loud". The Mike I know couldn't overlook that. The use of "still too loud" tells us that there is either just one caller, or it's two callers working together.
By the way, why is the 'Name' redacted on the second call documentation? Do we know the name of the second caller?
Second, the street Backelant lives on is a semi circle that empties from each side on to a major street in the subdivision. If 'caller 1' were walking and became so offended by noise/behavior coming from the Backelant house that he needed to call 911, he certainly would not have had to walk by the house AGAIN to collaborate with or impersonate 'caller 2'. He seems to have worked pretty hard at becoming offended.
Folks in this subdivision tend to live from the back of their houses... nearly all have back decks/patios and most have walk out lower levels. You can't even tell if anyone is home most of the time just looking at the front.
Since this party was centered around the pool and Backelant's walkout lower level, it takes a big stretch of the imagination to think that folks walked from the privacy of the back yard to the front or sides of the home and pee'd in front of passersby. Could it have happened? Maybe... but certainly not likely.
As far as the 911/police response... how many times do we want the police to respond to an anonymous -- i.e. crank call -- at $4.00/gallon of gas before we say, "Sure Bud, we'll go out and visit a party we've just visited twice in the last 30 minutes and found nothing wrong." "But do us a favor, will ya, and meet us there so you can tell us what the heck you're seeing/hearing that is so darn offensive!"
Come to think of it, I don't think Mike entertains or prints anonymous letters to the editor. I think he'll print comments from an anonymous contributor, but I don't think he will do that unless he's furnished the contributor's name so facts can be verified.
How 'bout it Mike? Correct me on this. How much credence do you give to anonymous contributors?
Then there's the matter of people leaving the party having had so much to drink that they must stop within minutes to vomit. Hmmmm....
men the size of most JPD officers would have to drink beer at warp speed to ingest enough alcohol at a four or five hour party to vomit while exiting. Might puke the next morning... but probably not that night. Don't know what that's all about, since some of the posts insist that it really happened. My guess is that it didn't.
I'm breaking my #1 rule in writing this post: "If it stinks, don't stir it", but this one got to me. It's the unfairness of it all. If I were to read in a public instrument that Mike Buffington was "about drunk"; pee'ing in someone's front yard; and vomiting on the street, "ACCORDING TO AN ANONYMOUS AND CAREFULLY DISGUISED" caller, I would give it absolutely no credence whatsoever! Does that mean it could not be true? ...of course not! But the 'reasonable man' test would require that these accusations be verified through actual first hand accounts before relaying them to others as 'truth'.
Mike, you didn't give Backelant the accord you would expect for you or any member of your family. You sunk to the Jerry Springer level and that is soooo far beneath "an award winning journalist".
Why? ...I still can't figure out why you did this... I can't come up with the "What's in it for you..."
Maybe you were covering Arcade or Pendergrass? Who knows? But, I do know one thing, you set in your office silent, when you could have shouted from the heavens the corruption going on in the “JPD.” But, you didn’t. Why, Mr. Editor?
What about when the old Assistant Chief was taking officers to Downtown Athens when they were on duty? Who knows what you were doing. This is all crazy.
12 to 8 Mr. Editor. Your boy wonder made it by 4 votes. People forget that!
I'll keep my comments brief here, but I'll bet you've stirred up a hornets nest again. My bet is that folks around here have alot more respect for Darren Glenn than for you! I'm sure the next string of comments will be interesting.
incidents....It's almost like you are Darren Glenn himself.
It was all over the Athens Banner Herald, but nothing
here. Why was that? I believe the officer working was
office Green, ACC.
-he knows that "yea" is a cheer, "yeah" is slang for yes;
-he knows to begin every sentence with a capital letter;
-he can spell "explanation"
-he knows that "just a thought" means just one thought...
so if you read these comments then you have to throw out most of them. there are errors in a lot of them.
show the party included officers, spouse and children.
What we see in all of these comments is the manifestation of our collective frustrations, regardless of the party or the perceived double-standard.
The law is the law, but when police selectively enforce the laws to generate revenue, and then don't even follow the laws themselves (so much for safety and "protecting my ass"), the laws tend to have the same effect as the law in Gainesville that outlaws eating chicken with a fork.
before the grand jury yesterday involving the Pendergrass
Officer was recorded on a Jefferson in car video system.If
your talking about the false "sworn " document presented to the grand jury by a former employee who resigned because he liked
to look at porn on the internet instead of doing his job..
I think he might be the one in deep.....
was there a party?....yes and the problem with that is?? the officers are allowed to do the same things you do when they are not on duty.
was there drinking?...yes. what? cops arn't allowed to drink alcohol when not on duty?
were the police called?...yes. and they found no problems then they were called again and found no problems.
Did someone throw up?...yes. and the problem with that is...oh yea as someone else posted "public drunken look it up" before you try to act like you know something you might want to "look it up" yourself.
this following section is cut and pasted from the Georgia code section:
§ 16-11-41. Public drunkenness
(a) A person who shall be and appear in an intoxicated condition in any public place or within the curtilage of any private residence not his own other than by invitation of the owner or lawful occupant, which condition is made manifest by boisterousness, by indecent condition or act, or by vulgar, profane, loud, or unbecoming language, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) This Code section shall not be construed to affect the powers delegated to counties or to municipal corporations to pass laws to punish drunkenness or disorderly conduct within their respective limits.
none of the conditions of the code section were met!
did Joe Wirthman tell dispatch not to send officers to any more noise complainants..NO Surpried to hear that...The Sgt on duty told dispatch that he wanted to meet with the complainant if they called again...maybe so he could ask them what they were hearing and seeing that he wasn't? ask any officer you know, if they go to a noise complaint call three times in a night would they want to meet with the complainant the third time to find out what the problem is.
did any of the officers drive after drinking....they are afforded the same standards (0.08 bac) as the general public. and believe me there are plenty of officers out there that would like to "pop a cop" for DUI...just ask the Athens Clarke county Police
the real problem in this whole discusion is...there are some people in this city that dont like the Chief, the Major, or the city administration. Why because they liked the former administration. they are not happy that the "change of guard" took place at all. including the editor of this paper.
Please forgive my spelling errors and puncuation errors (I'm not a newspaper editor)
As for your Major, I have nothing against him, except that if he is not certified he needs to get off his ass and get it done. The total integrity of his position is torpedoed by that one thing. If he is certified, completely, then tell us and it won't come up again.
Lastly, who am I really? As I have stated several times, first initial is J, last name is Autry. That is not fake, and for now is enough information.
reading your comments, it is obvious you were once
employed at JPD or have something very personal against
JPD. It appears that since you post comments between
10:12 AM and no later than 5:45 or so you are most likely
working night shift now. Please move on!
I hope that you are not in law enforcement, especially in a crime solving capacity. If so you have a long road in front of you!
You take things so personal. I believe I must be right
about you! Is it Mr. K or Mr. G? If you are not in
law enforcement, I bet you sell swimming pools!
Mr. Dish It Out But Can't Take It!~ You have an axe to
grind and I just don't understand why this situation
bothers you so much. I never see comments from you on
other subject matters.
personal unless it affects you personally? How does this
directly affect you (specifically,JAUTRY?
Danny Autry, yes that is my real name!
come to the defense for one of my family members too. I
just don't think the current Chief is all that bad, that's
all. DG seemed to run the City of Jefferson fine. The
newpaper made it worse than it was.
and the major IS A CERIFIED POLICE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF GA. i don't even know these people, but i looked it up - it is public record - and he IS CERTIFIED!
if you live in jefferson, the jefferson police belong to you - everything they do is open records. that is what the sunshine laws are for. go in and ask to see what is going on. ask for a tour. ask to talk with employees. it is your right.
if you see things that are wrong, go to the city council and ask for an investigation and some action if wrong doing is found.
stop talking about it and do something about it.
we are in control, not them.
trust me I know I was ordered buy Backelant to take out a warrant for a white male in jefferson ga. I told him I did not have enough evidence to arrest him. Backelant ordered the arrest anyway.
After the arrest the DA's office ordered the white male released from jail. They stated that there was no evidence that this guy had done anyting.
listed as a certified officer. GA P.O.S.T. states that
he failed the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course on
03-20-08, and has not completed that portion of Basic
Mandate. Under GA Law, officers do not have powers of
arrest unless they complete all requirments set forth by
the GA P.O.S.T. Council. Regardless of his rank, he must
complete Basic Mandate prior to making any lawful arrest
in this state. The Chief of Police and the Jefferson City
Council should look up the definition of vicarious
liability. If everyone is so concerned, why not request
Mr. Bakelant show you his certification. Now that this
has become any issue, I think the local paper should
investigate the current status of his certification.
J.P.D. and a audio video all of being taken down with one former J.P.D.'s officer's statement? Maybe there was more to that incident than we know? And maybe it was discovered that the former J.P.D. officer was the most crediable officer there.
The fact of the matter is the officer testified before the grand jury and they believed him...The Justice System Worked. I wish the Officer a long and distinguished career..
The "strange" part of all this is.. the former J.P.D. officer that gave the "sworn" document to the grand jury is the same Officer who brought the video to the command staff...go figure? Could it be that he was caught looking at porn and resigned during the investigation and he has an axe to grind? or maybe there is a job offer on the table?
I dont remember you stiring the pot much when, as someone else on here put it, your high school friend had problems in the department. As a matter of fact you named him MAN OF THE YEAR! Why just because the grand jury didn't indict him. I have news for you Mr. Buffington sometimes the grand jury decides not to indict people, but does that mean that because someone was't indicted that they should be man of the year????? Seems you lean a lot to one side, and I always thought that newspaper editors were suppose to be neutral.
JAUTRY you need to climb out of Darren And Mikes Pocket and take a look at the real world
Maybe he needed turd sandwiches stuffed down his throat because he wasn't doing a good job. that ever cross your mind?
Playing with you is like being in a battle of wits with an unarmed man!
Care to elaborate? When and were did race come into the the
picture?
well JAUTRY just to let you know I have more amunition in my arsenal of wit than you could ever understand.
P.S. the 1980's called and they want their bad joke back
So, keep loading your guns and firing into the air. I'll keep telling the truth, and I promise, you'll run out of things to say before I will.
Buy the way, I hope that wasn't your best stab at wit!
and the city still came in under budget.
I also want to address the issue of officers on the highway. there are 2 officers that work the highway. they have pulled many violations off of the highway form suspended licenses to transporting large quantity's of drugs(just this week they put 2 people in jail for 15 years for transporting a kilo of cocaine.)
not long ago they got a young man from N.C. that had warrants for attempted murder out of N.C. so you can say what you want but i'm glad they take people like that out of circulation.
P.S. you as a cop know damn right well that you profile people all the time(when you look at someone you make a decision in your mind about that person... what nationality are they ..do they drive a nice car of a sh** box, are they dressed in a suit or bustin' slack...profiling) and as a police officer YOU HAVE TO DO THAT (unless your a desk jocky). although most people prefer to call it a gut instinct.
so please step off of your soap box.
Every person profiles it is part of human nature.
when you walk around you neighborhood and you see a rusted old van driving through slowly do you think to yourself what are they up to. you just profiled them. they might be workers looking for a house that has called them or they might be criminals looking for the next house to hit. Or someone who has worked hard and is ready to move to a different neighborhood and buy a house. you dont know but you made a judgment based on what you saw....profiling
do i look at one race and say that person must be a criminal because he or she is from that race...no
Do i look at an individual person and say he or she looks like someone who might be a "bad person" ...Yes as does most everybody else
quick story:
there was a young man that worked at the Grill in Athens several years ago. he had a lot of tatoos and piercings. first thought i had was do i really want THIS person as my server? after he took my order he turned to walk away and on the back of his shirt it said...I'm thinking the same thing about you.
Lesson learned: we all profile but it is not always right. by the way he was the best server I have ever had past and present.
from the Athens Banner Herald, but once again, Buffington
won't let any damaging comments with credibility come
through this site if it pertains to his former classmate.
For all new Jefferson residents that are confused about
character of your former police chief, try going to the Athens Banner Herald website and seach "Banned
Darren Glenn". Athens Paper had on front page, but much
to my surprise, the Jackson Herald missed it? Hum? Buffington
just prints what he wants the residents of Jackson County
to know; much like the Communist do.
take a shot at Glenn but OK with these Shots at Wirthman?
Same thing Jr! And Oh, I know much more than you give me
credit for! I believe I was there that night too. But I
had forgotten until the blogs brought it back up again!
Just establishing the fact that Glenn wasn't so perfect,
and he can be accused of things that aren't true just like
Wirthman! It's not as fuuny when the tables are turned is
it?
The weak mayor and council just crumbled at a threat from very average attorney. I wonder how they feel now. I know one should have a hard time sleeping after ever thing Mr. Glenn did to help him but then again he probably doesn’t.
The former J.P.D. officer that viewed Adult material, was the ONLY officer that came forward in the Department when asked. Do you believe he is a liar? The ONLY officer viewing Adult material during his break? Or maybe the ONLY officer willing to take his punishment as long as it was the TRUTH? This would be the officer that pulled the wool over the G.B.I., D.A., J.P.D. and 24 good people of Jackson county?
I still submit MAYBE theres more to the picture here than we know? Maybe the truth will soon come out?
job if he talked David into firing Mr. Glenn. If David thinks about it now he will realize what John was doing. Stabbing him in the back. There were more in on it to David think about it. Another thing that strikes me odd. They all talk about the "good ole boy system" of the old administration, it doesn’t get any more good old boy that the deal John made with the councilman, and then appointed Gus on the review board that hires his choice of Wirthman, and then Wirthman hires Gus. I hope you sleep well at night ...
it only shows how you base the rest of your reasoning.
I explained all of the points made in this article in post #26 if you also notice NO ONE rebutted them as of now. Why? Because all of the points I made are VALID and just.
So what did everyone decide to do....Go off of the subject of the article because they knew that they were beating a dead horse.
There are a few people in this city(and some who dont even live in this city) that dont like the police and most are friends of Mike Buffington and Darren Glen. so when they get a chanch like this (and Mike is more than glad to provide it for them) they attempt to turn the rest of the city (and county, for reasons I wont go into here) against the police department.
Hopefully we can dig out of this mud we’re stuck in and find the virtues of Jackson County that I know exist.
The real Nanner wouldn't play games and hide behind
someone else's nickname.......
My simple point is that things get blown out of proportion around here to the point where people are ready for a lynching, particulalrly with issues about development. I understand anger with wasted tax money. Reasoned arguments are not being put out there but are replaced with vitriolic commentary. I'm all for arguing points but do so in an upstanding manner and please be, or at least, sound educated about the topic.
Something to think about. Mr. Buffington is the editor of the paper, but he is also a businessman. As such his job is to generate and retain the readers for his paper. The more readers, the more advertisers. The more advertisers, the more revenue.
Would you read a paper that continually published articles about how wonderful things are? For that case would you watch the evening news if all they highlighted were the positive aspects of our society?
The Editorial is one organization's (or person's) opinion put out for people to read. Take it with a grain of salt. If it were real news that could be reported objectively, then I am sure that Mr. Buffington would dedicate additional resources that could report without any vices or personal scores to settle.
Just my thoughts.
this makes it seem like i am saying things that i'm not. in my opinion the only reason Mike put this in the opinion section was because there was nothing to it so he could embelish a little and call it opinion
**DISCLAIMER**
The previous post by Just a Thought does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of just a thought now known as the real just a thought
**END OF DISCLAIMER**
Hope this clarifies any confusion.
the Chief. The caller id'ed himself as Dr Kevin Smith, we know this is not true. Also, how would a caller know
to ask the 911 dispatch operator to route the call through
County 911 because it was a Jefferson Police Party?
Nobody but someone that knows the system. I would have never thought to do this. Who would? Who holds such a grudge
against a new chief to do this? i have a few ideas.
Interesting perspective. I have to admit I have never heard of a white (Glenn) on white (New) racial descrimination case. That would be rather entertaining in court and maybe the first one in history. Sounds to me as if you are a little confused with the facts that Glenn is passing on to you at the family dinner.
Thanks for being honest in your admition to being related to Glenn. At least the majority of people reading these informative posts will realize that your bias would be against anyone in the position other than Glenn.
Thanks for setting me straight on that one.
must set the record straight on one thing. I have been
a customer who uses the coffee philter (note: correct
spelling of philter!) I was in there doing work most of
morning yesterday and through lunch time. I will tell
you that Kathy Worhtman was in there, but what I saw
was someone who came in to a downtown business to
buy some coffee. There was never any talk of "going
back to Florida", but even if there was, is that a
surprise. As I read through the comments above,
regardless of who is right and who is wrong, would you
blame them. They are taking a beating. I say they,
because if they have children who are trying to fit in
to a new system, the all the press, right wrong or
indiffernt, makes that very tough. But, as for your
comment about the jar you put out....you may find it
funny, and that is your opinion, but I doubt the owners
of the shop find it humorus that you might be running
off customers because they don't want to be seen there.
If you owned a business, I am sure that you wouldn't
volunteer that business name in conjuction w/ your
comments.
P.S. Turn your caps lock off unless you are yelling!
It tells everyone that you are a half-wit if you leave
them on :-)
- "Line Crossed in JPD Party Response"
First of all, I would like to say that I am appalled that even in an editorial, you would print such claims without having performed due diligence of at least interviewing the neighbors of assistant chief Gus Backelant. I live directly across the street from Backelant and was home at the time of your alleged ‘street party’ along with my wife and two children. I can assure that a no time were any of the activities you have ‘reported’ observed by myself or any member of my family.
Interestingly enough, I was not even aware of this story until I was visited by two representatives appointed by the city council to investigate your claims.
Mr. Buffington, in the future I hope you will take the time to thoroughly investigate claims such as this.
Thomas Swafford
It appears that the main issue that surrounds the challenge for this small rapidly growing community is that the citizens, both new and old, are going to have to come to terms with the facts that things do change and sometimes control is lost. Our rapid growth has resulted in challenges that require tough decisions that relate to about everything that you can think. Now that things have changed at the PD there appears to be a small component of the community that wishes to hold on to the days of old and the control and influence they enjoyed. Relatives, former officers, and supporters of the former administration at the PD were rightly frustrated during the over two year long GBI investigation. During that same time, in addition to the pressure from the GBI, a separate charge of retaliation came to light. The grand jury did not send the criminal charges on to trial. The retaliation case was settled by the City and Glenn was protected in the settlement agreement. The settlement agreement helped Glenn when he was separately sued. Now all that is left to sort out is the suit involving Glenn vs. the City Administration, Mayor and Council. This too will come to an end. I look forward to the day when the citizens of Jefferson will direct their attention away from fighting the changes that have been made, accept that this area in not always going to be a small town and focus their emotions and efforts toward positive things that will benefit the community.
I have really enjoyed the musings on the Blog. But, I
must set the record straight on one thing. I have been
a customer who uses the coffee philter (note: correct
spelling of philter!) I was in there doing work most of
morning yesterday and through lunch time. I will tell
you that Kathy Worhtman was in there, but what I saw
was someone who came in to a downtown business to
buy some coffee. There was never any talk of "going
back to Florida", but even if there was, is that a
surprise. As I read through the comments above,
regardless of who is right and who is wrong, would you
blame them. They are taking a beating. I say they,
because if they have children who are trying to fit in
to a new system, the all the press, right wrong or
indiffernt, makes that very tough. But, as for your
comment about the jar you put out....you may find it
funny, and that is your opinion, but I doubt the owners
of the shop find it humorus that you might be running
off customers because they don't want to be seen there.
If you owned a business, I am sure that you wouldn't
volunteer that business name in conjuction w/ your
comments.
P.S. Turn your caps lock off unless you are yelling!
It tells everyone that you don't know what you are doing if you leave
them on :-)
you can count on. They are... the Jackson Herald will be out on
Wednesday night and Mike Buffington will have something
negative to write about the City of Jefferson and its leaders
I have seen negative comments against former Mayor
Byrd Bruce.(R.I.P.) current Mayor Jim Joiner former councilmen
D. Waters, R. Cooper, J. Seabolt, M. Moon (ect.) Past Chiefs Serpa, Thornton,
Victrim, Whitfield, Embrick, Glenn..yes even Glenn was not
spared the "Mighty Pen".. I once overheard a conversation
you had with Byrd at his restaurant in which you had written
something bad about him and he was mad.. he was trying to tell
you that some of the things you wrote about was not true.
You answered him by saying "Byrd, your in business to sell
hamburgers and I'm in the business to sell newspapers...
So much for the history lesson, but Mike it appears you
have had a"Chip" on your shoulder with Jefferson and its Leaders
for at least 25 years.. Some might think your not happy here,
so this is what I suggest...when your not happy stress
builds and builds, (Mike your not getting any younger)I
would go see old "Doc" Crenshaw and get me some of them
Prozac pills, then I would drive over to Braselton and look
at all them new empty buildings they have over there and
buy one..(Dont buy one next to Ronnies new law building..
too much stress) then move the Jackson Herald to Braselton.
If you think about it your gonna have to battle "The Paper"
over there anyway its the fastest growing part of the county
and "The Paper" is trying to get a toe hold over there now.
This is a "Win" "Win" situation for you.. first you dont
have to be in a City where when you walk down the street
and see the Mayor, City Manager, Police Chief, Councilman,
(old or new) you have to worry about what they might say
or do...Second.. you would have a new building, (yours is getting kind of old) a whole new City Government to get to know and write about, and a real shot of stopping "The Paper" from getting
started because if it ever gets going you might be trouble.
The whole mess is being overblown....for what ?
Fact is you have been an adamant Glenn supporter from day 1( little nepotism there Mike)I have yet to see to this day anything negative from John Ward and his staff. Quite the contrary he has brought an air of professionalism back to the city along with Jeff Killip,Aime Vaughn and also Chief Wirthman.
Before I go further I am NOT connected to the police department or even live in the city but Have dealt with city officials before John became Manager and after. For anyone to say things have not improved or say that Darren ran a more professional department then Wirthman is completely insane or bias. Mike you appear to be the later my friend and it's hurting your reputation and that of your paper.
I would reaffirm what someone said about "The Paper" if they move this way they will hurt you.
Why? Because there doing more then just giving local news and searching for the "facts" . There writing human interest stories and creating relashionships with in municipal government....better trust better story.
When was the last time you did a story about the local volunteer firefighters ?? How about those folks at the water plant that work 365 days a year...nope. But by god let the words Jefferson police out and old Mike is on it....get the picture Mr.B.
I have to comment to April S...sucking up to the old boss is ..well beneath you. While I admire your loyalty maybe it's time to think out of the box. I sincerely hope Mike that you put this menagere to rest and move on too something more fruitful.
As for where are the positive stories.......bet you opened up another can of worms there.
I don’t know Chief Wirthman personally and with that said hope that his one and only priority in the town of Jefferson is to protect and serve the citizens of this wonderful town. And the few times that I have seen him personally he is professional and appears to care. If he has a ‘vendetta’ against Darren Glenn then that should be between him and Darren and the courts if needed. I know Darren and have found him to be very professional and in my opinion a fine gentleman and family man. I don’t know all the facts of his dismissal and again in my opinion it happened too quickly without him having a chance to say his part.
And have these two men made mistakes … probably. Are they the lowest form of life form like some of these blogs imply… I seriously doubt it. And neither are Mike Buffington, Mayor Joiner or any of the councilman that people seem to bash until you need something. They are all fine people who in my humble opinion are trying to make this town a better and safer place to live and raise our children. These people have children or grandchildren who live here and it’s not in their best interest to try to destroy this town or to make it anything other than a wonderful place to live. Mike has a paper to put out and yes it’s his job to sell newspapers. I don’t always agree with him, but I find that he makes me think. And hopefully he does the citizens of Jefferson a service by probing in the darker areas of our community and highlighting the things that just don’t look right. Do you have the time to do this?
And who in their right mind wants to be in a political office in a small town. People who care that’s who. Would you like your name dragged thru the papers every time someone doesn’t agree with you? And when was the last time any politician did something that everyone can agree with? Of course there are differences of opinion. This is America where a difference of opinion is sought out and respected…. I thought.
Who cares if the police had a party? Don’t we all let loose at times? And yes the police are held to a higher standard but that doesn’t make them any less human. People make mistakes, people drink too much, people throw up in places they shouldn’t… Can we move on? How would anyone like to have the daily stresses that these fine men and women deal with? Every time they try to help there is always someone who screams about it. They know that at any moment a small routine call can become a life and death situation. And yes that doesn’t happen here every day, but it could if not for the efforts of our Mayor, council, police and citizens. Yes, our citizens. We can’t just sit back and let our leaders stand on their own trying to preserve our security and lifestyles.
And I’ll tell you right now…. If I see a policeman eating lunch at O’Bradys then instead of wondering why our officers are just sitting around, I’m going to walk up, thank them and buy their lunch.
Can our leaders do a better job…? I don’t know … remember everybody’s human.
Can they try to do their best? Yes and I believe they are.