Questions asked and answered by David Morgan

Due to an unknown technical glitch the answers provided by David Morgan to the questions posed by LEO's on this site were erased. As a public service I am re-posting the answers.

From: David Morgan [mailto:morganpi@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 4:04 PM
To: mod353@leoaffairs.com
Subject: "Questions that need answers"


Mod 353: I consider it an honor to be afforded an opportunity to answer all
(legitimate) questions concerning the sheriff's campaign. I would further
add that all of your questions are "legitimate." Please forgive the length
of this missive, but your questions covered a lot of ground.

I do not post on any blog. I will not be drawn into "he said, she said
circular arguments," and unlike the incumbent, I do not have a staff that
can spend the day perusing blogs, tv adds, etc. and then author a witty
response. I have a campaign to run and plans to finalize on getting the
ECSO back-up and on its feet. This response (to you) is being handled like
any other email that we receive. (I did pull-up leoaffairs to further
familiarize myself with what you refer to as a "thread." The subject(s) are
certainly all over the map.)

To the best of my recollection, I have never failed to return a phone call
or respond to an email. Many are made late into the night, but I return all
calls and correspondence. I do not have an "answering machine." We use a
Bell South service, so I am sure that any message would have been recorded.
(See the problem? "Someone" says they called me or wrote me. I reply with
the above. And on, and on, and on.) I receive numerous calls and have had
many discussions with ECSO employees, on the condition of "anonymity." Many
have called wanting to "vent." Many have called with "information." NONE
have called willing to sign a sworn affidavit attesting to the information,
nor are they agreeable to appearing on camera with me.

Our emails to the website are moderated and filtered. I will not allow
vulgarity, character assassination (of anyone), etc. So yes, many posts do
not get past our moderator although I am informed of them nonetheless. Many
argue that this is neither "fair nor democratic." They are correct. They
have misinterpreted "freedom of speech." Just because someone or some
entity has set up a public forum does not mean they are compelled to accept
and post all entries. I know from personal experience having authored a few
editorials to the PNJ that did not pass muster. Oh, well.

My LEO experience has been in federal service. I enlisted with the USAF in
March of 1971 and attended the USAF Security Police Academy. In March 1975
I entered Southeast Missouri State University as a full time student and
AFROTC. I re-entered the AF as a commissioned officer in the Security
Police Career field and again attended the academy for the officer's course
in 1978. So I have held positions throughout police work, from patrolman,
desk sergeant, supervisor (as an E-5), shift supervisor (Lt) up to and
including Deputy Chief of Police at McConnell AFB, KS. (Undergraduate
degree in Criminal Justice, Masters in Business Administration.)

I do not (personally) feel a need to defend nor enter into a debate as to
the legitimacy of military police experience. Why? Having in my career
worked many local, state and federal agencies, I came to respect each for
their training, dedication and respective capabilities, while understanding
that there are subtle differences. But I also came understand, through
experience, that there are many more similarities than differences.

Many other organizations and agencies also agree with my position, such as
the Federal Bureau of Investigation. When I applied for Special Agent
training, a pre-employment requirement was 5 years law enforcement
experience. My military police experience was considered exactly that.
This is also applicable for FDLE standards. Prior military police do not
have to attend standards training and may take the state exam. So, FL also
accepts the legitimacy of military police experience. I find it odd that
the self-appointed sages of the ECSO do not agree with these agencies.

So, for the education of everyone I would begin by asking what is it that
you think that I have not done or experienced in police work that you have?
DWI/DUI's? Done that. Bar fights? Done that. (Speaking of experience.
How many ECSO's have entered a bar full of Army Rangers, or Green Berets, or
Navy SEALs in a bar fight? And sorry to the one poster, they do not "come
to attention" because of your mere presence.) Domestic violence and
suicides (in the military) have always been much higher than the national
averages. Murders, child abuse? Yes, those too. And because of my
military police background, I have had the honor and privilege to work with
most of the federal law enforcement agencies. The bottom line here is that
we have a few people pontificating on a subject they know little or nothing
about. (This point will be proven by "former SP's" appearing on your site
refuting the above. That's why I do not do blogs.) I would recommend a
book titled The Khaki Mafia, by Robin Cook. He also authored The French
Connection, about an NYPD case from the 1960's. This will be a wake-up for
those that believe military installations are these sleepy little villages.

I have stated many times and will again so state here. I served with the
finest police department in the world, the USAF Security Police. Both as an
enlisted member and as a commissioned officer. I would stack it up against
any law enforcement agency, anywhere.

Be that as it may, you and the other citizens of Escambia County are looking
to make a decision on the next sheriff. You should be looking for all
qualification; background, character, education, training, leadership and
management abilities. You've tried "former member of the ECSO and from
here." That very limited criteria has gotten the agency in the trouble it
is currently in.

As for pay and compensation; I spoke with an ECSO employee last night about
this very issue. I am pro-union (PBA) and pro-Civil Service. Why? While I
may be a reasonable manager/administrator, the person who follows me may
not. Leaders plan for that eventuality. No matter how wonderful we may
think we are our time and tenure is finite. So what happens if I construct
a fair working scale which can only exist due to my oversight? Naturally
when I leave it turns to crap. That's not taking care of the troops. It is
important to institutionalize a system that does that very thing,
irrespective of who is warming the seat in the front office.

Bottom Line; as sheriff I will return the pay and compensation scales back
to the "straight line method," i.e., the ascending scale of pay and
compensation. The current incumbent has created an accounting nightmare by
monkeying with a system that wasn't broken, except for its lack of response
to the needs of the dep's and co's. New hires will not make more than
employees with 5, 10, 15 years experience. (Although many obviously think
that military examples have no relevance, take a look at military
compensation pay scales. Clearly defined entry, mid, and senior management
pay amounts, taking into account time in service, grade and promotions.
Makes sense to me.)

The first order of business is to right-size the ECSO. It is extremely
top-heavy in management, in both county and contract employee's. There is
sufficient money here to up the pay to $35K (starting) and adjust the senior
employee's pay (dep/co) accordingly. I just took a look at the pay scales
(hourly rate) for deputies/co's. I'm not sure what calculator a previous
poster used but it works out to be approximately $30K per year, not $35K.
According to former members of the ECSO there is approximately $4M in this
area alone. That will more than cover the initial pay boost. The out-years
will be handled by a complete budget re-structure. No new taxes. And no, I
do not have to go to the County Commission to get permission to give pay
raises.

I am having discussions with many previous employees' concerning the budget
and funding at the ECSO. Your agency is hemorrhaging money. And sadly none
of it is transfusing the very patient that needs it. It has become the
campaign funding source for the incumbent, via political patronage through
promotions and such. I encourage everyone to take a look at
EscambiaVotes.com. to see where the great bulk of campaign financing is
coming from for all candidates.

And as for leadership, the incumbent fails. Just look at the recent news
articles involving Deputy Frye and Deputy Coad. Are these officers civil
rights and right to due process less than a criminal's rights?

The actions of the sheriff would make one think so. What happened to IA,
Pre-determination, etc.? When all of the steps between allegation and
termination are ignored, rarely if ever, will the right decision be made.

As to the questions about my supporters and advisors? I will reply to your
question in the same manner I do with everyone that contributes or
volunteers to work with the campaign. "Thank you for your contribution and
volunteering to assist us. Please understand that the only consideration
and remuneration that you will receive is the satisfaction of knowing that
you helped in changing the direction of Escambia County politics, and in
bringing the highest possible level of law enforcement professionalism to
the ECSO." No one is assured nor promised a job or position within the
Morgan Administration.

Isn't it odd that my detractors conveniently fail to mention many of my
associations? Such as; Life Member of AF Association, Law Enforcement
Member of FL Sheriffs Association, VP of Fil-Am Republican Club, Associate
Member of Escambia Federated Women's Republican Club, and so on.

You will note that my supporters come from all strata of society and
political parties. I will speak with ET if he is a registered voter in
Escambia County. This, however, does not mean that I agree with ET. It
means that I understand speaking with people and reasoning with them is
better than ignoring potential problems.

No one speaks for me. The individuals you refer to have other lives and
jobs. They are free to comment on the campaign, candidates, positions, etc.
It may surprise many to know that we (all of my supporters) are not in
agreement on many issues. However, they are not running for sheriff, I am.
When a question needs answering, call me or email me. Then you are assured
of getting it from the source.

I find it amusing that everyone is speculating on a Morgan Administration
using current and prior administrations as their example. They have no
basis in fact to be predicting anything that I will or will not do once in
office. It is amusingly illogical. I do not owe any political favors and
will assume the office without owing anyone. Scary, huh? Just imagine,
electing a sheriff that believes in and enforces the law regardless of who
you are or the size of your political contribution.

I am reluctant to fully outline all plans for the re-structuring and changes
with the ECSO. I learned a valuable lesson with Operation Brownsville. We
were called in December of last year to come and speak with the remnants of
the Brownsville Neighborhood Watch. The group I spoke with told me of the
last meeting they had with McNesby, his words were; "You folks will not get
me re-elected. It's the downtown folks that contribute and vote." But we
pressed forward and did the spot telling what needed to be accomplished.
What you see is from our recommendations. (I have also heard this from
individuals within the ECSO.) Lesson learned.

Then we floated the idea that Montclair needed to be next. Where is the
action now? Lesson learned.

I look forward to meeting with all of you as the campaign progresses.

Judge me on my actions.; not on the words of others.

Mr. Morgan, I appreciate your responses to the questions I posted. I
thought they were very informative. I just hope that if elected you are true
to your goals (not being disrespectful just a little gun shy as most of us
deputies are). You did, however forget to answer the question about rehiring
some of the people that actually did deserve to be fired.
Any chance we will see that happen if you get elected ? What I am getting at
with this is we see political appointees working here all the time and most
only got the job because of knowing the sheriff and have no business doing
our job. That is a bad move. Again, thank you for the time you took in
posting this information as I am sure it took awhile to write. I do agree
with most of what you have written and look forward to passing this
information on to the people on the website. I look forward to talking with
you soon.

MOD 353: I apologize. I thought that my response was clear. No one that
supports my campaign "gets a pass." Anyone, that wishes to appeal of course
is allowed and encouraged to do so.

So for the sake of argument let us say that a close campaign supporter is
one of these people. I cannot, and will not be involved with that process
(of re-looking and re-hiring) because of the obvious "conflict of interest."
Therefore an independent Board of Review will be tasked to handle this.

The ECSO has had more than it's share of politicians painted to look like
law enforcement officers. It's time for some leadership.

David Morgan

I sure wish youd stop trying to stir things up...Morgan has nothing new to offer, so you post the same old info hoping to genereate discussion. Wont happen.

Everybody, show your dissapproval of this candidate by not engaging in this tactic.

Speak for yourself. I for one want to read differing opinions. Assumably you are a supporter of McNesby and don’t want any thing negative posted about what is going on at the Sheriff’s Department. If it wasn’t for the likes of the Morgans in this world who are willing to enter the political arena that puts them in the limelight and allows them to expose waste, inefficiency and incompetence the Tyrants of this world would control more than they do now. You certainly can’t expect us to believe that McNesby or any of his followers are going to volunteer that there is any waste or incompetence in his administration. If you believe everything they say all is rosy at the Sheriff’s Department you’re living in la-la land. If so why has the budget tripled since McNesby took office? If Morgan is posting untruths, then why hasn’t McNesby posted information that would prove Morgan is lying? Mr Morgan keep on posting, the taxpayers want to know where and how our taxes are being spent. The truth will prevail.

Here's David Morgan's new Campaign Video. http://72.12.51.34:8080/ramgen/reality/morgan-show-7.rm

Here's David Morgan's new Campaign Video. http://72.12.51.34:8080/ramgen/reality/morgan-show-7.rm

Ok, I bit and watched the whole clip. One point Morgan alleged in his speech is that he had identified two different employees of the Sheriffs Department who had received $40,000 and another who recently was given a $31,000 a year raise by McNesby. If those employees’ salaries are a matter of public record, then the names of the persons who receive those salaries must also be matter of public records so why didn’t Morgan name the two employees who got those huge raises. Can anyone identify any employee of the Sheriff’s Department whose job is so technical or critical that a $40,000 and $31,000 annual raise in salary is necessary to retain their skill and knowledge? Does the Sheriff’s Department have brain surgeons on its payroll? I’m skeptical of broad and vague accusations made by all politicians and unless Morgan is willing to give specifics I’ll be giving the benefit of doubt to McNesby for not being so stupid that he’d give any employee a $40K or a $31K raise when by his own admission the deputies are not paid enough especially when we taxpayers are calling for tax relief. If he is that stupid, then Morgan should say so and back it up with the proof of that stupidity.

Those figures sound about right for a few of the DIRECTORS pay raises. We got a measly 5% and were told to be happy with it yet we heard that he gave a few of his directors pay raises in line with what you heard in the video.

You heard the same false rumors that Morgan did. Only he restated those rumors as fact on his little video. It is completely untue.

Yeah. And the moon is made of green cheese.

"I’ll be giving the benefit of doubt to McNesby for not being so stupid that he’d give any employee a $40K or a $31K raise when by his own admission the deputies are not paid enough especially when we taxpayers are calling for tax relief. If he is that stupid, then Morgan should say so and back it up with the proof of that stupidity."

Morgan does say so. And he will be getting the documents to back it up. But unless you are blind, deaf and dumb yourself, you'd notice that McNesby has proven his stupidity quite often. And that is one of his better traits.

Morgan does say so. And he will be getting the documents to back it up.


Seems Morgan does a lot of that. Talk before he has the proof in hand. Like RMPT people, he presents the rumors as fact before he has the facts. Yeah, that's who I want as a Sheriff. It would go something like this.

"I heard that you used excessive force on someone so your fired, and I'm going to get the video for it eventually."

David Morgan...he needs money....BAD...so let me give him my two cents. You are unelectable.

He did sound pretty desperate in that little video didn't he. He'll be on his knees in the next one, "please give me some money, please, please, somebody...anybody!"

It's really pretty funny to hear all of the inaccuracies in his videos. If I were an opposing candidate I would tear him apart in a debate (as long as I wasn't McNesby, he's almost as bad?).

The videos are very powerful presentations and McNesby is terrified of the support that Morgan is getting. It's pretty obvious that most of the people posting here from the ECSO are Rex, Rex & Larry. And Rex. It's the common thread in all of the posts that give them away. Disrespect. The watchword of the McNesby administration. Sheriff David Morgan. Get used to it.

It is such a shame that Mogan supporters equate disagreement with disrespect. Just because the ECSO posters do not like Morgan and disagree with his views, doe snot mean we disrespect him, or anybody else.

I've seen him called an "idiot" and "moron" here times. If that isn't disrespect what is it? Envy?

Willie Small: $31,000.00 raise
Wanda White: $40,000.00 raise

Not to mention the 2 new Directorships including the one for Dennis Williams.

White is in charge of the useless Certification program and makes more than the jail director.

Ronniemac is pissing away the taxpayer's money on everything but his LEO's. They get the shaft.

McNesby must be more than stupid, he must be nuts. What in the world does either of these employees do that makes them deserving of a 31 and 40 thousand dollar year raise? What was their salary before he gave them the raise and what is their total salary now? No wonder the Sheriffs Department budget has more than doubled since McNesby took office 6 years ago and our property taxes are sky high. You posted what Whites position is he, but not Small. What does he do and how long has he and White been employees of the Sheriff’s Department? What a racket McNesby has going at taxpayers expense!

White did not recieve a $40,000 a year raise. That is a lie.

The directors, all of them were bumped up to $75,000. That may not equate to the exact figured you are seeing here but they were very substantial payraises compared to what the working men and women got. He has blown our raise money on do nothings and I hope he sleeps well at night. I am sure the directors do.

How many of these $75,000 a year directors are there and what do they do that the Sergents, Lts and Captains don’t already do?

Letter to Leoaffairs from Morgan in April 07. It talks of pay scales and such that hasn't been addressed. What really gets me is the part of being top heavy and too many contract employees.
Bottom Line; as sheriff I will return the pay and compensation scales back
to the "straight line method," i.e., the ascending scale of pay and
compensation. The current incumbent has created an accounting nightmare by
monkeying with a system that wasn't broken, except for its lack of response
to the needs of the dep's and co's. New hires will not make more than
employees with 5, 10, 15 years experience. (Although many obviously think
that military examples have no relevance, take a look at military
compensation pay scales. Clearly defined entry, mid, and senior management
pay amounts, taking into account time in service, grade and promotions.
Makes sense to me.)

The first order of business is to right-size the ECSO. It is extremely
top-heavy in management, in both county and contract employee's. There is
sufficient money here to up the pay to $35K (starting) and adjust the senior
employee's pay (dep/co) accordingly. I just took a look at the pay scales
(hourly rate) for deputies/co's. I'm not sure what calculator a previous
poster used but it works out to be approximately $30K per year, not $35K.
According to former members of the ECSO there is approximately $4M in this
area alone. That will more than cover the initial pay boost. The out-years
will be handled by a complete budget re-structure. No new taxes. And no, I
do not have to go to the County Commission to get permission to give pay
raises

As to the questions about my supporters and advisors? I will reply to your
question in the same manner I do with everyone that contributes or
volunteers to work with the campaign. "Thank you for your contribution and
volunteering to assist us. Please understand that the only consideration
and remuneration that you will receive is the satisfaction of knowing that
you helped in changing the direction of Escambia County politics, and in
bringing the highest possible level of law enforcement professionalism to
the ECSO." No one is assured nor promised a job or position within the
Morgan Administration


No one is assured a job or position within the Morgan Admin. What about Green, Craig, Clayton, ****ey, Aikens ect..... you have got to be kidding. This man lies each time his mouth moves.

As to the questions about my supporters and advisors? I will reply to your
question in the same manner I do with everyone that contributes or
volunteers to work with the campaign. "Thank you for your contribution and
volunteering to assist us. Please understand that the only consideration
and remuneration that you will receive is the satisfaction of knowing that
you helped in changing the direction of Escambia County politics, and in
bringing the highest possible level of law enforcement professionalism to
the ECSO." No one is assured nor promised a job or position within the
Morgan Administration


No one is assured a job or position within the Morgan Admin. What about Green, Craig, Clayton, ****ey, Aikens ect..... you have got to be kidding. This man lies each time his mouth moves.

These posts need to be bumped at least weekly for the next 3 1/2 years.

As to the questions about my supporters and advisors? I will reply to your
question in the same manner I do with everyone that contributes or
volunteers to work with the campaign. "Thank you for your contribution and
volunteering to assist us. Please understand that the only consideration
and remuneration that you will receive is the satisfaction of knowing that
you helped in changing the direction of Escambia County politics, and in
bringing the highest possible level of law enforcement professionalism to
the ECSO." No one is assured nor promised a job or position within the
Morgan Administration


No one is assured a job or position within the Morgan Admin. What about Green, Craig, Clayton, ****ey, Aikens ect..... you have got to be kidding. This man lies each time his mouth moves.

These posts need to be bumped at least weekly for the next 3 1/2 years.Take each name listed above ,where were they when morgan was elected and what was their pay grade > Where are they now and what is their pay,You can put chavers .girlfriend and daughter into the mix. please post your answers.