Captain Williams

Yes, Retiree, I've heard of conquering from within. I also know that we were not satisfied with the previous administration, and when the Chief left, we had to have someone oversee the department. The City did right by approaching the SO to come in until we could find a new Chief.

I think Cpt. Williams is doing a good job. I think if each of us gave enough thought to the situation, we could come up with a hundred conspiracy theories as to how and why Sheriff Judd and Captain Williams want to destroy the Bartow Police Department. Personally I choose to put my efforts into doing my part to make Bartow the department it used to be, and a department that I can be proud of.

If the Commission decides in time that law enforcement services will be contracted to the Sheriff's Office, I will go without question and be proud to work for them also. I have no problems with the SO, but given the choice, I'm happy with Bartow.

To the above post, you are certainly supervisory material LOL !!

[BpdEmployee]

Thank you. That gives me hope that I'm not wasting my money on continuing my education! Thanks again for the kind words!

Williams has done nothing for this department but tear it down. In our first meeting he made the comment that he was here to bring the department back where it needed to be or he could be here to blow smoke up our a$$e$...well it appears that is all he has done is blow smoke.

You are correct that Captain Williams has not made a lot of changes since he's been here, but what he has offered has made a difference to a lot of us. Captain Williams is only with us temporarily. It would make no sense to any of us for him to restructure everything, then make more changes when the new chief comes.

Captain Williams has opened his door and listened to the problems we have taken to him. He has made minor changes as appropriate, for example, communications is not supposed to ask for a cross street to better expedite our response times. The forms have been condensed so we don't have quite as much paper, and we are no longer required to write 22D reports on every 22D we respond to. These are small steps, but they have had a positive impact on the officers. The fact that he listens to our concerns has probably had the greatest impact on most of the officers.

Yes, Captain Williams did try to recruit us to go to the Sheriff's Office. I don't fault him at all for giving us an option. It happens that we have collectively decided not to go that route, and the majority of us wish to keep our department. I have not heard him push the Sheriff's Office at all since.

I think that Captain Williams has done much more than "blow smoke", and as far as him "tearing down our department", we have managed to do that on our own. We have all, myself included, argued with one another about what is in the best interest of this department, and we've watched some very self-serving people try to sway our opinions. We have had meetings exclusive of certain members of the department, and have not worked together as a collective unit. We are destroying ourselves. He doesn't have to tear us down.

We haven't given Cpt. Williams much of a chance to make changes, and I'm certain this has not been an easy task for him. I give him credit for his professionalism, and his genuine concern for each of us. He has made the effort to be a part of our agency by coming to the DUI checkpoint. When is the last time our former administration came out? He recently went to the academy graduation, not as a guest speaker, but in support of one of our own graduating. None of our other administrators bothered to show up. Captain Williams doesn't work 9-5 like our previous admin. He's been there a lot for us.

The point is, I think it's time we start working together again, and that means offering our support to the Captain. He hasn't made any earth shattering changes, but I know my morale has improved, and I've seen positive changes in the attitudes of my fellow officers throughout the department.

We are certainly pleased you are content with the current situation the department is in. Capt. Williams does appear to be interested in the members of the department. But you must realize his & the sheriff’s reputation is also at stake. They must succeed at any cost. That does not necessarily mean a merger. But it is highly likely that could happen. You are also critical of the previous administration. I know the previous administration was very involved in community activities. Those are not scheduled between 8am – 5pm. The fact is you really don’t have any true knowledge of what the administration was involved in. It would appear you are crying because they were not out 24/7 holding your hand. If you require that much supervision, you won’t make it at the SO anyway. As to not having to complete a few 22D reports, which would also indicate a problem in it’s self regarding your dedication to the job. The sad part is most of the one’s complaining are the least desirable employees.

So complete your education, and maybe you can further gain some real life experience!

[BpdEmployee]

My comment was my personal opinion in support of the efforts of Captain Williams.

Your post states "We are certainly pleased you are content" which indicates that this is not only your opinion, but the opinion of others as well and you should realize that the Bartow Police Department in years prior to this past administration was one of the finest law enforcement agencies in this county. I would like to see this agency return to what it once was.

Having the SO loan us one of their administrators was due to a lack of competency of our past administration. However subtle the changes have been over the past several months with Cpt. Williams as our administrator has had a positive impact within the department by creating an atmosphere of caring and interest in the employees which we have not seen in many years.

As far as after hours community activities, you are correct. I may not know what they were involved in, but then again, I may not WANT to know what they were involved in. I do know that I have attended many after hours events that did not include anyone from our administration to represent our department.

As for the whining, crying, hand-holding and requiring much supervision, I believe my original post was in support of the current administration and absent of any whining or crying. Colin Powell said, "Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help, or conclude that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership." As a department, we stopped bringing our problems to the administration long ago because of the lack of confidence and obvious conclusion that the prior administration did not care. The fact that Cpt. Williams is open to listen and open to change only supports my conclusion that he has leadership skills unlike we have seen before.

I do not view the employees who wish to mend the problems within this agency as the "least desireable" employees, however if you are part of the old administration and part of the problem of the past, then I would understand that positive change, and effective and efficient use of officers time, communication between staff and line officers, resolution of issues and problems, would be an uncomfortable change for you.

I, myself, feel confident that this is not the case, and even though your apparent opinion of this department and these officers is low, this department will recover and will get on track. We will once again be a department that each of us can be proud of, and we can live up to our slogan of "Pride and Progress".

[so concerned]

It amazes me how much whining and crying law enforcement officers can do. You burnt yourselves by completing the survey heard round the world. You were not happy with sandvic, so hes out. You were not happy with delegge, well hes gone also. Now you gripe and whine because you have a Captain from another agency. You feel as you are losing control, so you bash this man that comes here, probably not by his choice. It seems like you will not be happy with whoever is in that position, because he/she will not make everyone happy. Tell you what you need to do. Oust everyone from Lt and above, comprise a Board of Directors instead of one cheif. Then you could meet daily and gripe to each other, because there is no money for raises, not enough man power to cover calls, and the electric department still has a better break room than you do. Then everyone below you can oust you, because morale is down and your not doing your job. Hey but they wont stop there, then they get to bash you in the media. Sounds like your agency has alot of problems, not because of the chief or the Director, but because your employees are so divided.

Sounds like your employees need to have an employee meeting and get all your crying done to each other and come to an agreement to construct a united front for either a take over, or to fight the take over.

lets take a look at what you currently have. Ahhh a crime scene unit that is top notch..oh wait, you dont have one. How old are your cars and equipment ? Your coverage area for the city has expanded, but hey you dont have to answer calls there yet, because you dont have the man power.

Lets take a look at what you would gain. Better pay, better equipment, a large crime scene unit, access to a very large narcotics unit, if a problem begins in an area, well hey the sheriff's office can send more deputies down there and saturate the problem. You probably wouldnt lose your rank, even though you dont qualify for stripes at the s.o. Man I can see how this would be such a bad idea, how dare them for even bringing it up.

Maybe you should begin thinking how would this better serve the citizens of your city instead of how you would look in a green uniform.

Another Judd I Knight talking !! LOL

I THINK THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE A SURVEY DONE REGARDING THE EMPLOYEE'S OF BARTOW POLICE DEPARTMENT. LET'S SEE HOW MANY RESPONSES WE CAN GET FROM THE CITIZENS AND EMPLOYEE'S OF BARTOW.

WHAT DUMB A$$E$$. THEY PASSED UP AN OPPORTUNITY THEY WILL NEVER SEE AT THAT DEPARTMENT. WHILE THE OFFICERS AT THE S.O, LPD, MPD, APD, WHP SURPASS YOU, YOU ALL WILL WALLER' IN THE
MUCK YOU ALL CREATED. I AM NOT SURE IT WAS YOUR ADMINISTRATION THAT WAS FAILING YOU ALL, AS MUCH AS YOU ALL ARE FAILING YOURSELVES AND EACH OTHER.

IS THERE ANY LOYALTIES? A BROTHERHOOD? TEAM? YOU CANT WIN A GAME WITHOUT TEAM EFFORT AND TEAM PARTICIPATION. YOU ALL ARE ALL OUT IN THE OUTFIELD RUNNING IN TO EACH OTHER TO CATCH THE SAME DREAM.

GRADY LOANED WILLIAMS TO HELP BARTOW POLICE DEPARTMENT OUT. WILLIAMS HAD NO CLUE WHO YOU PEOPLE WERE AND WHAT YOU WERE LIKE. I KNOW HE HAS HAD AN OPEN DOOR POLICY TO ALL OF YOU, AND HAS GIVEN MANY HOURS TO YOUR DEPARTMENT TO HAVE YOU ALL COME TOGETHER AND MAKE YOUR DEPARTMENT A BETTER PLACE.

MOST OF YOU HAVE WHINED, BI***ED, CRIED THE BLUES, BACKSTABBED, AND OF COURSE REJECT ANY ADVICE, OR HELP WILLIAMS MAY OFFER. GOD FORBID YOU LET AN S.O GUY HELP OUT!

IF I WERE HIM I WOULD HAVE A CLOSED DOOR POLICY FROM HERE ON OUT. BUT OF COURSE HE IS A BETTER MAN, AND WILL ENDURE THE LONG FIVE MONTHS THAT HE HAS TO REMAIN THERE AT YOUR DEPARTMENT. I KNOW HE WILL LEAD YOU ALL IN A BETTER DIRECTION IF YOU WILL JUST LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS FOR YOU ALL.

YOU GUYS NEED TO HAVE A PLAN FROM HERE ON OUT AND IMPLEMENT
NEW IDEAS AND GO FORWARD WITH A NEW.

I can't think of anyone who has rejected Williams or his ideas. He has had an open door policy which is used on a regular basis. From what I have heard, everyone hear appreciates his efforts. Where are you getting your information?

As far as other agencies passing us by...I have said it before and Ill say it again. LEAVE!!!!! No one wants you here. If officers want a better opportunity they can certainly pursue one, God knows many many have over the past years. Smaller agencies always have and always will be used as a stepping stone for some.

You ask if there are any loyalties...are you an idiot, thats the whole point of why we didnt leave you jackass.

We are working on new ideas and employing them...who are you? Do you even work for us? If you did, you wouldn't post such nonsense.

Mayor Brian Hinton said he'd still like to know how much Judd could save the city, but said he's willing to wait until things settle down in the city.

Judd said he had no doubt that he could save Bartow money on the department's $5.4 million annual budget, but he'd have to review the department's records more thoroughly to prepare a proposal.

The new City Manager will need to get into office first, and then go from there. Williams is on loan until March, and hopefully by then the City and the Sheriffs Office will have ran the numbers to see exactly how much the Sheriff can save Bartow Police Department. In the long run..... The Sheriffs Office would benefit both the Police Agency and the City of Bartow.