BACKELANT
Backelant resigns from JPD
Assistant Police Chief Gus Backelant has resigned from the Jefferson Police Department. Backelant resigned Friday.
The assistant chief had a controversial tenure in the position. Backelant was on the Jefferson committee that vetted candidates for the chief’s position two years ago, which led to the hiring of Joe Wirthman as police chief.
Wirthman subsequently hired Backelant as his second in command at the department. But that position became controversial after officers began complaining that Backelant was not certified in Georgia as a policeman. After taking the state’s training class, Backelant failed to pass the driving part of the exam earlier this year.
Wirthman subsequently hired Backelant as his second in command at the department. But that position became controversial after officers began complaining that Backelant was not certified in Georgia as a policeman. After taking the state’s training class, Backelant failed to pass the driving part of the exam earlier this year.
Running it like his personal club.
Are you getting this from officers , the public, or just from the 4-5 people on this newspapers blog that don't like the chief and use several different names to make it seem like there are more people that are not happy with him?
My only thought is that if he did deciede to leave would we get anyone better(or anyone at all given the quick attacks people on this blog seem to be prone to)? Or would we get the type of person you have all been describing in this blog?
Also Isnt he under contract? So if you forced the city council to fire him then we would be paying his paycheck and his replacements?
The people who were born and raised in Jefferson carry on like they have some sort of "elite" status---Hell I would be ashamed to be from here with the leadership and the history of horrible government leaders Jefferson has had. The citizens of this town do have a choice..lucky for us the number of people living here that AREN'T from here will soon outnumber all of you. If you want a change stand up and make it happen.
One of Wirthman's biggest downfalls too is that he has a wife with diarrhea of the mouth..she will quickly help to see his exit. I wouldn't be surprised if she really was at Coffee Philter talking about moving, hell she talks about everything and everyone else!
While Mike Buffington at times is a little brash in his reporting, we look forward to getting our paper every week. He actually has the balls to stand up to these corrupt leaders. Hell, look at what he uncovered about Radio Jefferson...isn't it interesting that a few months later Ben Dillard resigned...Well then the story about Gus Backelant's party and lack of certification..took a few months, but now supposedly he has resigned too. So, at least Mr. Buffington is helping us to weed out some of the crap. He gives us enough ammo to go out and vote and actually make a change, but he can't pick up all you old timers and drive you to the polls on voting day.
Hell, look what it took us to get a light at the deadly intersection of Hwy 129 and Old Pendegrass.
If you wan't change you have to get off your butts and make it happen. So many citizens in this town seem just flat pissed off all the time and feel like the world owes them something.
It is time for you all to be known by your actions and the causes you support or oppose...not sitting on your laurels saying well I'm from Jefferson......
For Aaron: You are wrong on all acounts. I am not a cop
from anywhere. I am no more a friend of either of the currnet
chief/asst chief than I was to Darren Glenn. I am one of the few
people that you will find that doesn't agree with what happenend
to Darren, but I am not obtuse enough to blame that on Chief Wirthman either. What I said to you wasn't a threat. I just think that you are a questionable person w/ an axe to grind and that doesn't make you very impartial and I can tell from your rants that you don't have the ability to look @ things from both ways!
2. For Jefferson Resident:
I too will agree that I am embarrased to be from Jefferson right now! You make some good points but then you invalidate those when you make a personal attach on the Chief's wife. I am sure that you don't know her @ all. I doubt that many people in Jefferson really do because they are too busy looking for their torches and pitchforks to run anyone out of town that they can! As far as being from a place full of pissed of people, you can't be serious can you? If it were full, we wouldn't have the people in power right now that we do have. You talk about outsiders outnumbering the locals, but I think they already do. That doesn't change a thing because they don't get out and vote. Until you can get people out to vote, there will never be real change. Most people are satisfied with bitching, but those same people don't even vote in local elections either. If you don't believe me then just get a copy of the number of people that voted in the last 2 city council elections.
3. As far as Mike and the paper go:
I don't have to agree with his opinion to enjoy his opinion. I actually like the way he stirs up questions on certain topics. But, that being said, I think he was way off base w/ the opinion column that he wrote about the party @ the Backelant's house. He is way to smart of an individual to be suckered into printing something that he knows is based off of information from a non-resident of the neighborhood with an axe to grind. If that party was that out of hand then any one of the neighbors that live within a 3 to 4 house radius would have been the one to make the calls. That call came from a caller that knew there was a party that night and wanted to make it a big issue for nothing other than making others look bad. Now, with that being said, I am not trying to negate the facts that were accurate once the calls were made, but we all know that if it wasn't for someone outside that neighborhood making the calll to stir up trouble, that party would have been over and done with and nobody would have been the wiser because most of us have had gatherings that have gotten loud and sometimes, probably out of control to some extent, and our neighbors have enough respect to deal with us personally before involving the police. that being said Mike should have used some of that common sense that we all know he has to just lay off this one.
This is all just an opinion from someone who doesn't have to take sides with anyone to find the good or bad in any situation. If only we were all a little less short sided about things!
Jefferson is ONLY going to get better because of the newcomers...most of us are willing to take a stand to make sure our families get what they need despite the fact that we are NOT from here. It's the most closed minded mentality I've ever seen in my life, the bottom line is this...whether you were born here or just moved here..YOU ARE FROM JEFFERSON..it's this divided mentality that has led to the downfall in our city government. I vote and I promise you the first thing I'll look for is for candidates that are NOT from Jefferson, Are we sure Crawford Long didn't invent anesthesia here and put the whole damn town to sleep? It's time for positive changes in this community and some of us are going to do what it takes to make sure it happens...Mike's reporting will help us all uncover the truth..I say Mike Buffington for Mayor : )
1. The officers that are on the interstate: Who cares how they are getting it done. As long as you aren't the one w/ Drugs or drug money what the hell do you care. That money goes right back to the City and it helps pay the bills. If they aren't there for you to bitch about, they will be in town making petty traffic stops on people that actually live in the community. Then you will really be pissing and moaning!
2. Pendergrass: Now that is what your police force would look like in Jefferson if you keep it up. Even Mike knows that they are a real goon squad. I am sure they might have some good folks working for them, that just need the paycheck. And lets face it: for what we ask of any police officer, I am one citizen that will agree that you aren't paid enough for what you do! They have allowed themselves to be ridiculed based on their actions. End of story.
3. As for the last 2 comments: Get over it. People like you are the only reason that there is still any talk about how bad you thik wirthman is and how much you loved Darren Glenn. I am almosty positive that Darren really would like to be left alone.
4. Finally, for the last comment #8. The things that you are speaking about: I hope that some day, your knowledge or lack thereof gets you in trouble. Who gives a s**t about some crap that showed up "behind Rite Aid" Whatever it was, I am sure that if it has any meaning, it was probably planted there to keep this kind of crap in the news! Who cares. Darren wasn't found guilty of anything and I am sure that at this point the new Chief isn't wasting his time trying to find something he can pin on him. That isn't what he was hired for and w/ all the crap that goes on, I am sure he doesn't have time for it.
Get a life!!
"spit it out or shut up" I am not having problems saying thigns. You just don't like what I have to say because if you try to refute any of it, you know you will look stupid.
Thanks for reinforcing what I already know. Knowledge is power and you have neither.
Thanks
If Backelant couldnt pass the exam then Im glad he resigned. I think its a shame though it had to happen that way.
This town is exploding with growth and with it comes needed change. The police department however in my opinion are doing a great job at this point keeping up at this time. There is always room to improve and they seem to be at least doing that and if we could get the rest of the leaders of our community doing the same we would be doing alot better.
Anger will not help anything. Progress takes time, we all need to take a step in that direction to reach that goal.
Good luck Chief, and I hope things go well from here on out.