Sheriff's defense of transfer makes sense

http://www.news-press.com/article/20...er-makes-sense

Sheriff Mike Scott says there is more to the story about the transfer of Economic Crimes Unit chief Jonathan Washer than the sergeant stumping for a union.

The sheriff says Washer bungled a case against former Cape Coral Councilman Eric Grill so badly the state attorney’s office dropped two felonies — first-degree fraud and second-degree larceny — against the contractor because of insufficient evidence.

Grill allegedly took a $50,000 down payment from gymnastics instructor Lisa Johnson and a $15,000 down payment from David Malmberg of Affordable Towing for construction projects he didn’t do, but was ultimately charged with only a third-degree felony of presenting a false statement to a client.

When reached Tuesday night, Grill said he didn’t have a comment.

The International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO and Washer filed a First Amendment lawsuit last month against Scott and the sheriff’s office.

Rich Roberts, union spokesman in Sarasota, wants to know why this information is coming out so long after the filing of the June 30 lawsuit.

“The sheriff is desperate for an excuse for the transfer that he knows he shouldn’t have done,’’ Roberts said. Washer said the sheriff’s office will not allow him to comment.

But Scott said I was wrong Sunday to make my case in defense of Washer, who was transferred to road patrol June 14, on good 14-year job evaluations because his problems — Grill’s case and complaints from residents about his attitude — have occurred since his June 2009 review.

After reviewing correspondence between Washer, 38, and the state attorney’s office, I believe his investigation was slipshod. I agree with the sheriff.

It appears the sergeant quit on the case.

“We were disappointed in the quality of the investigation and the lack of communication,’’ State Attorney Steve Russell said about Washer. “We had some significant problems with the case.’’

we as LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS are in a LIFE /DEATH situations everyday and this is one of the most highest liability jobs in the WORLD. to not have or reject a POLICE UNION is crazy..the abuses that this SHERIFF'S OFFICE has done to people must STOP.

whether IUPA/PBA/FOP...GET INVOLVED :cop:

That's funny. This is the sheriffs third or forth excuse for this transfer. I think staff was involved in the decision on the arrest too so may be they'll get transferred to patrol.

Let this move, transfer or opportunity to grow be a lesson to all, if you make a case against anyone and for any reason the state attorney does not file charges you might be moved too. We need IUPA, the union will protect us and hold those accountable for BS moves like this.

Lots and lots of questions come to mind. Who were the supervisor(s) who reviewed the cased before being sent to the SAO. Were supervisors keeping up with the case, seeing how high a profile it was, during the initial investigation? Did the SAO ever communicate back to LCSO after the case was submitted? Did LCSO respond to any questions the SAO may have had? Is this one of those cases where the investigating agent works the case, no one checks on the progress, even though it was such a high profile case, submitted to the SAO without a supervisors signature or review, SAO just cans it without contacting the agent or LCSO, is this one of those cases? I think NOT!!

[IUPA comrade]

People, the case was not dropped, charges were amended which happens all the time on any case; from DUI cases to murder. The defendant was arrested based on probable cause. The state attorney's office didn't agree with the charges and chose to amend the charges and still filed a felony charge against the defendant despite any extra work put into the case. How many times has this happened in a district for a theft or burglary case or even a robbery case? It sounds to me the agency is grasping for straws because this sergeant is standing up for himself and others and they are trying to do their best to make him look bad and sway public opinion. Just like when bad guys get caught, they have 101 excuses, all lies, and we all know there is one 1 truth and it is obvious.

This guy was crucified for the sake of someone elses image. Make no doubt about it this has everything to do with his union involvement. Look at the facts. The claim is that he was transfered for poor performance on this high profile case. You cant tell me that the buck stops with this Sergeant. I'll bet the phone lines were burning up due to discussions between parties at a higher level on this high profile case. What about disciplining the supervisor that reviewed this high profile case prior to it being submitted to the SAO. Also, cases are plead down on a daily basis. Who cares what Mr. Russell says. If the case has problems you fix them prior to trial time.

This Sergeant was tried and crucified twice, once by the Sheriffs Office and once by the SAO.

Information is always helpful to show just how two faced and passionate our state attorney is, be careful pointing fingers Mr. Russell there are always 3 pointing back at you:

http://florida-issues.blogspot.com/2...year-olds.html
PHILLIP BANTZ, pbantz@breezenewspapers.com

Monday, June 25, 2007

Is there sufficient justice in locking a double murderer away for the rest of his life, or is death a more fitting punishment?

The issue split Annamarie Randazzo’s parents in court Monday, when their daughter’s killer, Jeremy Chapman, signed a deal with the State Attorney’s Office and avoided the death penalty.

Chapman pleaded guilty to an array of charges in the bludgeoning deaths of Randazzo, 17, and John Hardin, 66. He will serve two consecutive life sentences in state prison without possibility of parole.

“It is the intent of this court that you never see the light of day, except through barbed wire and iron bars,” said Lee County Circuit Judge Thomas Reese. “You will never walk free among the decent people in the state of Florida again.”

Tears streamed from behind John Randazzo’s dark sunglasses during the hearing. Annamarie’s father and attorneys in the case had reportedly come to an agreement on Chapman’s plea deal.

John Randazzo declined comment as he rushed out of the courtroom after the sentencing.

Randazzo’s mother, Mercedita Walter, told Chapman during the hearing that he should have been sentenced to death.

“He can’t bring back my daughter,” she said. “I still think he needs the death penalty rather than life in prison.”

Chapman, 25, stared blankly at Walter as she spoke. He kidnapped, raped, killed and burned Randazzo on July 22, 2005. He beat his roommate, Hardin, to death with a crowbar during a robbery seven days later. Hardin did not have a family member or relative in court Monday.

Randazzo’s stepfather, Jeff Walter, said he was “shocked” that State Attorney Stephen Russell never told him or Mercedita Walter about Chapman’s plea deal. They first learned Randazzo’s killer would avoid the death penalty after speaking with a reporter.


“We found out about this deal this morning. This is another layer of disappointment in this situation, that the State Attorney’s Office did not call us directly,” said Jeff Walter. “We’re very disappointed. ... We thought there would be no deals.”

Chapman said the deal was in “his best interest,” but when asked to explain why, he said it was “kind of hard to explain” and requested to speak with one of his attorneys.

“I want to take responsibility for my actions,” said Chapman, his voice cracking. “And I have remorse.”

Later, Chapman wept as he apologized to Randazzo’s family, saying he did not expect forgiveness.

“I’d like to say that I’m so sincere when I say, from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry,” he said. “I will never forgive myself for this and I don’t expect them to forgive me.”

As part of his agreement with the state, Chapman will testify against his alleged accomplice in the Randazzo slaying. Joshua P. Henninger was 16 when he lured Randazzo to his home, where she was beaten, bound with tape and driven to a remote location in Lehigh Acres, authorities said.

Henninger and Chapman then reportedly beat Randazzo to death and shoved her body into an abandoned refrigerator, which they set ablaze. The duo also burned Randazzo’s Ford Mustang, according to reports.

Henninger, now 18, awaits a September trial while being held in the Lee County Jail on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, arson and sexual assault with a weapon. He is exempt from the death penalty due to his age at the time of the crime.

© 2007 Naples Daily News and NDN Productions. Published in Naples, Florida, USA by the E.W. Scripps Co.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/...arges/?print=1
Does everyone remember this? If I know history like I do, this case was dropped by the state due to the fact the search warrant was so vague none of the evidence could be used and the charges were dismissed in 2008. The person who worked the case is a lieutenant and her supervisors are or have been promoted since that arrest. No accountability, this was "bungled" as no charges stuck. It is union busting I think Sam got it right in his first article for once.

Lee deputy arrested on child porn charges
By Nicholas P. Alajakis

Friday, May 12, 2006

A 24-year veteran Lee County Sheriff’s Office sergeant has been arrested on child pornography charges.

Officials with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI on Thursday charged Russell “Rusty” Graham, 47, of North Fort Myers with six counts of possession of photographs of sexual performance by a child. He also has been fired.

Graham, a sergeant in the K-9 unit, had been with the LCSO since 1981. The K-9 unit is part of the LCSO Special Operations Unit.

Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Robert Forrest said the case was still under investigation and additional charges could be leveled. The arrest comes after a three-week investigation, he said.

Graham’s arrest report provided little details into the actions that led to his arrest. All but six of the 56 lines in a two-page probable cause statement were blacked out by sheriff’s officials.

FBI spokesman John Kuchta said his agency would not comment on Graham’s arrest and referred all inquiries to the Sheriff’s Office.

Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott released a statement saying Graham’s actions have embarrassed the department.

“We regret that it’s one of our own, but this is a prime example of how we police ourselves and we will not tolerate criminal activity from anyone, including those within our ranks,” Scott said in the statement. “A situation like this is embarrassing and disappointing to all who wear the badge of a law enforcement officer. It’s important to remember that the actions of one individual should not cast a shadow on all of the other members who represent our agency so well.”

Graham was heavily involved in the training of the department’s K-9 units. In an April 2004 article in the Daily News, Graham choked up as he reminisced about Alko, a 6-year-old German shepherd that became the first police dog killed while serving the LCSO. And a February 2001 article in the Daily News’ details Graham’s relationship with Woody, the Sheriff’s Office’s first narcotics dog. Graham was so close to the dog he got a tattoo with a likeness of the yellow Labrador retriever.

His law-enforcement status does not earn Graham special privileges, though police are making some accommodations for him while he’s in jail with other prisoners, Forrest said.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/news_pre...+case+evidence

Judge bars child-porn case evidence
The News Press - Fort Myers, Fla.
Author: PAT GILLESPIE
Date: Jul 16, 2008
Start Page: B.1
Section: Local & State
Text Word Count: 690
Abstract (Document Summary)
[...] a statement does not exist in any of the e-mails or in the chat room instant message conversations that were provided to law enforcement, Volz wrote. * The search warrant was too broad.

Anyone who has ever typed an actual case report knows that any case is reviewed by the "Intake Attorney" from the S.A.O. and that if anything is missing in the case report that the S.A.O. "Intake Attorney " thinks they need to get a "slam dunk" conviction will be requested in a "Additional Information Request".

No mention was made of a lack of communication between the investigator and the S.A.O.

Unless you have had an interaction with the S.A.O on a case that you actually worked on and submitted, please don't cast that stone.