NAACP plans protest of Bradenton police.

[ABC123 A]

The president of the NAACP of Manatee County, Rodney Jones, is helping organize a peaceful protest in downtown Bradenton after he says public records the organization received demonstrate “potential racial profiling” by the police department and that blacks are over represented in traffic stops, police-involved shootings and deaths.

http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/...111931502.html

Merriman said that if the Bradenton Police Department was still accredited, “we would not be here today.”

“When the Bradenton Police Department was accredited they had a mandatory standard that covered bias-based profiling,” Merriman said. “When it lost accreditation it lost accountability.”

Merriman also pointed out that the numbers on the report didn’t match up.

http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/...107171857.html

[Unregistered]

Why doesn't Merriman tell you that he was employed at BPD all but 1 of the years the NAACP pulled stats for. They pulled 30 years and Merriman was at BPD 18 of the last 19 and left as Deputy Chief. The loss of Accreditation can't change the numbers when he was at BPD as an administrator now can it.

[Unregistered]

f your a frequent reader you are well aware that the BH loves to run this same unpaid attack ad for the incumbent, but why have they not asked Mayor Poston why he is still waiting to disclose the conclusion of the FBI's investigation of the BPD Property/Evidence room scandal? Could it be because someone allowed employees to walk away with property, a pension, and no criminal charges? Poston refuses to simply meet with the NAACP, why allow this to continue to a protest, all they want to do is sit down and talk. Why didn't Poston tell the City Council about losing police accreditation, the Sarasota Herald had to notify the public, and the BPD employees, another attempted cover-up. Furthermore, who would not disclose the (3) things from the Poston "bucket list" that he wants to accomplish if given a total of 21 years, why wait for another term, he has had 17 years already. Mr. Salazar just once again displayed his immaturity, by not even being factual in his statement.

My entire statement: This past weekend Mr. Merriman was contacted by an employee of the Bradenton Police Department who stated that they would be willing to testify as a witness in regard to this Administrative Hearing, as they possess mitigating factors which could result in a dismissal of the administrative complaint in its entirety. This employee also believed that the conclusion of the ongoing investigation Bradenton Police Department Property/Evidence Room will directly attack the credibility of one or more witnesses' sworn statements who were involved in the initial investigation of Mr. Merriman. Mr. Merriman will also request that FDLE review this internal investigation, among with the the September 2014 and January 2015 Accreditation Compliance reports which stated that all inspections of the Property/Evidence Room were in compliance with the Mandatory Standards set forth by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.

This employee stated that he/she is afraid to testify under the current Mayor/Police Commissioner's tenure, because they fear that they would face immediate retaliation. Following the upcoming mayoral election, if the incumbent is not re-elected, said witness would not have to fear retaliation in the event of Mr. Merriman being elected to the Office of Mayor. Mr. Merriman does find it very troubling that any employee should feel that apprehensive about testifying against the current police administration, and he vows to change that culture within all city departments."

[Unregistered]

Why doesn't Merriman tell you that he was employed at BPD all but 1 of the years the NAACP pulled stats for. They pulled 30 years and Merriman was at BPD 18 of the last 19 and left as Deputy Chief. The loss of Accreditation can't change the numbers when he was at BPD as an administrator now can it.

He also does not say BPD MAINTAINED all 270 Standards required for Accreditation after it expired. The only thing that was not done was to re-apply for Accreditation.

And since we always maintained all the standards we re-applied for Accreditation months ago.

[Unregistered]

f your a frequent reader you are well aware that the BH loves to run this same unpaid attack ad for the incumbent, but why have they not asked Mayor Poston why he is still waiting to disclose the conclusion of the FBI's investigation of the BPD Property/Evidence room scandal? Could it be because someone allowed employees to walk away with property, a pension, and no criminal charges? Poston refuses to simply meet with the NAACP, why allow this to continue to a protest, all they want to do is sit down and talk. Why didn't Poston tell the City Council about losing police accreditation, the Sarasota Herald had to notify the public, and the BPD employees, another attempted cover-up. Furthermore, who would not disclose the (3) things from the Poston "bucket list" that he wants to accomplish if given a total of 21 years, why wait for another term, he has had 17 years already. Mr. Salazar just once again displayed his immaturity, by not even being factual in his statement.

My entire statement: This past weekend Mr. Merriman was contacted by an employee of the Bradenton Police Department who stated that they would be willing to testify as a witness in regard to this Administrative Hearing, as they possess mitigating factors which could result in a dismissal of the administrative complaint in its entirety. This employee also believed that the conclusion of the ongoing investigation Bradenton Police Department Property/Evidence Room will directly attack the credibility of one or more witnesses' sworn statements who were involved in the initial investigation of Mr. Merriman. Mr. Merriman will also request that FDLE review this internal investigation, among with the the September 2014 and January 2015 Accreditation Compliance reports which stated that all inspections of the Property/Evidence Room were in compliance with the Mandatory Standards set forth by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.

This employee stated that he/she is afraid to testify under the current Mayor/Police Commissioner's tenure, because they fear that they would face immediate retaliation. Following the upcoming mayoral election, if the incumbent is not re-elected, said witness would not have to fear retaliation in the event of Mr. Merriman being elected to the Office of Mayor. Mr. Merriman does find it very troubling that any employee should feel that apprehensive about testifying against the current police administration, and he vows to change that culture within all city departments."

Take chill pill Devon!!